Post nasal drip cough is characterized by a condition in which the mucus runs from the nose to the back down the throat. Postnasal drip can cause a cough. The mucous has lubricating properties that help clean the nasal passage. In fact, the mucous get swallowed unintentionally. An allergy can increase the level of mucus development. Allergy such as cold or sinus in people can lead to a generation of a cough that reflexes. At night, it can get even worse. Thus, it is essential to tackle the problem as soon as possible.

The condition is also is called upper airway cough syndrome. A cough that just cannot leave and is coupling up with nasal congestion and dripping of a cough down back the throat indicates that a person is suffering from post nasal drip cough. This article discusses ways through which one can get relief from this cough.

Post nasal drip is a common symptom of cold, sinusitis, respiratory flu, acid reflux, and rhinitis. Other causes of post nasal drip cough include birth control pills, pollen, smoke, dust, and allergens. Mucus falls back the nasal passage into the throat. It can be caused by mucus that can be very thick, which can be difficult to get rid of.

Normally, mucus can be cleared by swallowing. When mucus is swallowed, the body’s defense system fights harmful bacteria and flush them out of the body. Cold can sometimes lead to allergies and myriad of problems. If there is too much of mucus build-up, it may be difficult to clear it completely. A cough can start dripping down the back of the throat. Post nasal drip cough can cause an irritating sensation. It can also cause a sore throat, continuous cough, and infection in the ear.

Sinusitis is a much serious cause of post-nasal drip. It can be treated using strong antibiotics. In severe and chronic infection, there may be need of minor surgery drain the sinus passage that builds mucus and bacteria.

The mucus that develops post nasal drip generates and mixes with anaerobic sulfur-accumulating bacteria that may cause tonsil crevices. The small and odorous formations in the throat are tonsils stones.

Post nasal drip cough can be broadly associated with allergies and antihistamines. In a few cases, they can be related to nasal steroids. These medications can help prevent the problem. Some doctors can also recommend allergy injections as a treatment for post nasal drip cough. If you think you may be suffering from post nasal drip cough, observe the symptoms listed below.

Symptoms of post nasal drip cough infection
– Cough
– Swallowing
– Hoarseness in throat
– Throat clearing
– Sensation of the lump
– Running nose
– Soreness in throat
– Tonsil stone
– Nausea
– Fatigue
– Bad breath
– Dryness in mouth

Use of nasal steroid spray
The most popular over-the-counter sprays to fight post nasal drip cough include Flonase Allergy Relief and Nasacort Allergy. There are also oral antihistamines to treat this cough, but intranasal steroid is always found to be more effective. These nasal steroids can treat a cough in a period of few hours to few days.

Oral antihistamines
It is believed that oral medications work better and faster on a cough. There are examples for sedative medication. The popular ones include Chlor-tabs and Tavist. One can also prefer taking a combination of drugs such as Bromfed and Lodrane. They are advised to be taken at night as they can make working difficult during the daytime. However, ensure to consult your doctor before trying out any of these.

Non-sedating oral antihistamines
Feeling sleepy during the day can be avoided by taking oral antihistamines that are non-sedating. There include over-the-counter medications such as Claritin, Allegra, and Xyzal to treat post nasal drip cough.

Antihistamine nasal sprays
There are other spays that can provide relief if you are suffering from post nasal drip cough. The nasal sprays such as Azelastine help reduce the running nose and cough with Atrovent nasal spray. However, Azelastine can cause sleepiness which is not a case with ipratropium.

Oral decongestants
One can take antihistamine along with Sudafed. Examples of such medication are Claritin-D and Allegra-D. However, Sudafed can raise blood pressure.

Oral leukotriene receptor
Singulair and Accolate are two common oral leukotriene receptor antagonists. However, they come for a hefty price.

Home remedies
Some remedies are inexpensive. They can be tried at home. For bad breath, there is a breath freshening throat spray that is designed to prevent odors. This is also a great way to deal with the irritants. You can also try home remedies such as breath freshening rinse and mix warm water with a little salt to avoid a mouth odor. They work by cleaning mucus away. They sooth your throat and treat tonsil stones that might be breeding in the mouth.

With these ways, you can help get relief from post nasal drip cough.