How To Get Rid Of Nasal Drip In South Africa
What is Nasal Drip?
Postnasal drip occurs when excess mucus a watery or sticky discharge drips from the back of the nose into the upper part of the throat, known as the nasopharynx.
How To Get Rid Of Nasal Drip In South Africa
1. Rinse your sinuses
Rinsing your nasal cavity is the simplest and, for many folks, one of the most effective remedies for post-nasal drip. It’s especially effective if you think your symptoms are from allergies or pollution. A rinse with a squirt bottle or a Neti pot works by washing irritants or allergens out of your nasal passages, says Alice Hoyt, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
2. Get steamy
Steam is another simple, effective way to loosen and clear mucus from the back of your throat and ease post-nasal drip. While a humidifier will moisten the whole room (we love the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier), Dr. Liberatore recommends a hot shower to enhance the results. “It’s better to do something directly to your nose than to humidify the air in general, because it can increase mold issues,” she says. “You can also put a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil on the shower floor,” she adds, to help clear nasal passageways.
3. Guard against allergens
Post-nasal drip is commonly caused by allergies. You’ll often be able to tell if one of your symptoms is itchiness. “The allergy cells responsible for allergy symptoms release histamine, which is a very itchy compound,” explains Dr. Hoyt.
4. Raise the head of your bed
Many people don’t realize that post-nasal drip can also be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux. This is when acid from the stomach regurgitates back up into the esophagus. Typically, the bubbling acid causes a burning sensation in your chest. But in some cases it can also irritate the back of your throat and your voice box.
5. Avoid fatty and fried foods
Symptoms of GERD, including post-nasal drip and sore throat, can be drastically reduced by avoiding reflux-aggravating foods. That means anything fried and anything high in fat, as well as chocolate, coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, and peppermint.
6. Cut back on dairy products
Many people suffering from post-nasal drip swear that giving up or at least cutting back on dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese reduces mucus production and eases their symptoms. No studies have proven definitively that the strategy is helpful, but personal stories abound.
7. Consider over-the-counter meds
In addition to medications to relieve GERD, there are a slew of widely available drugs to treat post-nasal drip and sore throat directly.
Many people start with mucus-thinning products like Mucinex and Robitussin. “Sometimes that helps relieve the irritation in the throat when the mucus is thick,” Dr. Liberatore says.
8. When to see a doctor for post-nasal drip
If your post-nasal drip lasts 10 days or more, if it gets worse, or if the mucus is green or yellow or has blood in it, it’s time to see your doctor.
You could have a bacterial infection, a structural problem with your nose like a deviated septum, or nasal polyps. Antibiotics will usually take care of bacterial infections, while a deviated septum and polyps can both be corrected with surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
What is the quickest way to get rid of post nasal drip in South Africa?
A simple way to thin it out is to drink more water. Other methods you can try include: Take a medication such as guaifenesin (Mucinex). Use saline nasal sprays or irrigation , like a neti pot, to flush mucus, bacteria, allergens, and other irritating things out of the sinuses.
How do I get rid of nasal drip permanently?
In the cases of a deviated septum, corrective surgery may be the only way to permanently treat postnasal drip. This surgery (called a septoplasty) tightens and straightens the nasal septum. Some parts of the nasal septum may need to be removed to do this.
What happens if post nasal drip is left untreated?
Most cases of post-nasal drip go away with time, but long-lasting, untreated post-nasal drip and excess mucus can create a breeding ground for germs, which in turn can lead to additional health complications, including sinus infections and ear infections.
Why won’t the mucus in my throat go away?
When mucus starts to build up or trickle down the back of the throat, this is known as postnasal drip. Causes of postnasal drip include infections, allergies, and acid reflux. As well as feeling the need to clear the throat frequently, a person with postnasal drip may also experience: a sore throat.
Does Vicks help post nasal drip?
Vicks VapoRub a topical ointment made of ingredients including camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol that you rub on your throat and chest doesn’t relieve nasal congestion. But the strong menthol odor of VapoRub may trick your brain, so you feel like you’re breathing through an unclogged nose.
Why do I have post-nasal drip everyday?
Post-nasal drip occurs when your body produces too much mucus or when mucus isn’t draining effectively. It’s a common symptom of colds and other respiratory infections or allergies that have respiratory effects. Virtually everyone experiences post-nasal drip from time to time.
Is it normal to have mucus in throat for months?
Catarrh is a build-up of mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. It usually affects the back of the nose, the throat or the sinuses (air-filled cavities in the bones of the face). It’s often temporary, but some people experience it for months or years. This is known as chronic catarrh.
How long does post-nasal drip last for?
How long can post-nasal drip last? Efforts to treat post-nasal drip should be taken early on. However, symptoms of severe post-nasal drip may linger for weeks or months. If early treatments fail or symptoms increase after 10 days, you may need to visit your doctor.
Can nasal drip affect lungs?
These results strongly suggest that entrance of postnasal drip into the trachea and the lungs may be owing to host conditions, such as whether the host is asleep or awake, and thicker viscous postnasal drip may easily enter the respiratory organs.
Does lemon water help post nasal drip?
Drinking lemon water: Lemons are not only full of Vitamin C but they are also good at loosening mucus. Squeezing half a lemon into a large glass of warm water first thing in the morning can help control mucus production throughout the day.
Can you have post nasal drip without being sick?
Most patients with dripping in the back of the nose that is actually from nose and sinuses do have significant amount of nasal symptoms that are obvious. It is rare to have true postnasal dripping with no obvious nasal and sinus symptoms. Other organ systems can also affect the back of the throat.