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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
phlem
Answered by
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phlem
by Csweetsassy24, Mar 25, 2004 12:00AM
I'm 25 female. For the last 3 years I daily have phlem in my throat or the feeling that I do. I'm always hocking it up. It is sometimes clear and foamy or yellow and thick. There is no coughing involved. It is irritating to me and others. What could this be? and what is the cure?
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Mar 26, 2004 12:00AM
, Mar 26, 2004 12:00AM
Postnasal drip is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat. There could be several reasons for this drainage. One reason is an allergy. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. You may experience the postnasal drip as a daily feeling of phlegm in your throat. At this time there is no cure. However there are many treatments that can help.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken phlegm. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the phlegm so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. Clearing your throat can irritate your throat and make it sore. When you feel the need to clear your throat sip some water to clear the mucus.
An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the phlegm thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like SudafedŽ (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see which would help you more. Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis.
A nasal wash helps remove phlegm and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases phlegm production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent the postnasal drip. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken phlegm. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the phlegm so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. Clearing your throat can irritate your throat and make it sore. When you feel the need to clear your throat sip some water to clear the mucus.
An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the phlegm thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like SudafedŽ (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see which would help you more. Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis.
A nasal wash helps remove phlegm and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases phlegm production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent the postnasal drip. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
