Nasal congestion

Treatments for catarrh

Catarrh will often passin a few days or weeks as the condition that causes it improves. See What causes catarrh? below for more information.

There are things you can try at home to relieve your symptoms, such as:

avoiding things that trigger your symptoms, such as allergens or smokyplaces
taking sips of cold water when you feel the need to clear your throat constantly clearing your throat may make things worse
using a saline nasal rinse several times a day these can be bought from apharmacy or made at home with half a teaspoon of salt in a pint of boiledwater that's been left to cool
avoiding warm, dry atmospheres, such asplaces with air conditioning and car heating systems placing plants or bowls of water in a roommay help to keep theair humid
staying well hydrated
talking to a pharmacist about suitable over-the-counter medications including decongestants , antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays

There are also several remedies, such as herbal medicines , available from health shops and pharmacies that claim to treat catarrh. Some people find these helpful, but there's generally little scientific evidence to suggest they work.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for nasal congestion

Introduction

Catarrh is an excessive build-up of mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. Find out why it happens, what treatments you can try and when your GP can help.

Symptoms associated with catarrh

Catarrh can lead to a: constant need to clear your throat feelingthat your throat is blocked blockedor stuffy nose that you can't clear runny nose feeling of mucus running down the back of your

Treatments for catarrh

Catarrh will often passin a few days or weeks as the condition that causes it improves. See What causes catarrh? below for more information. There are things you can try at home to relieve your symp

When to see your GP

Speak to your GP if your catarrh persists and is becoming difficult to live with. They may want to rule out conditions that could be causing it, such as nasal polyps or allergies . This may mean youn

What causes catarrh?

Catarrh is usually caused by the immune system reacting to an infection or irritation, which causes the lining of your nose and throat to become swollen and produce mucus. Thiscan be triggered by:

Health News