Theory about why post nasal drip causes hoarseness and dry throat

Hi everyone,

I have suffered from post nasal drip for several years - in the beginning the nose problems/stuck mucus were the biggest issue but lately my throat is what bothers me most, especially the dryness and the hoarseness. I have a mild version of GERD which possibly contributes to my throat and nose problems but the weird thing is that I feel the best in the morning until one hour after waking up which suggests GERD isn’t the main cause.

Anyway, I have been thinking about WHY post nasal drip causes hoarseness and a sore dry throat. I have never seen this explained properly? It can’t be the thick mucus since mucus is natural to the throat. Yes lots of mucus on the vocal cords can make the voice sound hoarse but not all the time and not accompanied with dryness and soreness. My theory is now that the thickening of mucus hinders the mucus from naturally sliding backwards and moistining the vocal cords, since it is either stuck in the back of the nose or being sniffed in and swallowed or spit out. Thus the vocal cords become dry and the voice hoarse from a lack of fluid mucus moistering them. It’s difficult to remedy this since what we drink and gargle only reaches the food pipe and not the vocal cords and the airpipe.

What do you think about this theory?

Hi Yeasayer-

I've had post nasal drip & GERD--my entire life !

OK- bout 10 yrs ago- frequent hoarseness...my terrific E/N/T--went "Up into my nose" with the light tipped scope--OK...my friend--I have--"Partial vocal cord paresis"..(Where one..the left one ) does not close properly--!

Being the meticulous Dr-he is--I had a CT scan...with contrast to Rule out....any polyps !

I had none--no known cause (The term is "idiopathic" meaning NO known cause ! )

Tell your E/N/T about that--it's much more common than you think--

Thanks..Hope my comment--helped-
Rob