4 Ways to Remedy Post-Nasal Drip

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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For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.

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

http://www.hkentspecialist.hk