Post Nasal Drip occurs when excessive mucus is produced by the mucous membrane lining in the sinus cavities and nasal passages. This excess mucus accumulates in the throat or back of the nose causing you to have constant dripping of mucus down the back of your throat.

Post Nasal Drip can be caused by:

1. Rhinitis
2. Sinusitis
3. Allergies
4. Weather change  (spring or summer)
5. Hormonal changes such as during menopause, menstruation or pregnancy

Symptoms of Post Nasal Drip

1. Sore throat
2. Coughing
3. Constant clearing of throat
4. Difficulty swallowing
5. Congestion in the nasal passages
6. Mucus feeling in the back of the throat

Treatment for Post Nasal Drip

1. Antibiotics – Pseudoephedrine is one of the most common drugs prescribed for the treatment of Post Nasal Drip. This drug relieves the stuffiness and runny nose symptoms.
2. Surgery – minor surgery is done to open the blocked sinuses for drainage.
3. Nasal irrigation – is a hygiene practice whereby the nasal cavity is rinsed to flush out all infected and excess mucus.
4. Bulb syringes – A syringes is filled with saline solution and then squirted into your nose to remove excess mucus.
5. Neti pots – these are used to rinse the nasal passages and promote drainage of thick, stuck mucus.

 

Bronchitis and Pneumonia

Bronchitis and Pneumonia are known as lower respiratory diseases. These two conditions can either affect your lungs or the airways that lead into the lungs.
Cold and flu’s which affect your nose, throat and sinuses are referred to as Upper respiratory diseases.

What is the difference between Pneumonia and Bronchitis?

Pneumonia		Bronchitis
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung caused by a virus, fungus or bacteria invasion.		Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes lining, the airways that connect the windpipe to the lungs.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a serious infection of the alveolar tissue found in the lungs and is usually attributed to a virus or bacteria. When this occurs, the lungs become filled with liquid (which may be thick at times); preventing the right amount of oxygen from getting into the body. This lack of oxygen reduces the optimal functioning of your body cells. Without the correct treatment, this lack of oxygen can be fatal.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

1. Fever
2. Chest pain
3. Tiredness (weakness)
4. Painful breathing
5. Wheezing
6. Coughing that produces mucus
7. Headaches
8. Shortness of breath
9. Chills

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis occurs when the airways in your lungs become inflamed and start producing overly large amount of mucus which becomes trapped to the mucous membrane lining causing a narrowing and blockage in these bronchi. Bronchitis affects the bronchi that carry air to the lungs from the trachea. Inflammation from infections can also result in damages to the cells that line the bronchi. When a person has bronchitis it makes it harder for air to pass through the lungs, as the bronchi tubes swell and get narrower. This can cause one to continuously cough up mucus and wheeze.

Symptoms of Bronchitis

1. Coughing that is frequent and produces mucus
2. Lack of energy
3. Fever
4. Vomiting mucus
5. Wheezing sound when breathing and fever

Why is there a wheezing noise when people exhale?

1. Wheezing often originates from the small bronchial tube. This is the breathing tube located deep in the chest, but may also be due to a blockage in larger airways.
2. It’s normally a high-pitched whistling sound heard during breathing.
3. It occurs when air flows through a narrowed breathing tube.
4. Wheezing is a sign that a person is having breathing problems and is most obvious when exhaling.

Bronchitis can be Acute or Chronic.

1. Acute bronchitis - typically last about 10 days, often occurs following a severe cold or flu.
2. Chronic bronchitis- can be life-threatening. This condition may result from a series of acute bronchitis attacks over a period of time (± 3 months), or from an irritant such as smoke and pollution that will gradually make it worse.

Why do the hospitals give oxygen when you have pneumonia or Bronchitis?

Some people who have Bronchitis or Pneumonia develop low oxygen levels in their blood. This is why hospitals give oxygen, to increase and replace any lost or low oxygen. It is not because of breathlessness that hospitals give oxygen to pneumonia or bronchitis sufferers. If necessary a bronchitis or pneumonia sufferer may be prescribed oxygen at home.

What is Asthmatic Bronchitis?

Patients that suffer from asthma or chronic bronchitis often develop asthmatic bronchitis. This occurs when their previous respiratory condition becomes severe and persistent, causing a permanent obstruction of the respiratory tract.

How is a sinus condition linked to Pneumonia or Bronchitis?

The viral infection usually starts in the nose and upper airways of the throat as an upper respiratory infection. Patients may therefore have symptoms of a runny nose, congestion, nasal discharge, throat irritation and post nasal drip. The characteristic symptoms of acute bronchitis are a result of inflammation of the bronchial airways, leading to painfulness and burning, coughing and chest discomfort, and in certain cases a mild fever.

A persistent cough may occur together with the upper respiratory symptoms, and inflammation of the bronchial airways often induces the glands in the bronchial membranes to increase their mucus production and secretion, which results in sputum production and a productive cough. The color and consistency of the sputum (sputum is dead or live white blood cells) can vary considerably. It may be clear and thin, or yellow and thick in appearance.

Why does one cough up blood?

Bronchitis symptoms may cause one to appear as if they are coming down with a normal cold. As this infection gets worse, one may cough up thick, yellow or green mucus streaked with blood due to damaged mucus membranes. A cough that lasts for more than 10 days, with symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or coughing up blood should be checked over by your doctor to identity the cause and possible treatments.

Can your lungs collapse due to Bronchitis?

Bronchitis can be very dangerous when air doesn't pass freely through your lungs as this can lead to dehydration and cause tremendously thick bronchial secretions that can block airways resulting in:

1. Lung collapse
2. Respiratory failure
3. Pneumonia

Double pneumonia occurs when both of the lungs are involved. Patients with this condition are usually admitted to hospital should a patient display the following symptoms:

1. Low blood pressure
2. Vomiting ( cant take oral medication)
3. Low oxygen in the blood
4. Pneumonia in both lungs

Walking pneumonia is caused by the germ Mycoplasma and is usually not serious enough to require hospitalization. This illness used to kill thousands of people before vaccinations and antibiotics were discovered. This condition was previously commonly confused with influenza.

Pertussis or whooping cough is a highly contagious disease involving the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. Vaccines are one of the main reasons why whooping cough has been kept under control.