I never had rhinitis. Living in Riverside, I often heard about the bad air and dryness, but my nose was always indifferent.

Even when I caught a cold, it usually ended after a few days.

However, after this recent cold, my nose feels fine, but I have a heavy sensation in the back of my nose, and something sticky keeps dripping down my throat. It's very annoying to feel that slightly yellow nasal discharge constantly sticking to the back of my throat.

I found out that this is a typical case of post-nasal drip. Ultimately, it means "nasal discharge is flowing backward."

I thought the cold was over, but the mucous membrane inside my nose hasn't healed yet. The discharge is not coming out the front but rather the back.

So, while my nose is clear, my throat feels constantly congested. Especially if it's yellow and sticky, it indicates that inflammation is still present.

This lasts a long time. In the past, once a cold was over, I would reset immediately, but that's not the case anymore. Now that I'm in my 50s, my body says, "I'm fine," but the mucous membranes say, "I'm not healed yet." It feels like recovery is slow, not complete.

And here, sinusitis comes into question. If inflammation remains in the sinuses after a cold, the nasal discharge becomes thicker and may turn yellow or green. A characteristic is that when you wake up, your throat feels even more uncomfortable. When you bend your head down, you can immediately feel it coming down. In severe cases, bad breath can also occur.

Another factor to consider is gastroesophageal reflux disease. This isn't a nasal issue, but it can feel like one.

When stomach acid rises slightly, it irritates the back of the throat. This leads to more mucus production, resulting in a constant feeling of phlegm. It's especially worse at night, and if you wake up with a dry throat, this should also be considered.

The way to distinguish is that if it lasts less than 10 days, it's just remnants of a cold. If it goes beyond 2 weeks, then it's like, "Oh, this is lingering."

The color is also important. If it's clear, that's okay. If it's yellow and sticky, it indicates that it's still ongoing. If you have facial pressure, headaches, or bad breath, it leans towards sinusitis.

The management method is nasal irrigation. It can be done with saline solution. However, the problem is that it's bothersome to do it every day.

Also, drinking plenty of water significantly reduces the viscosity of the nasal discharge. Conversely, if you don't drink enough water, it remains sticky.

Humidity control is also important. If the air you breathe is dry, the nasal mucosa dries out as well. This keeps the same condition ongoing.

Medications like antihistamines or nasal sprays can help alleviate symptoms quickly. However, if this condition persists for more than 2 weeks, it's better to visit a doctor.

If symptoms last more than 3 weeks, if there's a bad smell, facial pain, or fever, if any of these are present, you should not hesitate to go to the hospital.

In summary, post-nasal drip caused by unresolved mucous membranes can be managed with nasal irrigation, hydration, and humidity. If it continues beyond 2 weeks, it's wise to acknowledge it and see a doctor for medication, which is better for mental health.