How to Cure Post Night Post Nasal Drips

Post-nasal drip is caused when mucus drips from the sinuses down the back of the throat. It can be caused by excess, thick secretions or from an obstruction or irregularity in the clearance of mucus from the nose and throat. It can lead to a chronic cough or sore throat. When you sleep, you swallow much less frequently and these secretions may accumulate more than during the day. It is important to reduce and thin the secretions to obtain relief from post-nasal drip.

Things You'll Need

• Topical and oral antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medicines prescribed by your doctor
• Nasal irrigation device and saline

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Instructions

How to Cure Post Nasal Drip

• 1

  Visit a doctor or specialist such as an allergist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) to get a proper diagnosis and cause for your post-nasal drip. Before you can treat post-nasal drip, you need to know what's causing it. You may need allergy testing, lab work or sinus x-rays.

• 2

  Use topical (sprays) and oral allergy and anti-inflammatory medicines such as antihistamines, nasal steroids and decongestants that are recommended by your doctor. These will relieve the post-nasal drip and congestion caused by allergies. Ask your doctor if allergy shots might help you. Avoid the allergens that cause your post-nasal drip. Make sure your bedding is free of dust mite allergen or goose feathers that you may be allergic to. Don't sleep with your pet in your bedroom.

• 3

  Take an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor if your post-nasal drip is due to a bacterial infection of your sinuses (sinusitis). Sinus infections can sometimes take a very long time to resolve, so be sure to follow up with your doctor if your post-nasal drip does not go away.

• 4

  Get sinus surgery by a surgical otolaryngologist if your post nasal drip is caused by a structural abnormality like a deviated septum or nasal polyps. Your doctor may also prescribe a nasal steroid spray and antibiotics as part of your treatment.

• 5

  Thin your nasal secretions by drinking plenty of fluids. This will help the mucus drain more effectively. Most people should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic liquid each day. Avoid consuming fatty dairy products that can thicken mucus. Take a mucus-thinning medication that contains guafenesin (such as Mucinex, Humibid, Robitussin).

• 6

  Perform nasal saline washes to rinse mucus out of your nose up to four times a day. With your head over the sink you can squirt saline from a squeeze bottle, a nasal douche devise such as a WaterPik or Neti Pot into each nostril until the saline drips out the opposite nostril. Use nasal saline sprays to moisten your nasal passages.