BLOG 503 MUCUS, BOOGERS, SNOT OH MY
Mucus is part of life, and everyone has it. Especially
during a cold or sinus infection, tissue after tissue can become filled with
mucus. It can feel disgusting and sometimes embarrassing in front of others,
but mucus serves a pertinent purpose. Some doctors even refer to mucus as the
oil for the body’s engine. We find mucus in the lining of the nose, throat, sinuses,
lungs, and mouth. It is a protective blanket to these areas to keep them from
drying out. It is like a fly trap on our bodies that catches unwanted bacteria
and dust before they can enter the body. Mucus is powerful because it contains
antibodies that recognize which substances from the environment to filter out. The
trapping nature of mucus is why it is sticky and gooey in texture.
Even when not sick, the body produces 1 to 1.5 liters of
mucus daily. Most of it goes down the throat with saliva and is unnoticed. When
a person becomes sick, that is when they notice the high amounts the body
produces. It takes becoming sick or having bad allergies to trigger the mucus
production into overdrive.
Mucus does change color from time to time. Looking down at a
tissue of mucus doesn’t always produce the same picture. It can be yellowish,
green, brown, or even red. When a person is sick, the immune system sends white
blood cells to the protective areas with mucus which produces the green color. However,
that doesn’t mean that every batch of mucus when sick is green. When the nose
is dry or irritated it can produce brown or red mucus. The nostrils contain
many red blood vessels, and a small amount of blood can show up in mucus.
A person can never fully get rid of mucus from the body, but
it’s nice to be alleviated of such vast production when sick. There are over
the counter antihistamines and decongestants that can help. Decongestants cause
the blood vessels that line the nostril to narrow, which reduces blood flow. These
dry up the mucus and make it thick. Antihistamines block or limit histamines
which are triggered by allergic reactions and cause a running nose. Guaifenesin
can also be used which thins out the mucus and makes it easier to get out of
the body. A more natural route is using a neti-pot to remove mucus with a nasal
irrigation. However, washing too much of the bad out can also wash some of the
good out too.
Mucus is normal. We all have it. It serves a purpose. Yes,
it can be irritating and disruptive, but its protective role in blocking
bacteria is part of what our body needs. Just blow it out when there is too
much. There are worse nuances we deal with.