Suggest Treatment For Severe Headache, Cough And Post Nasal Drip

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

There are a few possibilities for what might be going on:

You might be getting frequent colds that then turn into sinusitis or bacterial infections. Your frequent colds may be due to ongoing allergies, or may be from lowered immunity, or may be from frequent exposures to viruses (such as if you are around children, schools, other public places).

You might have an allergy or a sensitivity to something in your environment.

If you find that this has been happening on a monthly basis I recommend the following:

1. An appointment with either an ENT doctor or an allergist to pursue the cause further.

2. A steroid nasal spray to be used daily, not just when the symptoms start. This may help stabilize your nasal/sinus mucus membranes so that they produce less discharge and are less reactive. You can get a corticosteroid nasal spray at a drugstore without prescription. Flonase is an example of one. Don't wait for the symptoms to start - use it daily regardless.

3. Irrigate your sinuses with saline once or twice a day to wash out things that may set this off. You can make your own and use a nettipot, or buy pre-made such as Simply Saline (more expensive but is convenient). To rinse your sinuses, stand over the sink, tip your head to one side and pour or spray the saline into the opposite side nostril (the upper nostril) until it runs out of the lower nostril. Reverse for the other side. Let most of the saline run out naturally and don't blow your nose hard or it can back up into your ears.

Don't do the saline rinse within (at least) a half hour of the steroid spray or the steroid spray will drip down into your stomach rather than staying in your sinuses.

4. Don't touch your eyes or nose unless you have immediately before washed your hands (well) with regular soap and water - and touched nothing else in between the hand washing and touching your eyes or nose! I learned this when I was a med student doing pediatric rotation and we were all getting sick. Our teacher taught us this. You don't have to be washing your hands constantly (although washing when you come in the house is a good idea). Just teach yourself not to touch your eyes or nose, which is the main way people get upper respiratory infections. You can use a tissue for the purpose, but make sure to use a part that your fingers have not touched!

5. When you first start to get the post nasal drip, consider taking an antihistamine with decongestant (such as Zyrtec-D, or Claritin-D) and see if that helps keep it from progressing into a sinus infection. Although these don't require a prescription, you have to ask the pharmacist for them - they are not out on the shelves.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.

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