What does postnasal drip feel like with chronic cough?

Mucus draining behind the nose can stimulate sensitive tissues in the throat and create a tickle, coating, or urge to clear the throat. The cough may be dry or bring up small amounts of mucus, and it can be worse when lying down, waking, speaking, or breathing cold air. A persistent cough can also be linked with asthma, reflux, infection, smoking, or medicines, so postnasal drip is one possible contributor rather than a complete explanation.

Drink fluids regularly and consider saline nasal care if your clinician or pharmacist says it is suitable. Avoid smoke and other airway irritants, and note whether lying down, meals, exercise, or specific environments bring on coughing. Try not to repeatedly force mucus out of the throat, because this can maintain irritation. If the cough continues, arrange an assessment rather than relying only on cough suppressants.

Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, chest pain, confusion, or coughing up blood. Arrange prompt review for fever with worsening cough, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, wheezing, breathlessness, or a cough that is changing or interfering with sleep. A clinician may listen to your chest and assess nasal, reflux, allergy, and medicine-related causes.

Ask whether the cough pattern suggests nasal drainage, asthma, reflux, infection, or a medicine effect. Discuss whether lung testing, allergy review, or a nasal treatment is appropriate, and what changes should lead to earlier follow-up.