Say Good-Bye to Post Nasal Drip

It is winter again, that time of the year when post nasal drip seems to peak. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve felt the familiar collection of gunk in the back of my throat, and at times it has even affected my speaking voice. I can tell my speech is slightly raspy and muted at times. And of course that uncomfortable feeling of mucus in the back of the throat is the clear signal that post nasal drip is back.

So what’s to be done about all this?The first thing to understand is the reason why post nasal drip has entered the scene. The basic

problem is that the mucosa-cilia system in the nasal passages is not working efficiently. Most people, the lucky ones, are not even aware that they have a mucosa-cilia system or what its purpose is. Those of us who experience post nasal drip and recurrent sinus infections or sinusitis on a regular basis are keenly aware of at least the consequences of the mucosa-cilia system, if not its function.

Many people are surprised to learn that everyone produces between a quart and two quarts of mucus per day. This mucus actually helps protect us from disease in a normally functioning body. The mucus layer sits on top of cilia, or tiny hair-like membranes that oscillate back and forth and move the mucus and whatever it is carrying to the back of the throat and eventually down into the stomach where it is disposed of by stomach acids. Bacteria, viruses, allergens, dust and other particles floating in the air are drawn into the mucus layer when a person inhales them while breathing normally. One is not even aware of all this in a healthy functioning body. The mucus just runs down into the stomach without notice.

When the system isn’t working properly, however, things get clogged up. If the mucus is too thick and can’t be moved properly by the cilia, it can block the system and cause congestion and the obvious feelings of post nasal drip. Also, if the cilia are not oscillating normally, they cannot perform the function of slowly moving the mucus that is produced down into the stomach as described.

There are a number of things one can do to combat these problems either before such a situation occurs or after it has been detected. The goal here is to get the cilia moving again so the mucus moves and the post nasal drip can clear up.

I have read most of the sinus books on the market, and the common denominator for treatment, certainly espoused by the better ones, is the need to perform nasal irrigation to combat post nasal drip and sinus problems. I have tried several methods of nasal irrigation, including a neti pot and squeeze bottles of a saline solution. The best method for me, however, is pulsating nasal irrigation. It is said that if one uses an appliance like the Hydro Pulse, the pulses of saline solution are emitted with about the same frequency that cilia oscillate at, and thus the pulses help to make the cilia become more active since they are being stimulated at their natural oscillating frequency. Since there is no way for one to actually feel if this is occurring or not, I’ll have to take their word for it. I only know that my post nasal drip and sinus problems are more under control when I use this method, and I have been using it successfully for about seven years after two sinus operations didn’t really help.

The Hydro Pulse machine also comes with a throat irrigator. I first used this attachment only occasionally and with plain water. It didn’t work too well until I rinsed my throat with the same saline solution used in the nasal irrigation. This seemed to clear up my post nasal drip even more, and I would highly recommend this method.

Mucinex is also something that works for most people. This medication, available over-the-counter, makes mucus become thinner. It definitely helps to unclog the nasal system and create better drainage.

Some home remedies can also be employed with good results. The famous ENT physician, Dr. Murray Grossan, has told me that hot tea with lemon helps to get the cilia moving. Coffee does not have the same effect. Dr. Grossan recommends drinking up to 10 cups of hot tea per day (!) if you have a sinus infection, nasal blockage, or post nasal drip. Another good home remedy is the old stand-by, chicken soup. I recommend these home remedies be used in conjunction with the nasal and throat irrigation and mucinex.

Although post nasal drip and sinus problems can occur at any time of the year, for most people the winter season is the worst. Cold weather outside and dry air caused by home heating systems inside are normally the culprits. Try the easy suggestions mentioned above, and you’ll find that your post nasal drip problems will be significantly improved.