Having a continual flow of mucus down the back of your throat can cause you a range of problems and can become so bothersome so as to cause the sufferer to seek post nasal drip treatment. While, most of the time, this condition will clear up in no time, sometimes this “runny nose” can become chronic. This is irritating and can impact your quality of life; it can also cause further respiratory problems if the issues are not appropriately treated.
There are a number of traditional “Western” medicine-related treatments, as well as homeopathic, or natural solutions to helping your resolve your post nasal drip problem.
Before we discuss some common post nasal drip treatments it is worthwhile understanding how your nose works and what causes the problem in the first place.
The nose is more than an attractive addition to your face. It is a major player in keeping you healthy. It prepares the air before you inhale it by warming, cleaning and humidifying it. On top of that, it helps you smell and therefore taste things.
Your two nostrils are separated by the septum. They also have six turbinates, which are little bones that open up the inside of your nostrils. There are three in each nostril. And then there are the sinuses. These are four air-filled chambers that empty into your nasal cavity.
Part of the nasal system produces mucus. Many of us think of mucus as that annoying stuff that fills your nose and blocks your breathing. However, that is just what happens when things get out of kilter in your nose. On a daily basis, your nose produces a couple of quarts of mucus. Without this mucus, your nasal passages would get dry and painful.
The mucus cleans and moistens your nasal passages which are lined with cilia, microscopic hairs that clean out the dirt as the mucus does its magic. The mucus reaches your throat and is swallowed without you even knowing it. It passes into your elimination system taking with it germs, bacteria, and viruses.
Post nasal drip occurs when this system breaks down. What happens is that the mucus is not disposed of and it starts to collect at the back of your nose and throat because there is too much mucus being produced or the mucus is too thick to flow freely.
With the extra mucus tickling at the back of your throat, the mucus has to be dealt with. Otherwise, you could end up with chronic problems such as a sore throat or cough that keeps you hacking away and clearing your throat.. What can you do to deal with this problem, known as post nasal drip? You could try to figure out what is causing the throat aggravation. If something has changed in your life then this might be the cause.
It could be environmental, caused by air pollution, smoke, or dust. It could be a medical condition such as an infection, deviated septum, or polyps. It might be a reaction to your medication such as tranquilizers or antihistamines that dry your mucus production.
Many solutions commonly recommended today for this problem are medication-based. The problem with medication-based solutions is that they don’t often provide the best long-term efficacy. What this means is that while they may work to successfully treat the symptoms, these medications are not likely to have much, if any effect on the long-term underlying issues that might be causing the chronic post nasal drip to begin with.
It is this focus on symptom, as opposed to cause, that has many tucking and running towards the nature-based, homeopathic routes as they want to rid themselves of issues once and for all, not medicate everything. With that in mind, the majority of people visiting their doctors seeking post nasal drip treatment are recommended most commonly these courses of action.
Steroid-based nasal sprays are commonly prescribed by doctors for patients who are suffering from chronic post nasal drip. These sprays are not recommended for long-term use and their use must be monitored incredibly closely by a doctor. There is a wide array of side effects associated with these sprays which is why they must be so closely monitored.
One might also be prescribed an oral steroid as opposed to a nasal spray style of delivery. These medications, like their nasal spray counterparts, are highly effective, especially when it comes to sinus problems that are allergy-based, but the same concerns with regard to side effects remain.
Antihistamines are often another common route taken by doctors treating individuals with chronic post nasal drip. These are pretty effective, though they do take longer to take affect that a direct nasal spray. The only problem is,antihistamines are naturally sedating, which means you’ll either be zonked out all the time, or you will have to obtain a non-sedating antihistamine, which often contains ingredients that aren’t very good for the heart.
However alternatives do exist that can be very effective. When you only have a minor post nasal drip problem you can help the basic irritations go away with a little treatment. Here are three simple things you can do to alleviate these minor mucus issues. And you can do these without leaving your kitchen.
The abnormal production of nasal mucus can be caused by so many things and if it is just a basic irritation, then these home remedies will likely provide you with some relief and improve your breathing. Even if the drip is caused by medications, a common allergy such as hay fever or cats, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), these remedies will also help to some extent.
Any of these basic approaches to post nasal drip treatment will improve the quality of your life dramatically. Find one that works for you and stick with it. Use it preventively and you may never suffer post nasal drip again.
However, if these fixes are only temporary it is a good idea to have your nose and throat checked out professionally just in case you have some physical damage or there is an underlying problem that can be fixed. For instance, if you are suffering from allergies, find out what they are and then work on avoiding these allergens. An untreated infection can keep you in misery for a very long time.
Hi, my name is John and I have been searching for some relief from my chronic sinus problems for some time. I have tried sinus surgery without much success and as a consequence I have been researching and testing alternative approaches to sinus relief. This site is the result of that research and testing and so my hope is that the information provided here can make a real difference to improving the quality of your life. Read more here ...
