Look at your urine to determine if you’re getting enough water during the day. If your urine is yellow, you’re probably not getting enough water. If your urine is clearer, with at most a hint of yellow, you’re probably drinking enough water. Drinking warm fluids, such as warm water, hot decaf tea, or clear broth, is especially helpful for relieving postnasal drip.
Take a warm shower. Let the steam of the warm water work its way into your lungs and sinuses while you bathe.
Some people swear by lime juice as a remedy for congestion. While there’s not a lot of evidence to support the “lime cure,” it’s possible that the immune-boosting properties of citrus might help with colds and other causes of the sniffles. Try mixing a little lime juice into your tea.
Use decongestant sprays for no more than 3 days in a row. If symptoms don’t get better after 3 days, discontinue the use of medicated decongestant sprays or drops. Using these kinds of decongestants for longer than 3 days can cause “rebound congestion,” which may persist for months. [9] X Trustworthy Source FamilyDoctor. org Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors Go to source Rebound congestion happens when your body grows dependent on decongestant sprays or drops, causing you to feel even stuffier when you stop taking them.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to take these medications and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
Wash your clothes, sheets, pillowcases, and mattresses in hot water regularly. Hot water will kill any bacteria that may be causing your symptoms. Vacuum regularly with true or absolute HEPA filters. Vacuuming with HEPA filters ensures that any allergens are picked up during the vacuuming process.
If your doctor says it’s okay, try herbal blends like Sinupret that are designed to clear your sinuses and help mucus drain more effectively.
Corticosteroid sprays, such as Flonase and Nasacort, help to treat the swelling and inflammation in your nasal passages that occur with allergic rhinitis. Antihistamine sprays can effectively treat allergic rhinitis and are also effective for some non-allergic causes of postnasal drip, such as vasomotor rhinitis, which must be evaluated by your allergist. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source
In addition, using a humidifier can add moisture to the air, which relieves the irritation in the nasal cavity. When the nasal cavity is irritated, it produces excess mucus as a response. [15] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source If you don’t have a humidifier, take a hot shower and inhale the steam.
Dairy is not a likely culprit, and studies indicate no clear link between dairy and mucus production. [17] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
