How to Treat Post-nasal drip

“Postnasal drip” occurs when excess nasal fluid builds up in the back of the throat and makes it feel like it’s dripping. This syndrome can cause a persistent cough or sore throat. Treatments for postnasal drip syndrome usually focus on the cause of the excess nasal discharge. The cause may be allergies or non-allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the first important step to take is to see your doctor to determine the cause of the excess nasal discharge.

Table of Contents

Remove Allergens from the Habitat

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If possible, remove the allergen from your environment. Allergens can be dust, pollen, pet dander, or mold. These substances can irritate the nasal cavity and lead to postnasal drip.

Bathe your pet to remove loose hair as they can cause irritation and lead to postnasal drip. If necessary, you can take your pet out of the house when allergies and postnasal drip become more severe.
Remove ornamental plants and flowering plants from the house.
Pack unused bedding in a nylon bag to reduce potential allergens.

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Use an air purifier to remove irritants from your environment. You can also use a nebulizer to create moisture in the air, helping to reduce irritation. When irritated, the nasal cavity responds by secreting more nasal secretions.

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Consult an allergist or get allergy testing done. A persistent postnasal drip could be due to an allergy to a food that you’re not aware of or a recent reaction to. Therefore, see an allergist to check if you are allergic to something without your knowledge.

There are two main types of allergies: allergies to gluten (a protein found in wheat) and allergies to dairy products. Milk allergy often causes sinus, upper respiratory tract and throat problems while wheat allergy often causes digestive problems. ^{[1] X Research Source}
If you suspect dairy is the culprit, eliminate dairy from your diet for a month. Then, if your symptoms don’t seem to be getting any better, you can be sure milk isn’t the allergen. If the symptoms are mild, it means that milk is the cause of your body’s more secretion of nasal secretions, although so far, there is no study to prove a clear link. between milk and nasal secretions. ^{[2] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Apply Treatment According to Doctor’s Instructions

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Drink plenty of fluids to rehydrate. Lack of water in the body can make the symptoms of rhinitis and postnasal drip more severe. Therefore, you should avoid caffeine and alcohol as they can cause dehydration. Water is the best choice to replenish body fluids during rhinitis and postnasal drip.

Check your urine to see if you’re drinking enough water. If your urine is yellow, you may not be drinking enough water. If your urine is clearer, just a little yellow, it means you are drinking enough water.

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Blow your nose frequently to clear excess nasal secretions from the nasal cavity. Blowing your nose can help get rid of irritants that can lead to a lot of nasal discharge and accumulation. If you can’t blow your nose, some people choose to inhale the nasal secretions back and spit it out of the throat to breathe better and not have a dry mouth.

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Nasal irrigation to remove irritants causing nasal discharge. You can buy saline nasal sprays and nasal sprays over-the-counter from your doctor at drugstores. The saline solution helps push the irritant out of the nasal cavity, dilutes nasal secretions, and soothes the lining of the nose.

Use a nasal wash to clear nasal secretions from your sinuses and throat. However, you need to be careful when using a sinus rinse because this means removing the natural antibacterial agent that helps the body fight bacteria, viruses and fungi. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Use an over-the-counter decongestant decongestant to relieve symptoms of excess nasal discharge and postnasal drip. Oral decongestants work by narrowing blood vessels to allow circulation in the nasal cavity. ^{[4] X Research Source} You can also buy nasal decongestant sprays.

Use Untested Natural Therapy

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Rinse with salt water. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to about 230 ml of warm water, dissolve and use as a mouthwash. Note, when rinsing your mouth, you should tilt your head back. For a better nasal discharge effect, you can squeeze half a lemon into the mixed salt water and gargle.

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Housecleaning. If allergens are haunting your sinuses, the only home remedy you need to do is clean your house. Follow the guidelines below to remove dust, pollen, and pet dander from your habitat before they can attack you through your nose.

Regularly wash clothes, bed sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers with hot water to kill bacteria that can cause postnasal drip symptoms.
Use a HEPA air filter at home. HEPA stands for “high efficiency particulate air”. This is an industry standard for government-tested air.
Regularly clean the air with a HEPA filter to remove allergens.

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Limit caffeine, alcohol, and hot spicy foods as they can cause more nasal secretions.

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Use a steam bath with herbs or essential oils. You can try doing a steam bath by covering your head with a towel and bringing your face near a pot of hot water (at a safe distance). You can fragrance the steam by adding tea (ginger, mint or chamomile) or essential oils (lavender, rosemary, etc.).

Take a hot shower. Let the steam rising from the hot bath water penetrate deep into your sinuses and lungs as you breathe.

Advice

Do not lie down as the nasal discharge will make you cough more.
Avoid getting too warm, as that also often makes you cough more.

Warning

Steroid pain relievers can have serious side effects if used for too long. Therefore, your doctor needs to monitor the use of these drugs.
Decongestants can cause high blood pressure, heart palpitations, insomnia, loss of appetite, and anxiety. The nasal decongestant spray should not be used for more than 3 to 4 days, as it can make your congestion worse again when you stop using it.

Things you need

Nylon padded carrying bag
Air purifier
Air Humidifier
Medicines bought without a prescription

Steps