Causes of Constant Phlegmy Throat or Throat Mucus

This animation goes over the many reasons for constant throat mucus production that lasts not just for days, but months or even years. Such phlegm production often triggers throat clearing, cough, or just plain hocking up and spitting. Often this issue is incorrectly blamed on post-nasal drainage which only accounts for a small percentage of patients. There are 5 main diagnostic groupings described:

- Esophagus (0:50)
- Nose (1:43)
- Foods (2:12)
- Autoimmune (2:34)
- Neuropathy (2:54).

This video produced by Dr. Chris Chang:

#throatmucus #phlegmythroat #pnd #postnasaldrip #ent #medicalanimation #throatclearing

[fauquierent]

*For great throat-related care products*

[anisa_]

Does anyone else feel like they're choking due to the mucus stuck in the back of the throat?

[Mitzi]

I got rid of my constant phlegmy throat by chewing my food until it was liquid and then swallowed little by little. I was basically eating quickly and swallowing food whole. It caused stress on my digestive system. Now I eat way slower and chew food until liquid. My throat has been clear for months.

[keithbutler]

Hi I think the answer to this problem is a lot more simple than we think. I’ve had this problem for years but 8 weeks ago I started intermittent fasting, cutting out full cream milk, bread, SUGAR, fizzy drinks. Grains, after 8 weeks my plegmy throat has virtually disappeared. I think it’s mainly a dairy caused problem. This is my experience, which is easier to try rather than all the medical tests.

[craftyprepper]

I suffered from constant throat clearing for 7 years until I discovered that the body produces excess mucus when iodine deficient. I began nascent iodine (an essential nutrient) supplementation, and 90% of my throat clearing has ceased.

[tushargoyal]

I have forgotten how clear throat feels like

[jackiemargaret]

I started a keto diet a year ago eliminating sugar, grains and dairy for various reasons. The 'gagging' mucous in my throat was eliminated almost immediately. I have recently reintroduced a very minimal amount of grain ie carbohydrate into my 2 meals a day plan and climb the nearby hill regularly.... this keeps the small amount of mucous under control. My realisation is that the mucous production is caused largely by the carbohydrate in grains and possibly a lactose intolerance due to the numerous chemicals being sprayed onto soil and plants.

[mbm]

I have had this for several years. No one could figure it out. It’s much worse in the AM, but always plagued me. One day after moving I visited my new dentist and they did a CT sinus scan and BOOM…at least two cysts in my sinuses.

[laurenwegner]

This whole comment section makes me feel so much less crazy 😩
It started about 2 years ago, every morning I wake up I feel sick and throw up a ball of mucus that drains down my throat over night. Every morning I dread it. During the day I’m constantly cleaning my throat…I’m 21 and I honestly feel reallly embarrassed about it. It’s nice to not feel alone.

[CaptainDiaspora]

I thought I was the only person on earth with this problem. I usually get mucus in my throat after eating meals or snacks.

[dragonslayer-bn]

I have this problem and i cant stand it. it's constantly there, day and night, such frustration. Peppermint tea with honey helps, also water with lemon work aswell.

[raiinyday]

Dairy. That was the trigger for me, and it might well be the trigger for many of you. When I had stopped consuming anything with dairy (including chocolate, baked goods, etc) I was surprised to find that the excess mucus problem disappeared and I no longer had to keep clearing my throat. When I went back to eating dairy again....mucus came right back.

[JACKDAWFISH]

Note to viewers: Eosinophilic esophagitis is often caused by food allergies such as our friend gluten (my trigger.) The white blood cells immediately mass in the esophagus when the body detects an allergen and tries to kill it by releasing toxins that result in inflammation/irritation of the throat and phlegm forms to protect the eshphagus. It only take me 2 swallows of something containing gluten to trigger a reaction. By the 2nd swallow I start coughing and phlegm formation. Since I live with this (took me a long time to figure it out - doctors didn't), I believe it's one of the more common causes. Just a tip.

[prekshapujara]

I have an important tip for all people in this section. Clearing the throat by coughing is a highly invasive and wrong method. It causes a wound on the vocal cords, and the body secrets more mucus to cover that wound as a natural ointment. If you cough again you will end up having more and more mucus, which turns to phlegm as it thickens. So if the phlegm in your throat is too much so that can't manage to talk through it, and your voice is sounding too quavered to sustain, then clear your throat by the good old "AhrrmArrm, AhrrmAhrrm" kind of method.(force a blast of air through restricted vocal cords with pauses in the middle.) Increase the force of the air and lengthen the duration of the AhrrmAhrrm" (the point at which I have shown dotted line. Also you can do a continuous triple or quadruple clearing if required like:(AhrrmAhr....rm, AhrrmAhrr...m, AhrrmAhrrm) If clogging is too much. Sometimes, it may require multiple attempts, but it gets the work done without long term aggravation. Sometimes first few attempts may aggravate the quaver in your voice. But ultimately it's much much better for your healt compared to coughing. Coughing causes extensive hair loss as the phlegm in your lungs gets absorbed in your blood and then erupts on your scalp as oily dandruff. It causes asthama as your vocal cords loose thier natural elasticity. It may make your voice hoarse permenently. It also causes hernia. So quit the coughing habit as soon as possible.

[sheilawang]

Thank you for your program. I have suffered excessive throat mucus for years because of both acid reflux and allergy. Your video is the best one explaining this problem. Really appreciate.

[juslookin]

I’ve had this for 10+ years. It came on after I had a bad flu years ago. It’s tied to my sinuses for sure. I just live with it as I can’t get a Dr who takes it seriously.

[michaelkenney]

I'm a life-long asthmatic and have been prescribed a steroid based inhaler. This treatment is essential in keeping my asthma at bay but it has caused a daily battle against an unrelenting, thick mucous that has robbed me of my voice as well as causing me a great deal of discomfort. I have asked my doctor about this and he shrugs his shoulders and offers no solutions. I am a retiree and am forced to give the phone to my wife whenever I get a call; it is a very frustrating situation. I'd like to say that it doesn't matter because I don't have anything interesting to say, but I do - I have a lot of interesting things to say.

[lowcarbkitchen]

Well that was depressing. :( I find a glass of water with some lemon juice in it helps. Spending the time, money and frustration of multiple specialists does not appeal to me.

[hanna_]

Hey just want to share my symptoms that I have been suffering for these past few months. Mine is constant phlegm and throat clearing including induce dry cough, hives and rashes, palpitation, uncomfortable stomach and slight fatique even though I had enough rest or sleep. On top of that I have a health anxiety and depression. So I hope everyone is trying to hang in there because you are not alone. We were all fighthing for something in our lives.

[huskerite]

Another reason for drainage in the throat is due to dental infection from a tooth on the upper set. If it penetrates into the nasal cavity the mucus is usually thinner than with sinus infection and has more odor. The danger, if allowed to remain, is due to it's location in proximity to the brain. No one wants a brain infection which is difficult to heal.