Post-nasal drainage is commonly caused by rhinitis or sinusitis. Abnormal swelling of the nasal and sinus membranes causes them to produce thick abnormal mucus. This thick mucus can drain into the back of your throat and cause cough, sore throat, nasal blockage, and so forth.

Thick post-nasal drip is a common cause of bad breath. This thick mucus can be white, yellow or even green. If you have sinusitis, it is stagnant in your sinuses and becomes foul-smelling. Then it drips back into your throat to give you bad breath. No mouthwash will take this bad breath away! You need to see a sinus specialist.

Besides post-nasal drip, another common cause of cough is acid reflux. If you have a chronic cough, and especially if you smoke, it is critical that a specialist examine your larynx. You might also need a chest x-ray. Treatment of the cause -- post nasal drainage, acid reflux, or both -- should improve it or resolve your cough.

The backflow of stomach juices, including acids and occasionally ingested foods, constitutes gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Common esophageal symptoms of GERD include repeated bouts of heartburn, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, lump-in-the-throat sensation, chronic cough and throat clearing, and mucus build-up in the throat. People can suffer from one or more of these symptoms.

Sometimes, the symptoms of GERD can mimic some of the symptoms of sinusitis. The sensation of post-nasal drainage and the need to clear your throat constantly may be due to post-nasal drainage -- but may also be due to GERD. The sinus specialist may therefore examine you in the office to see if there is physical evidence of GERD.

Acid reflux can sometimes actually contribute to sinusitis! That is to say, the acid can travel all the way up to your nose and sinuses (for instance, while you are lying down asleep), and this acid can inflame the nose and sinus linings. This problem is more common in children -- but it may also be seen in adults.

At The Nose and Sinus Center, Dr Becker can do a fiberoptic evaluation of your nose and sinuses to pinpoint the problem, and he can show you the specific problem on a video screen. Then he will discuss treatment options. Recent technology has made these treatments more effective, safer, and more comfortable than ever before. For more information regarding technology, Click here.

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON POST NASAL DRIP & COUGH, SEE OUR OTHER SITE, www.sinustreatmentcenter.com