With dry winter air and cold and flu viruses spreading like crazy, now is the best time to take a second look at your health. Post nasal drip affects a lot of people during this season because the mucus that is constantly produced in your body gets thick and you may have trouble involuntarily swallowing it - which happens normally in the body. For individuals with asthma, this can be extremely uncomfortable. Not only is it hard to breathe through the nose because the thick mucus clogs up your nose, having to breath through the mouth can trigger an asthma attack because it takes more effort to breath this way.
Normally, the throat stays moist because secretions from the nose warm the air we breathe, trap foreign inhaled material and help to fight infections. Normally, we don't really realize that the mucus is even present in our bodies, but when it becomes thick, we become immediately aware that it is there. Do you ever feel like you always need to cough up gross stuff stuck in yor throat? This is post nasal drip.
Post nasal drip and asthma
Having post nasal drip and asthma at the same time can be incredibly uncomfortable. Thick mucus drains from the back of the nose to the throat - this is what causes you to clear your throat and spit up thick mucus. This also leads to bronchial constriction - which is especially difficult for people with asthma. An individual who has asthma and sinusitis (post nasal drip) may have sinobronchial syndrome. This syndrome is thought to be caused by allergies or an infection that can be chronic if not treated. Post nasal drip of inflammatory secretions from the upper airways along with asthma can lead to bronchitis or other respiratory issues like pneumonia.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of post nasal drip are fairly obvious. You'll feel if the mucus is too thick to swallow because you'll have to cough it up frequently. This, combined with other various nasal and chest congestion symptoms, like shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, fever, headache, chest tightness and nasal obstruction, is sinobronchial syndrome.
Post nasal drip isn't just uncomfortable; it leads to other oral health issues like bad breath. Just think about it - always having thick phlegm in the nose and mouth could not be good for your breath. To get rid of bad breath, you might want to use alcohol free mouthwash, natural toothpaste and a tongue scraper. Using alcohol free mouthwash is much better than the traditional stuff that you find in the grocery store because alcohol dries out the mouth and makes breath even worse.
If you feel like you may be suffering from both post nasal drip and asthma, make sure to follow oral health procedures to ensure your mouth stays healthy. Also, you'll want to keep your body healthy. You should make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day to moisten the throat and ensure the mucus doesn't stay thickened. Avoid caffeinated beverages as much as possible because they will dry out the mouth and throat - unless you are suffering from asthmatic symptoms in which case black coffee can help tremendously. Sip on tea as frequently as possible and intake vitamin c or fruits because they can help break down the mucus.