Some of us wake up with a dry throat and all it takes is one glass of water. For the unfortunate ones, it’s a trip straight to the bathroom sink and an ensuing session of hacking throat noises every morning. In this article, we’re going to show you some of the most common remedies to help ease the post-nasal drip and how to avoid it in the future.

Drinking water.

If you suffer from post nasal drip, your instinct to grab a glass of water is well founded. Most of the time, post nasal drip occurs because there’s a lack of moisture in your throat and nasal cavities and the body compensates by producing mucus. Mucus is naturally thick and drinking healthy amounts of water helps it thin down, making it easier for you to clear your throat.

Drinking water also helps stimulate little hairs in your windpipe called cilia that push secretions up and out from your lungs. Drinking water and the cilia work together to clear your nasopharyngeal tract of mucosal remains.

Sleeping with more pillows.

It’s not just for the neck and back pain – sleeping with pillows propped up help support your airway and prevent mucus from accumulating at the back of your throat. This will also promote proper and unobstructed breathing.

Aside from helping avoid post nasal drip, this reduces your risk for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea and post nasal drip can be a bad combination for people with existing heart problems, so making sure you sleep right (and semi-upright) also contributes to a longer lifespan, in addition to a clearer airway.

Pop that Benadryl.

This is very useful for people with allergic rhinitis. Postnasal drip is one of the problems people with rhinitis have to deal with, in concurrence with endless episodes of sneezing. Allergic rhinitis occurs in response to dust, pollen, and certain chemicals. During allergic rhinitis, the body fights back by producing more mucus to trap the allergens.

To help your body tone down the overreaction, you can take antihistamines. Benadryl, Allegra, or Claritin reduce the activity of the immune system and eventually minimize the production of mucus. This should help you breathe easy in the mornings.

Using humidifiers.

If you prefer dealing with post nasal drips with the least effort possible, investing in a good humidifier at home can help. Post nasal drips become cling to the back of your throat better in dry weather.

It’s the same concept as drinking water, except the application is external rather than a process started by the body. Some manufacturers also include essential oils for you to mix in the humidifier. Aim for the warm setting in a humidifier if you have thick mucus, or if you have a sore throat, use the cool setting.

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Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

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Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

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The mucus running down your nose isn’t just inconvenient since it requires constant wiping, but it can also be embarrassing. Plus, it’s another symptom of a cold, or allergies or flu that makes your life less happy, perhaps even add to your anxiety about a more serious illness.

You may have to see your ENT doctor for a medical evaluation in case your post-nasal drip symptoms aren’t resolved in a few days. But in the meantime, you may want to adopt these easy yet effective methods to turn off the tap, so to speak.

Limit Your Allergen Exposure

Allergies are among the more common causes of post-nasal drip. If you have post-nasal drip and a feeling of itchiness, then you’re likely having an allergy attack. This is because the allergy cells in your body release histamine that, in turn, causes itchiness.

• Use HEPA filters and dust mite covers in your home. These will decrease your exposure to allergens floating in the air and on your upholstered furniture including your mattress.

• Wash your bed linens in hot water as frequently as possible.

• Keep your pets outdoors since their hair and dead skin cells can cause allergies.

• Get rid of items in your house that can collect dust, such as carpets and rugs, even old books and magazines.

Watch What You Eat

Gastrointestinal reflux disorder (GERD) can cause post-nasal drip and can be triggered by eating fried and fatty food as well as chocolate, alcohol, coffee, soda and citrus fruits. If your post-nasal drip occurs after eating these food, then you may have to limit, if not stop, eating them.

You should also consider eating smaller yet more frequent meals, as well as eating more whole grains, lean meats and ginger. You will be healthier for it, too!

You may also benefit from reducing your intake of dairy products. These include cheese, milk and yogurt, although you can still enjoy them in limited amounts.

Rinse Your Sinuses

This works because it removes the allergens and irritants lodged in your nasal passages. The less irritants, the less irritation and the less drip since your body doesn’t have to produce as much mucus to get rid of them.

Rinsing your sinuses is as easy as pie, too! You can either use a homemade rinse or buy pre-packaged saline solutions. For a DIY solution, you can use distilled water, boiled water that has been cooled afterwards, or filtered tap water.

Steaming is also an effective way to rinse out your nasal passages and loosen mucus from your throat. You can fill a pail or large bowl of hot water, add two drops of eucalyptus oil, and place a towel over your head while inhaling the steam. You can do this for 10 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day.

Your ENT doctor can also recommend medications but these tips will improve your condition, too. Think of it as a wholistic approach to becoming better sans the post-nasal drip.

For details of our ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please contact us.

Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services

https://www.hkentspecialist.hk