What is Nasal Discharge, Causes, What Is Good?

Even if we are not aware of it, our body constantly employs many different defense mechanisms to protect us against external factors. One of them is mucus. Mucus is produced in our nose and throat, protecting our body from foreign substances that we can breathe in. In some cases, mucus production increases and becomes uncomfortable. This condition is called postnasal discharge.

Postnasal drip is one of the most common ailments because it can occur for many different reasons. Most of the time, it is harmless and goes away with simple methods that you can apply on your own or at home. However, sometimes you may need to be examined by a specialist doctor. Let’s examine in all details the questions such as what is the nasal discharge, which can be extremely disturbing, why it is good, what is it good for.

Let’s start with the basics, what is a postnasal drip?

During the breaths we take countless times every day, we also take in microbes, pollen and similar foreign substances in the air. However, they do not enter our body directly because a slippery and sticky substance called mucus is produced in the nose and throat. This substance both keeps these foreigners away, moistens our nose and allows us to fight infections.

Come to see that sometimes this mucus production is more than normal due to many different reasons. If the mucus is much more than normal, a condition called postnasal drip, that is, postnasal drip, occurs. A runny nose appears as an uncomfortable feeling in the back of my throat. It can also be felt as a drip from the nose to the throat.

What are the symptoms of nasal discharge?

• throat wheezing
• Throat ache
• wheezing in voice
• Nausea due to mucus
• Frequent urge to clear throat
• Feeling of lump in throat
• excessive saliva
• Bad breath
• Increased cough at night

These are the common symptoms of postnasal drip. Nasal discharge is often not noticed from the outside. The person experiencing this situation often feels the need to clear his throat, cough, and wipe his nose, as he has a feeling of congestion in his throat. Most of the time it is not a painful condition. In extreme cases, it can block the Eustachian tubes and sinus canals.

What causes nasal discharge?

• The body’s hard transitions between cold and heat
• Viral infections that occur with colds and flu
• Infections in the sinus canals
• Pregnancy
• weather changes
• Air pollution
• air dryness
• Consuming spicy foods
• Pollen and similar seasonal allergies
• Inhaling chemicals such as perfumes and cleaning materials
• To smoke
• passive smoking
• COPD and similar respiratory diseases
• Some blood pressure and birth control medications

These are the conditions that commonly cause postnasal drip. The common point of all these reasons is the body’s desire to protect the nose and throat. In order to prevent infections, irritations and similar conditions in the respiratory tract, our body produces much more mucus than normal, and as a result, a postnasal drip occurs.

How does the nasal discharge pass, what is it good for?

• Keep your head upright.
• Drink warm and hot liquids.
• Gargle with salt water.
• Inhale steam.
• Use moisturizer.
• Wash your nose.
• Stay away from alcohol and cigarette.
• Change your habits.

Keep your head up:

Nasal discharge often begins to bother people at night. Because in the evening we lie down to watch and read something, and we go to sleep to sleep. The mucus that accumulates in the horizontal position flows into our throat and disturbs us. For this reason, you should avoid lying down during the day and take a higher pillow under your head while sleeping. Lifting the upper part of the bed using wedges is also an option.

Drink warm and hot liquids:

Nasal discharge is caused by thickening of the mucus. When the mucus is thin, it flows and does not bother. You should drink plenty of fluids to thin the thick mucus that causes postnasal drip. Especially warm and hot liquids such as tea or soup show an extremely rapid effect. It is recommended to stay away from cold drinks, tea, coffee and soda.

Gargle with salt water:

As with many ailments in the throat and nose, gargling with salt water is of great benefit in nasal discharge. Salt water will both destroy infections and thin the mucus. By adding a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water, you can both gargle in your mouth and inhale it into your small nose with the mixture you create.

Inhale steam:

Another method you can use to thin the thick mucus that causes postnasal drip is steam inhalation. For this, pour boiling water into a large bowl, cover your head with a towel, approach the water and start breathing the steam. Take deep breaths, inhaling the steam for about five minutes. You can repeat this process twice a day.

Use moisturizer:

In pharmacies, you can find many products produced to moisturize your nose and throat. You can use them easily because they are mostly side-effect-free products. Keeping the nose and throat moist will prevent irritation, especially in winter, and will prevent postnasal drip.

Wash your nose:

Washing your nose with a method called nasal rinsing will also thin the mucus and relieve post-nasal drip. Never do this with tap water. You can do it with distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled water. Many different apparatus are sold in pharmacies for this process.

Stay away from alcohol and cigarette:

Alcohol and cigarettes are among the most common causes of postnasal drip, as they are the mother of all evils. Limit alcohol consumption and quit smoking completely. These substances not only cause nasal discharge, but also cause the existing nasal discharge to worsen.

Change your habits:

• Limit the consumption of spicy food.
• Limit your caffeine intake.
• Lose weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat healthy.
• Use a higher pillow.

When should I go to the doctor for post-nasal drip?

• When your nasal discharge lasts longer than 10 days
• When mucus has a strong odor
• When mucus color is yellow and green
• When you have a fever with a post-nasal drip
• When your breathing becomes wheezing

If these conditions accompany your nasal discharge, you should apply to the nearest health institution and be examined by a specialist doctor. Because the cause of postnasal discharge may be infection and antibiotic treatment may be required. Do not hesitate to seek help from a specialist physician when the methods you use at home do not work.

We talked about the details you need to know about the subject by answering the curious questions such as what is a postnasal drip, which is a discomfort that occurs with the increase of mucus produced in your nose and throat, why it is good, what is it good for. What we describe is for informational purposes only. As with all health issues, you should go to the nearest health institution and get the most accurate and specific information about nasal discharge from a specialist doctor.