Published: 12th August, 2019 in: Cough, Cold and Flu
Catarrh, while not harmful, can be an incredibly frustrating ailment that can cause patients much irritation. It’s not a dangerous condition, but can be easily cured with a number of different treatments.
In our latest article, Weldricks Pharmacy will seek to answer any questions you might have surrounding the condition of catarrh, including what causes it, how to get rid of it and what your treatment options might be.
Catarrh is caused by a buildup of mucus in an airway or a cavity of the body. It usually affects the back of the nose, throat or sinuses, which are air-filled cavities in the bones of the face.
It is often temporary, though some people experience it for months or years— this is known as chronic catarrh.
Catarrh is usually caused when the immune system reacts to an infection or irritation, causing the lining of your nose and throat to become swollen and produce mucus. This can be triggered by hay fever or other types of allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps or a cold and other infections.
There are a number of relatively common symptoms which are associated with catarrh. These include:
These symptoms can be extremely irritating and frustrating to live with, causing you discomfort during the day and potentially disrupting your sleep too.
Catarrh can quite often pass in a matter of a few days once the condition which causes it passes, however there are a number of things which you can do to help treat it, rather than simply waiting for it to pass.
It is recommended that you avoid things which can trigger catarrh (such as smoky places or allergens), and take sips of cold water when you feel the need to clear your throat - it is important to note that constantly clearing your throat may make things worse. Catarrh can also be caused by warm and dry atmospheres like air conditioning or car heating, so avoiding these environments, combined with staying well hydrated should help.
You can also use a saline nasal rinse several times a day which can be easily purchased from your local pharmacy or online from websites such as our own here at Weldricks.
As well as utilising these various techniques which can help to alleviate the symptoms of catarrh by themselves, there are also a range of over-the-counter products which you can purchase from the likes of Weldricks Pharmacy to help ease your catarrh symptoms and provide you some relief from the discomfort.
There are a range of tablets available on the market than can help to ease your symptoms of Catarrh. Shop brands like Nurofen, Beechams and Sudafed on the link above, picking up a range of tablets that will clear your blocked nose, soothe your throat and help to tackle any irritation.
If you would prefer a liquid alternative to soothe your throat then there are a selection of cough mixture options available online from Weldricks to treat your catarrh. Olbas, Covonia, and Sanderson’s all offer cough mixture liquids which can be taken to soothe a sore throat.
Pastilles for catarrh are a fantastic alternative to tablets that you can take on the go to stop those irritating symptoms. In this category you’ll find products from big brands like Potter’s and Broncho Stop (by Buttercup), helping stop your tickly cough and to dislodge some of the mucus which is associated with catarrh.
Weldricks Pharmacy offers a variety of different products which can help alleviate your catarrh symptoms, providing a range of different items which will suit you. While the products available over our virtual counter are designed to provide you some relief, following the above steps in this article will also go some way to offering you some relief from the discomfort catarrh provides.
Stock up your medicine cabinet, keep your throat lubricated, your fluids up, and yourself away from heated environments, and your catarrh symptoms should subside in a matter of days.