Here’s How To Actually Stop Sinus Drainage

What is sinus drainage?

Sinus drainage, or postnasal drip, happens when excess mucus from a runny nose drains down the back of your throat. Under normal circumstances, having a layer of mucus in the back of your throat is healthy; this layer protects against illness and provides lubrication. When infection occurs, this can trigger the overproduction of mucus, which in turn may lead to sinus drainage. 

Another well-known term for sinus drainage or postnasal drip is upper airway cough syndrome, as this condition typically leads to itchy and persistent coughing. Additionally, mucus may be much thicker or thinner than normal, making drainage that much more apparent. 

Causes

Here are some of the common causes of postnasal drip:

• Allergies
• Viral infections (like the common cold)
• Sinus infections or sinusitis (the inflammation of the sinuses)
• Deviated septum (when the bony cartilage separating the nostrils is obstructed)
• Dry air
• Dehydration
• Sudden changes in weather
• Acid reflux (GERD)

Symptoms

Sinus drainage typically lasts for a few days to a few weeks. However, it can be chronic in some cases. You have a higher risk of having chronic sinus drainage if you also have chronic sinusitis. Here are the symptoms that commonly come with sinus drainage: 

• Persistent itching in the back of your throat
• Persistent cough
• Hoarse voice
• Sore throat
• Feeling a constant need to clear your throat
• Feeling a lump or mass in the back of your throat

Treatment

As with most conditions, you’ll want to treat the underlying cause to relieve yourself of it effectively. We’ve listed the different treatment options, including home remedies, that you might want to try.

Drink your water

Sinus drainage is often caused by dehydration. If our bodies do not have enough water to keep the sinus linings moist, the mucus that’s produced can become thick. Drinking a healthy amount of water in a day is crucial to thinning your mucus and draining your sinuses.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics capably treat bacterial infections if that’s what’s causing your sinus drainage. 

Antihistamines

One of the most common causes of postnasal drip and sinus drainage is allergies. Depending on what exactly it is you’re allergic to, antihistamines can be effective in helping your immune system manage the allergy. 

Chicken soup

Ah yes, the age-old remedy for colds and the sniffles – chicken soup. A study conducted back in 2000 showed that chicken soup interestingly has healing properties in reducing inflammation caused by infection. Scientists attribute this to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that some of the ingredients have. 

Decongestants

Decongestants and oral steroids help by reducing the inflammation in your sinus lining. The less inflamed your sinus lining is, the less blockage you will experience. 

Nasal irrigation

Nasal irrigation is an effective method of relieving nasal congestion and irritation. This treatment option requires you to flush out your nasal passages with a saline solution. There is special equipment like squeeze bottles and neti pots that are specifically designed for this job. 

Steam Inhalation

Steam serves two purposes: humidifying your sinuses and loosening mucus. Both of these effects will likely lead to relief from sinus congestion symptoms. The way you do this is by grabbing a bowl of hot water and a towel. You may also enhance this experience by adding a few drops of menthol, eucalyptus, or camphor oil to the water. Place the bowl on a table and bend over so that your face is directly above it. You’ll then want to drape your towel over the sides of your head, trapping the steam. You may also take hot showers, but the effects aren’t as pronounced as they are with this method. 

Alternating warm and cold compresses 

Sinus pain is one of the primary symptoms that accompany sinus drainage. If you find it unbearable, resulting in an extremely heavy head, this method has proven effective. It involves alternately placing warm and cold compresses on your cheeks, under your eyes. 

Surgery

If sinus drainage is brought about by a sinus infection resulting from a severely deviated septum, you may need surgery to correct it. An ENT doctor will assess first your sinus drainage before suggesting corrective surgery to solve your problem.