Some food experts believe that dairy products like milk and ice cream stimulate excess mucus production. Others aren't sure. The problem is that it's full of sugar, and this sugar, called lactose, feeds the bacteria and molds in our throats and intestinal tracts. Overgrowth of these organisms can adversely affect the immune system. Stress is a major cause of chronic nasal disease, says Dr. Principato.
Stress can drive the process too hard, causing the nasal lining to produce more mucus than it needs.
If you find that your postnasal drip is worse when you're under stress, relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or meditation can help you feel better all around. Drink lots of fluids. Keeping the mucous lining moist is essential if the cilia are to do their job. Drinking lots of fluids helps to get at the mucus that's struck in the upper part of the pharynx, says Alvin Katz, M.D., an otolaryngologist in private practice in New York City and surgeon director of the Manhattan Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. Anything in the secretion is destroyed by hydrochloric acid in the stomach, so there's nothing to worry about.