Throat congestion

[concerned4her]

Increasingly, for the last 5 years my wife experiences a period of throat congestion/drainage following eating some foods, drinking coffee, and reading some printed materials, notably newspapers and some magazines.  She has no rash, itching or headache.  Antihistamines help some.  She does not feel sick, but she repeatedly clears her throat for about 30 minutes after exposure.  What's up?

[piplu_sandip]

A related discussion, Throat Congestion. was started.

[fulu]

Could you please be specific as to what SOY (wheat/gluten and SOY) means?  Do you mean Soybean products, such as tofu?  Thanks.

[Inanga]

i have had similar problems except for the magazine stuff. I do have problems with some perfumes and chemical cleaners etc. I finally tracked down my problem to being a food allergy - specifically wheat/gluten and SOY. I am definite about SOY but not sure about gluten - so many wheat products use soy additives. By avoiding all wheat/gluten and soy I am completely recovered. My ONLY basic symptom was excessive mucous.post sanal drip that got chronic after a year of eating wheatbix for breakfast (sensiting myself in retrospect). it is simply fastastic to be able to breathe normally again. Hope this helps.

[National Jewish]

This is most likely an irritant effect of exposure to these items.  It is related to an increased production of mucus in the nasal passages and/or the throat due to the exposure.  This is a fairly common reaction by some people.  Since it is of short duration, I would not suggest any specific changes or medicine.