Why Does Postnasal Drip Cause Sleeping Issues? Many people find that postnasal drip is worse at night and can prevent them sleeping. There are various factors that could be to blame for this. One significant problem is that lying down in bed changes your elevation, draining mucus into the upper respiratory airway.
Fexofenadine (brand Allegra) and loratadine (brand Claritin) are good second-generation antihistamines that are non-sedating and could be good for mild to moderate postnasal drip symptoms.
The most common causes of post-nasal drip are: viral infections in your nose and throat (such as a cold) hay fever — inflammation of the inside lining of your nose, also called 'allergic rhinitis' sinusitis —inflammation of the hollow spaces in the bones of your face (sinuses)
While postnasal drip is usually a minor or temporary condition, there are rare occasions when symptoms may be serious and potentially harmful, suggesting a cause that's not temporary or easy to manage.
Post nasal drip that is caused by viral infections, such as the cold or flu, could last for weeks or longer, depending on the type of treatment and a person's immune response. Whereas, post nasal drip caused by seasonal allergies may cause symptoms to flare up suddenly and disappear after just a short time.
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.
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.
a constantly blocked nose. feeling like there's a lump or something stuck in your throat. a frequent need to swallow or cough to try to clear your throat. a feeling that mucus is slowly dripping down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
We recommend seeing a doctor if your symptoms continue worsening or last more than 10 days. Schedule an appointment with an ENT specialist right away if your postnasal drip is accompanied by fever, wheezing, breathing difficulties or mucus with a strong odor.
Several widely available drugs directly treat post-nasal drip and sore throat. Many people start with mucus-thinning products like guaifenesin (Mucinex) and dextromethorphan (Robitussin). 1 "Sometimes that helps relieve the irritation in the throat when the mucus is thick," said Dr. Liberatore.
Post-nasal drip can be difficult to cure, and treatment varies according to the cause: Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics, nasal spray, decongestants, and nasal saline irrigations. For chronic sinusitis, surgery to open the blocked sinuses may be required.
Remedies For Thin, Watery Mucus
Drink plenty of water: Just as it helps with thick mucus, staying hydrated will help with thin mucus, too. Avoid spending a lot of time in cold temperatures: For example, avoid exercising outside in the cold. Lower temperatures encourage your body to make more mucus. 11.
Possible causes of excess mucus can be food allergies, an acid reflux from the stomach, or an infection. The consistency of mucus in the throat also varies depending on what is going on in your body. Common causes of too much mucus in the throat include a cold or flu, acute bronchitis, sinusitis or pneumonia.
Post-nasal drip is one of the most common characteristics of chronic rhinitis, and over a prolonged period of time, it may lead to a chronic sore throat, a chronic cough, or throat clearing.
Postnasal drip makes you feel like you constantly want to clear your throat. It also can trigger a cough, which often gets worse at night. In fact, postnasal drip is one of the most common causes of a cough that just won't go away. Too much mucus may also make you feel hoarse and give you a sore, scratchy throat.
Postnasal drip alone is not worrisome, but it certainly can be bothersome. If your symptoms persist more than ten days or seem to be getting worse, make an appointment with an ENT. You should schedule an appointment right away if you also experience fever, wheezing, breathing problems, or mucus with a strong odor.
Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) are useful for reducing congestion and postnasal drip, and saline nasal sprays can help keep your nasal passages moist. If allergies are responsible for your postnasal drip, non-drowsy antihistamines such as loratadine-pseudoephedrine (Claritin®) could help.
Postnasal drip refers to excess mucus that someone may feel in the back of the nose and throat, causing a constant need to clear the throat. It may lead to symptoms, such as a sore throat and trouble swallowing. Environmental triggers, such as allergies, cold weather, or dry air, may cause postnasal drip.
Postnasal drip caused by allergies can be managed with OTC antihistamines and decongestants. Note that older antihistamines like Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton can actually thicken mucus; instead, try Claritin, Alavert, Allegra, Zyrtec, Xyzal or Clarinex.
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. One of them could be the lungs and trachea.
Post-nasal drainage can often lead to cough, sore throat, frequent throat clearing, and the feeling of a lump in the throat. An excess in thin, clear secretions can be from viral infections, allergies, spicy foods, temperature changes, pregnancy and some medications (birth control pills, blood pressure medications).
Postnasal drip (mucus drips down from the back of your nose into your throat) as a result of hay fever, allergies, nasal polyps or infections.