How to remove snot from the throat

Often with pharyngitis, adenoids, rhinosinusitis, after a cold, mucus accumulates in the throat.

The degree and severity of the disease does not depend on the cause, rather, they are determined by the neglect of the process. The accumulated snot in the throat causes a lot of inconvenience:

sensation of a lump in the throat; provoked cough; constant feeling and swallowing of mucus; the appearance of a runny nose; discomfort while talking and eating; bad breath if a bacterial infection has joined.

Why do they appear

Regardless of the cause, the mechanism of mucus accumulation is the same. Snot gets into the throat if there is an inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, nose or paranasal sinuses. Mucus, draining from the nasal passages, lingers if the mucous membrane of the posterior pharyngeal wall is inflamed.

The cilia of the inflamed mucosa are unable to move mucus, and the secretion secreted is not enough to thin the sputum. The situation is aggravated if a person with a runny nose constantly uses vasoconstrictor drops in the nose.

A slight accumulation of mucus in the nasopharynx may be in smokers, after drinking alcohol, sour foods, resorption of marshmallows and lozenges.

How to get rid

In the treatment of a thick runny nose, it is important to observe two points - moisten the throat and treat with antiseptics, if necessary, add an antibacterial agent. Usually snot in the throat accumulates after sleep in the morning. A good expectorant push and a mug of hot drink may suffice to remove a lump in the throat.

Sometimes it is necessary to rinse the throat and nose thoroughly with a saline solution. Before using any medicinal product, you must carefully read the indications, contraindications, special instructions and method of use indicated in the instructions for use.

Inhalations

Inhalations will help to quickly get rid of mucus, because the inhaled vapors go immediately to their destination. For inhalation, it is recommended to use a warm saline solution with soda, a decoction of coltsfoot leaves, sage herb, oak bark, eucalyptus leaves.

Salt solution thins the mucus, helps it to separate from the walls of the mucous membrane. You can not do inhalation at elevated body temperature.

After inhalation, you need to blow your nose well and carefully cough up phlegm from your throat. If you drink warm herbal tea with honey, the positive effect will come faster.

Expectorants

An important point is the use of expectorants - they thin the sputum, help it to separate from the walls of the mucosa. As a result, all the mucus comes out with a cough in a natural way. For the treatment of adults, you can use Cough Tablets, Ambroxol, Bromhexine, Libeksin, Mukaltin, Lazolvan.

A faster and more effective drug is ACC, Acecex. Cough, snot in the throat of a child is best treated with herbal expectorants - cough syrups Gedelix, Gelisal, Linkas. There is no need to drink an expectorant for a long time, 1-2 days is enough until the sputum comes out.

Flushing the throat

Washing not only removes snot mechanically, it moisturizes the mucous membrane, relieves inflammation, the active components of solutions and decoctions normalize the production of mucus, kill bacteria. From a thick runny nose, you can rinse with saline, adding one teaspoon of salt, soda and 10 drops of iodine to a glass of water, decoctions of medicinal herbs are suitable for rinsing. You can use a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate, a solution of furacilin.


You need to flush your throat constantly, the more often the better. If the child does not know how to gargle through the mouth, the solution must be dripped into the nose so that it flows down the back of the throat.

Antiseptics and anti-inflammatory

They help not only to remove accumulated mucus, but also relieve perspiration, inflammation and sore throat, relieve swelling and inflammation. You can use any pharmacy spray, but Lugol, Ingalipt, Larinal are preferred. If the cause of the disease is pharyngitis, then you can treat the throat with Oracept. The throat is treated 2-3 times a day - you need to open your mouth wide and spray the spray 2-3 times.

Nasal drops

Astringent nose drops Collargol, Protargol, Sialor will help get rid of accumulated mucus. They bind the mucus, kill the bacteria, help the mucus come out.

To relieve inflammation, you can use chlorophyllipt oil - it must be diluted by half with vegetable oil and instilled into the nose twice a day.

If the snot in the throat does not go away within a week, if a bacterial infection has joined, then it makes sense to be treated with Isofra antibacterial drops. For a more tangible effect, eliminating nasal congestion, you can choose the combined antibacterial drops of Polydex.

Antibiotics should be used if the cause is a bacterial infection and other treatments have not cleared up the problem.

Sinupret

The herbal preparation Sinupret will help treat snot in the nasopharynx. The tool was created specifically for the natural removal of thick secretions from the sinuses and upper respiratory tract. Sinupret has an immunomodulatory and antiviral effect, increases the body's resistance to bacterial infections, enhances mucus secretion and the formation of liquid sputum, which facilitates expectoration.

The drug is natural, does not cause addiction, side effects, is hypoallergenic, it has no contraindications, it can be used to treat even small children and people with immunodeficiency.

Sinupret is produced in the form of drops, tablets, capsules, dragees and children's syrup.

Folk methods

Aloe vera will help treat a runny nose and cough. It is necessary to mix freshly squeezed juice of one leaf of aloe in equal amounts with honey. The resulting medicine is eaten twice a day.

Propolis. You can lubricate the throat with propolis, as well as rinse. It is necessary to prepare an alcohol tincture in a ratio of 1: 3, insist for 7 days. An easier option is to buy a ready-made tincture at a pharmacy. You can put a piece of propolis in your mouth and chew it for several hours.

Coltsfoot. To remove thick sputum, get rid of a lump in the throat, a decoction of the leaves of the plant, which is drunk three times a day for ½–1 cup with honey, will help. Every day you need to make a fresh decoction.


Diet

It is important to know that certain foods affect the amount and composition of mucus produced. Therefore, for the period of illness, it is recommended to exclude flour and starchy foods, spicy and dairy foods, drink more fluids and eat foods rich in vitamin E and C - cabbage, carrots, rose hips, black currants, bell peppers.

To moisten the throat, you need to dissolve mint candies, with perspiration and sore throat, it is better to buy antiseptic marshmallows. Saliva moisturizes the throat and has a natural bactericidal effect, the active substances of marshmallow prevent bacteria from multiplying.

If the snot accumulates a lot, and they do not go away within a week, you should consult a doctor - you may have incorrectly identified the cause of the disease, which led to inappropriate treatment.

A runny nose often worries us during colds, nasal discharge will not surprise anyone. However, if snot constantly collects in the throat, this is already a serious reason for contacting an otolaryngologist. You can get rid of the problem by washing or rinsing. In case of detection of serious violations, drug therapy or surgical intervention is prescribed.

Reasons for the formation of mucus in the throat

Under normal conditions, all mucous membranes secrete a secret that protects them from viruses, bacteria, infections and other troubles. If any disturbances occur in the body, mucus begins to be produced in larger quantities, it is concentrated in the nose or nasopharynx. Snot in the throat is a kind of protection against irritating factors. They can appear for a variety of reasons:

Irritation of the oropharynx and nasopharynx by external factors. It can be dust, too hot or too spicy food, tobacco smoke, alcohol, medicines in the form of sprays or lozenges. Pathology of the respiratory tract. Diseases such as rhinitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia and others can cause snot to flow down the back of the nasopharynx into the throat. Inflammation of the sinuses. Sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis and ethmoiditis lead to the formation of mucus clots between the nose and throat. Most often, the secret has an unpleasant odor, a thick consistency and a green or yellow-green color. Disorders of the digestive system. It is in the pharynx that the respiratory and digestive systems intersect. In some diseases of the stomach and esophagus, excessive secretion of mucus is formed. Very often, this phenomenon provokes the throwing of the contents of the stomach back into the throat, while aggressive hydrochloric acid and enzymes cause mild inflammation of the mucosa. Allergy. When inhaled with air, allergens can form snot in the throat. This is a defensive reaction to foreign agents. The body begins not only to produce a secret in the nasopharynx, with allergic reactions, watery eyes and sneezing are observed. Abuse of nasal drops and sprays. In medicine, this phenomenon is called "drug rhinitis." With it, there is difficulty in breathing, the formation of thick snot, which is difficult to expectorate. Vasoconstrictor drugs cause hypertrophy of the nasal mucosa if overdose is allowed. Hormonal disruptions. The formation of mucus in the throat can occur as a result of serious restructuring of all systems in the body. Endocrine diseases, puberty or pregnancy can trigger this condition. anatomical disorders. Excessive production of mucus in the throat may indicate conditions such as polyps, swelling in the throat, or a deviated septum. In such cases, the easiest way to get rid of the problem is with the help of surgery.

Symptoms of the disorder

It is not difficult to recognize the presence of accumulations of mucus in the throat, because it causes a lot of discomfort. You need to see a specialist when there are such symptoms:

constant sensation of a lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed or coughed up; burning or sore throat, causing involuntary coughing; difficulty swallowing; bad breath; difficulty breathing.

To remove snot from the throat, you must definitely make an appointment with an otolaryngologist. Treatment is given after the underlying cause is identified. Only by eliminating the underlying disease, it will be possible to get rid of the symptoms that disturb the patient. In addition to an examination at the ENT, the patient may be assigned additional consultations with such specialists:

infectious disease specialist; gastroenterologist; infectious disease immunologist.

The overall clinical picture becomes visible only after all tests have been carried out and their results have been studied. In particular, these can be allergy tests, a general blood test, a blood test for antibodies to viruses, bakposev and a smear, endoscopy of the nasopharynx, rhinoscopy.

Only after all these procedures, the doctor can reliably determine the cause of the violation and choose the most appropriate treatment.

Medical therapy

In no case should snot be ignored in an adult or a child, as they can lead to serious consequences. The most common cause of mucus is a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. If you swallow the discharge, you can get a severe indigestion, as pathogenic microorganisms will continue to live in the gastrointestinal tract.

Also, pathogenic microflora can enter the respiratory tract and cause serious illness. Mucus is an ideal breeding ground for viruses, fungi, and bacteria, so it's important to remove it as soon as possible.

Drugs for the treatment of an adult are prescribed depending on what caused the disease. The main task is to eliminate the source of infection, the only way to achieve a quick and complete recovery. Depending on the etiology, you can get rid of the violation using the following means:

Antibiotics. They are prescribed in cases where the infection was provoked by bacteria. Drugs can be both systemic and local action. Antivirals. They have a positive effect on the elimination of snot that has arisen against the background of SARS and other viral diseases. Antiseptics. Anti-inflammatory and disinfecting agents help to significantly improve the condition of the mucosa, cleanse it and protect it from pathogenic microflora. They greatly speed up recovery. Antihistamines. Appointed in case of detection of allergies. Significantly improve the condition of patients after the first application.

Folk remedies

You can get rid of the problem not only with pharmaceutical preparations, but also with the help of folk remedies. They give a pronounced effect and at the same time do not harm the body, as they do not contain chemicals. You can try these methods to eliminate snot from the throat:

Honey and aloe. Pre-peeled pulp of a medicinal plant should be mixed with honey and taken 2 times a day after meals. Lubrication with propolis tincture. To prepare the tincture, you need to carefully grind the propolis so that it turns into a powder, pour it with a glass of cold water. After a while, unnecessary impurities and wax will float up, and the propolis itself will peel off and sink down, it will be the raw material for the tincture. The resulting precipitate must be poured with alcohol at the rate of 30 g of propolis per 100 g of alcohol. The resulting mixture should be lubricated throat. Honey and calendula. To prepare a healing mixture, you need to mix fresh calendula flowers and honey in equal proportions. It is necessary to use the remedy after each meal until complete recovery occurs.

Additional measures

In addition to treatment with medications and folk remedies, additional measures can be used. They will help relieve severe symptoms and make breathing easier. To remove mucus, follow these rules:

Rinsing. In order to gargle, you can use a decoction of chamomile, tincture of oak bark, boiled water with salt and soda, and other means. The more often you carry out the procedure, the better the condition will be the next day. Washing the nose. A simple and effective procedure that removes mucus and has a beneficial effect on the mucous membrane of the throat. A solution for washing can be prepared from potassium permanganate, soda, sea salt, furacilin, sage or chamomile decoction. Plentiful drink. Drinking plenty of water will help maintain the hydrobalance in the body and remove toxins from it as quickly as possible. Inhalations. Vapors of essential oils, such as eucalyptus, have a beneficial effect on the elimination of mucus. You can also use saline for inhalation. Sufficient humidification. If indoor humidity is less than 50%, this can only aggravate the disease. To make the indicator optimal (50-70%), you can use special devices or simply place water containers near the batteries.

Prevention

Getting rid of green snot in the throat can sometimes be very difficult. In order not to have to be treated for a long time, it is best to prevent the problem. For prevention you need:

reconsider, if possible, the place of work, if it is associated with a permanent stay in a dusty room; use protective equipment against polluted air; stop smoking and do not abuse alcohol; do not take too spicy or hot food if it irritates the mucous membranes; strengthen general and local immunity; treat rhinitis responsibly and to the end; prevent hypothermia of the body.

The throat can disturb us not only with perspiration, but also with the accumulation of mucus. Such a phenomenon may indicate the presence of serious diseases in the body, so you should contact a specialist immediately after the first symptoms appear.

Self-medication in this case is contraindicated, therapy is prescribed by an otolaryngologist after a thorough analysis of the clinical picture. By paying attention to the disease in time, you can quickly cure it.

Have questions?

Report a typo

Text to be sent to our editors: