How to Stop Post Nasal Drip: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Remedies


How to Stop Post Nasal Drip: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Remedies

Put up nasal drip (PND) is a typical situation that happens when extra mucus from the again of the nostril drips down the throat.

It may be brought on by varied elements, together with allergic reactions, colds, flu, sinusitis, or sure drugs. PND may be an annoying and protracted drawback, resulting in discomfort, coughing, and even issue sleeping.

Happily, there are a variety of efficient treatments you could attempt to assist cease publish nasal drip and relieve its signs.

The way to Cease Put up Nasal Drip

Listed here are 8 vital factors that can assist you cease publish nasal drip:

  • Drink loads of fluids.
  • Use a saline nasal spray or rinse.
  • Take a scorching bathe or steamy bathtub.
  • Use a humidifier in your house.
  • Elevate your head whereas sleeping.
  • Keep away from triggers like allergens and irritants.
  • Take over-the-counter drugs.
  • See a health care provider if signs persist.

By following the following pointers, you may assist scale back or get rid of publish nasal drip and its related signs.

Drink loads of fluids.

Staying hydrated is vital for general well being, and it might probably additionally assist to cease publish nasal drip.

  • Water is finest. Purpose to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. Water helps to skinny mucus and hold it from turning into thick and sticky.
  • Keep away from sugary drinks. Sugary drinks can truly worsen publish nasal drip by inflicting irritation and dehydration.
  • Heat liquids may be soothing. Strive consuming scorching tea, soup, or scorching water with lemon. The heat may help to skinny mucus and soothe irritated tissues.
  • Keep away from alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine can each dehydrate you and worsen publish nasal drip.

By consuming loads of fluids, particularly water, you may assist to skinny mucus and scale back publish nasal drip.

Use a saline nasal spray or rinse.

Saline nasal sprays and rinses are efficient in serving to to cease publish nasal drip by thinning mucus and flushing out irritants from the nasal passages.

Saline nasal sprays are sometimes simpler to make use of than rinses, however they might not be as efficient. To make use of a saline nasal spray, merely insert the nozzle into your nostril and spray in accordance with the package deal instructions.

Saline nasal rinses are simpler than sprays, however they are often harder to make use of. To make use of a saline nasal rinse, you will want a neti pot or an identical gadget. Fill the gadget with saline answer and tilt your head over a sink. Gently insert the spout of the gadget into your nostril and permit the saline answer to circulate via your nasal passages and out the opposite nostril.

Each saline nasal sprays and rinses can be utilized a number of occasions a day as wanted to assist relieve publish nasal drip.

Be aware: In case you are utilizing a saline nasal rinse, you should definitely use distilled, sterile, or boiled water to make the answer. Faucet water might comprise micro organism that may trigger an infection.

Take a scorching bathe or steamy bathtub.

The steam from a scorching bathe or bathtub may help to skinny mucus and relieve nasal congestion. This may help to scale back publish nasal drip and its related signs, similar to coughing and sore throat.

To get essentially the most profit from a scorching bathe or bathtub, strive the next:

  • Flip up the warmth. The warmer the water, the extra steam will likely be produced.
  • Shut the door and home windows. This can assist to lure the steam within the toilet.
  • Keep within the bathe or bathtub for a minimum of 10 minutes.
  • Breathe deeply. Inhale the steam via your nostril and mouth.

It’s also possible to add important oils, similar to eucalyptus or peppermint, to the water to assist relieve nasal congestion and soothe irritated tissues.

Be aware: Watch out to not keep within the bathe or bathtub for too lengthy, as this may result in dehydration.

Use a humidifier in your house.

A humidifier provides moisture to the air, which may help to skinny mucus and relieve nasal congestion. This may help to scale back publish nasal drip and its related signs, similar to coughing and sore throat.

  • Select the fitting humidifier. There are two predominant forms of humidifiers: evaporative humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers. Evaporative humidifiers are usually extra inexpensive, however they are often noisy. Ultrasonic humidifiers are costlier, however they’re quieter. Select a humidifier that’s the proper dimension to your residence.
  • Preserve the humidifier clear. Humidifiers can harbor mildew and micro organism, which may worsen publish nasal drip and different respiratory issues. Clear your humidifier in accordance with the producer’s directions.
  • Use distilled water. Distilled water is freed from minerals that may construct up within the humidifier and trigger issues. If you happen to use faucet water, you should definitely clear the humidifier extra regularly.
  • Set the humidity stage. The best humidity stage to your house is between 30% and 50%. You should use a hygrometer to measure the humidity stage in your house.

By utilizing a humidifier in your house, you may assist to create a extra comfy setting and scale back publish nasal drip.

Elevate your head whereas sleeping.

Elevating your head whereas sleeping may help to scale back publish nasal drip by stopping mucus from draining down the again of your throat. This may help to scale back coughing, sore throat, and different signs of publish nasal drip.

To raise your head whereas sleeping, you are able to do the next:

  • Use further pillows. Add an additional pillow or two to your mattress in order that your head is elevated by a minimum of 6 inches.
  • Use a wedge pillow. A wedge pillow is a specifically designed pillow that elevates your head and shoulders. Wedge pillows may be bought at most residence items shops.
  • Increase the top of your mattress. In case you have an adjustable mattress, you may increase the top of the mattress to raise your head whereas sleeping.

It could take a couple of nights to get used to sleeping along with your head elevated, however most individuals discover that it helps to scale back their publish nasal drip signs.

Be aware: In case you have any underlying well being circumstances, similar to coronary heart or lung issues, discuss to your physician earlier than elevating your head whereas sleeping.

Keep away from triggers like allergens and irritants.

If you realize what triggers your publish nasal drip, similar to allergens or irritants, avoiding these triggers may help to scale back your signs.

  • Allergens. Frequent allergens that may set off publish nasal drip embrace pollen, mud mites, pet dander, and mildew. In case you are allergic to any of those allergens, attempt to keep away from publicity to them as a lot as attainable. You are able to do this by holding your home windows closed, utilizing a dehumidifier to scale back indoor humidity, and washing your bedding in scorching water regularly.
  • Irritants. Frequent irritants that may set off publish nasal drip embrace smoke, sturdy odors, and sure chemical compounds. In case you are uncovered to any of those irritants, attempt to keep away from them as a lot as attainable. You are able to do this by avoiding smoking, staying away from areas the place there’s numerous smoke or sturdy odors, and utilizing a masks when working with chemical compounds.
  • Different triggers. Different issues that may set off publish nasal drip embrace chilly climate, dry air, and sure meals and drinks. If you happen to discover that sure issues set off your publish nasal drip, attempt to keep away from them as a lot as attainable.
  • Preserve a journal. In case you are unsure what’s triggering your publish nasal drip, holding a journal may help you to determine your triggers. Write down what you have been doing, the place you have been, and what you ate or drank earlier than your signs began. Over time, you might be able to determine patterns that may enable you to to keep away from your triggers.

By avoiding your triggers, you may assist to scale back your publish nasal drip signs and enhance your general well being.

Take over-the-counter drugs.

In case your publish nasal drip is extreme or doesn’t reply to residence treatments, it’s possible you’ll wish to strive taking over-the-counter drugs. There are a variety of over-the-counter drugs that may assist to alleviate publish nasal drip signs, together with:

  • Decongestants. Decongestants may help to scale back nasal congestion and swelling. They’re obtainable in oral and nasal spray kind.
  • Antihistamines. Antihistamines may help to dam the histamines which might be launched by the physique in response to an allergen. This may help to scale back nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching.
  • Expectorants. Expectorants may help to skinny mucus and make it simpler to cough up. They’re obtainable in oral and syrup kind.

When selecting an over-the-counter treatment for publish nasal drip, you should definitely learn the label fastidiously and comply with the instructions to be used. Some drugs might not be applicable for youngsters or folks with sure well being circumstances.

Be aware: In case your publish nasal drip is extreme or doesn’t reply to over-the-counter drugs, see a health care provider. You might have an underlying situation that’s inflicting your publish nasal drip.

See a health care provider if signs persist.

In case your publish nasal drip is extreme or doesn’t reply to residence treatments or over-the-counter drugs, see a health care provider. You might have an underlying situation that’s inflicting your publish nasal drip.

  • Sinusitis. Sinusitis is an irritation of the sinuses. It may be brought on by quite a lot of elements, together with allergic reactions, infections, and structural issues. Signs of sinusitis embrace publish nasal drip, facial ache and strain, and nasal congestion.
  • Nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are small, non-cancerous growths that may kind within the nasal passages. They’ll block the sinuses and trigger publish nasal drip, nasal congestion, and issue respiratory.
  • Deviated septum. A deviated septum is a situation during which the nasal septum, the wall that divides the nasal cavity into two halves, is shifted to at least one aspect. This may block the sinuses and trigger publish nasal drip, nasal congestion, and issue respiratory.
  • Allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a situation during which the physique overreacts to allergens, similar to pollen, mud mites, and pet dander. Signs of allergic rhinitis embrace publish nasal drip, sneezing, a runny nostril, and itchy eyes.

In case you have any of the signs listed above, see a health care provider for prognosis and therapy. Early prognosis and therapy may help to stop critical issues.

FAQ

Listed here are some regularly requested questions on how you can cease publish nasal drip:

Query 1: What’s publish nasal drip?
Reply: Put up nasal drip is a situation that happens when extra mucus from the again of the nostril drips down the throat.

Query 2: What causes publish nasal drip?
Reply: Put up nasal drip may be brought on by quite a lot of elements, together with allergic reactions, colds, flu, sinusitis, and sure drugs.

Query 3: What are the signs of publish nasal drip?
Reply: Signs of publish nasal drip embrace a sore throat, coughing, a runny nostril, and issue respiratory.

Query 4: How can I cease publish nasal drip?
Reply: There are a variety of issues you are able to do to cease publish nasal drip, together with consuming loads of fluids, utilizing a saline nasal spray or rinse, taking a scorching bathe or steamy bathtub, utilizing a humidifier in your house, elevating your head whereas sleeping, avoiding triggers like allergens and irritants, taking over-the-counter drugs, and seeing a health care provider if signs persist.

Query 5: When ought to I see a health care provider about publish nasal drip?
Reply: You must see a health care provider in case your publish nasal drip is extreme or doesn’t reply to residence treatments or over-the-counter drugs. You might have an underlying situation that’s inflicting your publish nasal drip.

Query 6: What are some tricks to forestall publish nasal drip?
Reply: Some tricks to forestall publish nasal drip embrace washing your palms regularly, avoiding contact with people who find themselves sick, getting a flu shot, and utilizing a saline nasal spray or rinse recurrently.

Query 7: Is publish nasal drip contagious?
Reply: Put up nasal drip is just not contagious, however the underlying explanation for your publish nasal drip could also be contagious. For instance, in case your publish nasal drip is brought on by a chilly or flu, you may unfold the virus to others via coughing or sneezing.

Closing Paragraph: In case you have any questions on publish nasal drip, discuss to your physician.

Along with the data supplied within the FAQ, listed below are some further ideas which will enable you to to cease publish nasal drip:

Ideas

Listed here are some further ideas which will enable you to to cease publish nasal drip:

Tip 1: Use a neti pot.
A neti pot is a small pot that’s used to rinse the nasal passages with a saline answer. This may help to skinny mucus and flush out irritants. To make use of a neti pot, fill it with heat saline answer and tilt your head over a sink. Gently insert the spout of the neti pot into one nostril and permit the saline answer to circulate via your nasal passages and out the opposite nostril. Repeat this course of with the opposite nostril.

Tip 2: Strive nasal irrigation.
Nasal irrigation is a process that entails flushing the nasal passages with a saline answer utilizing a particular irrigation gadget. Nasal irrigation may be simpler than utilizing a neti pot, but it surely may also be harder to do. Speak to your physician about whether or not nasal irrigation is best for you.

Tip 3: Use a humidifier in your bed room.
A humidifier may help so as to add moisture to the air, which may help to skinny mucus and scale back nasal congestion. You will need to clear your humidifier recurrently to stop the expansion of mildew and micro organism.

Tip 4: Keep away from smoking and secondhand smoke.
Smoking and secondhand smoke can irritate the nasal passages and worsen publish nasal drip. If you happen to smoke, give up. In case you are uncovered to secondhand smoke, attempt to keep away from it as a lot as attainable.

Closing Paragraph: By following the following pointers, you may assist to scale back or get rid of publish nasal drip and its related signs.

In case you have tried the following pointers and your publish nasal drip continues to be not enhancing, see a health care provider. You might have an underlying situation that’s inflicting your publish nasal drip.

Conclusion

Put up nasal drip is a typical situation that may be brought on by quite a lot of elements. Whereas it may be annoying and uncomfortable, there are a variety of issues you are able to do to cease publish nasal drip and relieve its signs.

A few of the best treatments for publish nasal drip embrace consuming loads of fluids, utilizing a saline nasal spray or rinse, taking a scorching bathe or steamy bathtub, utilizing a humidifier in your house, elevating your head whereas sleeping, avoiding triggers like allergens and irritants, taking over-the-counter drugs, and seeing a health care provider if signs persist.

By following the following pointers, you may assist to scale back or get rid of publish nasal drip and its related signs. In case you have tried the following pointers and your publish nasal drip continues to be not enhancing, see a health care provider. You might have an underlying situation that’s inflicting your publish nasal drip.

Closing Message: Put up nasal drip is a typical drawback, however it may be managed. By following the information on this article, you may assist to cease publish nasal drip and relieve its signs.