Hello everyone! Have a wonderful and safe day 🙋🏻
Every day, in our environment, we breathe in loads of pollutants, allergens, pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi, which enter into our system. Once they enter, the interaction of our immune system starts responding. So the process of filtration, defence and lubrication takes over. That’s how the mucus comes into play.
Mucus is a slimy secretion which is produced by the mucus glands on the tissue lining of many organs in the body. Its primary function is protective. It protects the particular organ from drying, catch hold of dust particles, foreign bodies, germs, microbiomes from getting inside our body. It also contains specific enzymes to kill the bacteria and pathogens and prevent us from getting infected. We produce at least 1.5 litres of mucus every day. Therefore, every day, mucus is created and perform its function of protection and hydration.
We start experiencing mucus in our throat, mouth, sinuses when produced in excess. The organs that usually produces mucus are:
Nose
Throat
Sinuses
Lungs
Gastro intestinal tract.
Facts related to mucus:
1. Mucus excess production is usually not a medical problem unless associated with other symptoms in the body or abnormal colour of the ooze. When you have a yellow to greenish mucus, it is usually due to cold. When you have blood-tinged mucus in the nose, it is generally due to dryness or scratching or forcefully blowing of the nose. Mucus, when produced in the lungs, is called phlegm. When you have blood in the mucus or phlegm, it is mainly infection or irritation in the lungs. It is usually not that serious. But, when there is excessive and frequent blood in the mucus, you need medical attention.
2. Excessive mucus produces common symptoms like sneezing, nasal irritations, nasal stuffing, nasal blockage, sore throat and headache. In such cases, slime is usually slippery and watery.
3. When mucus gets thickened in the throat and lungs, this is mainly due to congestion in the lungs and upper respiratory tract. The person may have breathing difficulty or problem in swallowing.
4. Sometimes, thickened mucus is produced due to conditions like smoking, air pollution, not drinking enough water, drinking too many caffeinated drinks like tea or coffee and alcohol, or being in airconditioned air for a long time.
5. Certain medical conditions which cause overproduction of mucus are Allergies, Sinusitis, Common cold, acid reflux, certain lung conditions like COPD, chronic bronchitis and asthma.
Simple measures to get rid of mucus are :
1. The best home remedy to clear the throat from mucus is the saltwater gargling which I recommend as this measure is very helpful for me too.
2. Keep yourself hydrated by consuming enough water.
3. Over the counter medicines, the expectorant, mucolytics, liquorice tablets are useful to some extent.
4. Elevating the head by using an extra pillow while lying down has been effective in some people.
5. Having certain kind of food items like Pineapple ( contains an enzyme bromelain which has anti-inflammatory properties), ginger, turmeric, apple cider vinegar are helpful to reduce the mucus.
Thanks for reading.
Blessings and much love to all 💐
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