Doesn't the story from Donguibogam seem connected somehow to that stuffy feeling troubling your throat right now? Modern medicine refers to this symptom of nasal discharge or mucus dripping down the back of the throat as post-nasal drip syndrome or upper airway cough syndrome. One might take it lightly, thinking, 'It is just a little runny nose,' but in fact, several complex mechanisms of our body are hidden behind this symptom.
The most common causes include inflammatory disorders of the nose and paranasal sinus, such as allergic rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. Allergic rhinitis causes the body to overreact to specific allergens like pollen or fine dust, excessively producing clear, thin nasal fluid, while sinusitis involves inflammation in the paranasal sinus connected to the nose due to bacterial or viral infection, causing yellow or turbid, sticky mucus to accumulate and drip backward. As this mucus continuously flows down the back of the throat, it irritates the laryngopharyngeal mucosa and causes inflammation, inducing throat-clearing coughs, a foreign body sensation as if something were caught in the throat, and even throat soreness.
In addition, gastroesophageal reflux disease or laryngopharyngeal reflux can also be main culprits behind postnasal drip and foreign body sensation in throat. When gastric acid refluxes, rising past the esophagus up to the throat and directly irritating the laryngopharyngeal mucosa, the body increases mucus secretion to protect itself, and this mucus feels just like postnasal drip. If you enjoy spicy, salty foods or have a habit of lying down right after late-night meals, you must be even more cautious.
Moreover, autonomic nervous system imbalance cannot be overlooked. Stress, excessive tension, and chronic fatigue affect the autonomic nervous system of our body, potentially leading to hyperactivation of nerves regulating mucus secretion or making sensory receptors in the throat more sensitive. Thus, even with the same amount of mucus dripping down, on days with severe stress, discomfort can feel much greater and the foreign body sensation in the throat can worsen. One might reflect that the phlegm-qi stagnation described in Donguibogam was a wise expression encompassing this modern autonomic nervous system imbalance caused by chronic inflammation and stress. Because environmental factors, dry indoor air, and smoking can also dry out or irritate the mucosa of the throat and worsen symptoms, a delicate perspective that examines multiple causes comprehensively is necessary.
