To get rid of postnasal drip fast, several effective methods can be used:
- Elevate your head to help mucus drain and avoid lying flat.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially hot drinks like tea or broth, to thin mucus.
- Gargle warm salt water to loosen mucus and soothe your throat.
- Inhale steam from a hot shower or a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head to moisten and clear nasal passages.
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
- Perform nasal rinses or irrigations with a neti pot or saline spray, using distilled or sterile water.
- Avoid irritants like alcohol and cigarette smoke.
Over-the-counter options include decongestants (nasal sprays or oral), expectorants to thin mucus, saline nasal sprays, and non-drowsy antihistamines if allergies are a cause. Note that nasal decongestant sprays should not be used for more than 3 days to avoid rebound congestion. These approaches combined can provide fast relief from postnasal drip symptoms by thinning and clearing mucus and reducing irritation in the nasal and throat passages.
