If your cold seems over but your nose stays blocked or runny and something feels stuck at the back of your throat, it may be catarrh — a build-up of mucus. The NHS says catarrh is your body’s natural reaction to things like infection, and it usually goes away by itself, with symptoms usually lasting only a few days. At home it suggests plenty of water, sips of ice-cold water when you need to clear your throat, a humidifier or a steamy bathroom, and salt water gargles and nose rinses. See a GP if it lasts more than a few weeks or you get new symptoms such as a sore throat, problems swallowing or loss of smell. This sets out the NHS page “Catarrh”.
1. It usually goes away by itself; symptoms usually last only a few days. Sometimes longer.
2. Plenty of water, sips of ice-cold water, a humidifier, salt water gargles and nose rinses (up to 3 times a day).
3. More than a few weeks, or new symptoms like a sore throat, trouble swallowing or loss of smell: see a GP.
Symptoms and causes — NHS
The NHS lists a constantly blocked or runny nose and feeling like there’s a lump or something stuck in your throat.
| Cause | What the NHS lists | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Infection | Cold, flu and sinusitis | See cold and sinusitis |
| Irritants | Pollution and cigarette smoke | — |
| Allergy | Pollen, dust and animals | — |
| Nose conditions | Conditions such as nasal polyps | A GP may want to rule these out |
What to do at home — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Drink plenty of water | — |
| Do | Sip ice-cold water when you need to clear your throat, rather than coughing or swallowing | — |
| Do | Try a humidifier, or sit in the bathroom with a hot shower running | — |
| Do | Try gargling with salt water | — |
| Do | Try rinsing your nose with salt water | See below |
A pharmacist can suggest decongestants and other medicines to help.
A homemade salt water nose rinse — NHS
| Step | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boil a pint of water, then leave it to cool | About 570 ml (our conversion) |
| 2 | Mix in 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda | — |
| 3 | Wash your hands | — |
| 4 | Over a sink, cup one palm and pour a little solution into it | — |
| 5 | Sniff it into one nostril at a time, breathing through your mouth and letting it pour back into the sink | Try not to let it go down the back of your throat |
| 6 | Repeat up to 3 times a day until your nose feels more comfortable | — |
| Storage | Unused solution keeps for the rest of the day in a clean covered container; make it fresh each day | — |
When to see a GP — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms for more than a few weeks | GP | A separate line from the usual few days |
| New symptoms such as a sore throat, problems swallowing or loss of smell | GP | — |
A GP may want to rule out other causes such as nasal polyps, and may suggest pharmacy decongestants or salt water rinses. This page has no urgent or 999 list. For facial pain with a blocked nose see sinusitis; for the cold itself see common cold.
Checklist
- ☐ Plenty of water; sips of ice-cold water to clear your throat
- ☐ A humidifier or a steamy bathroom
- ☐ Salt water gargles; nose rinses up to 3 times a day, fresh solution daily
- ☐ More than a few weeks or new symptoms: GP
If you use a humidifier, the US EPA says empty, dry and refill it daily and keep indoor humidity at or below 50% (humidifier care).
Questions that remain
It says a few days — so can I wait a few weeks?
The NHS says symptoms usually last only a few days but sometimes longer, and separately says see a GP after more than a few weeks. We carry both lines as written.
Can I use a shop-bought saline product?
This page only describes the homemade method. Ask a pharmacist about ready-made products (our pointer).
Sources
- NHS — Catarrh — source (page shows: reviewed 16 June 2026, next review 16 June 2029; checked 19 October 2026). Symptoms, 4 causes, 5 things to do, pharmacist, the 6-step salt water rinse, 2 GP reasons, what a GP can do.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on catarrh or post-nasal drip; Korean saline products.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where else to check
- A pharmacy — decongestants and saline products.
- An ENT clinic — if it lasts more than a few weeks.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
