Mucus strands form cross links, producing a sticky, elastic gel. The solid gel layer acts as a physical barrier to most pathogens and the constant flushing movement prevents the establishment of bacterial biofilms. However, the pore size of the gel mesh means small viruses can easily penetrate it. Both nasal cavities combined have a surface area of square centimetres, aided by bony folds on their side walls. The blood flow to the nose varies with changing outside temperature, acting like a reverse-cycle air conditioner for the lungs.
Mucus is constantly produced although in lesser quantities during sleep and moved along. The mucus carries with it dead cells and other dust and debris, ending up in the stomach for recycling. Many cells lining the airways have a long, tail-like hair, called cilia.
Cilia beat at ten to 12 times per second, propelling mucus at one millimetre per minute. Lung airways also have cilia, working hard to move mucus uphill against gravity. The nose produces over millilitres of mucus a day and the lungs produce approximately 50 millilitres daily. If your phlegm is clear, you probably have allergies. Allergies trigger your mucus membranes to produce histamines, which cause your cells to make even more phlegm. Taking an anti-histamine will help stop excess fluid production.
Amp up your sources of moisture: Use a saline nasal spray, or try using a humidifier in your bedroom. See your doctor, stat. United States. If you have a cold or other respiratory infection, or you are a heavy smoker, your phlegm may be thicker and darker coloured.
This is caused by trapped particles, bacteria, viruses, white blood cells and antibodies. The inside of your nose is filled with structures called conchae , or turbinates. Their primary function is to warm the air you inhale to body temperature and add moisture until it's very humid — so that the air can enter your lungs without causing problems.
Stuffy noses occur when the conchae rapidly swell in size in response to cold, dry conditions, so there's more surface area for the air to flow over. Additionally, if you're fighting an infection, the conchae can swell further with blood, in order to bring more white blood cells to the site of the infection.
Most people think of this congestion as a result of too much mucus — but in reality, it's just swollen conchae. This explains why many people are congested when they wake up in the morning after breathing cold, dry air all night , especially because central air and heating systems dry out air significantly.
Because cold, dry air is what most often causes your conchae to swell, the best remedy is to add hot, moist air. This is why taking a hot shower often opens up a clogged nose, and why hot washcloths and facial steamers are also effective treatments. Nasal decongestants such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine can also help de-swell the conchae, but in some cases, there's a downside: they dry out the nasal cavity, by reducing the amount of serous fluid.
So if you're also experiencing excessively thick, dry mucus, you're better off avoiding decongestants. A few different factors can reduce the production of serous fluid in your nose, leading to thick, dry mucus. This is often experienced as post-nasal drip — thick mucus at the back of your throat that's much more noticeable than the thinner mucus you swallow unconsciously.
One cause is dehydration: if your body doesn't have enough water, it'll cut back on the secretion of serous fluid. An excessively dry environment — often caused by central heat or air conditioning — can also cause the same problem, as can smoking cigarettes. Instead of taking a decongestant to relieve post-nasal drip, Ellis recommends using an expectorant, which will increase the amount of serous fluid your mucus is diluted in.
Most of the mucus in your nose gets swept by your cilia to the back of your throat. But sometimes — especially in arid environments — some of the mucus near your nostrils in an area formally called the nasal vestibule begins to dry out first, becoming too viscous to be swept by cilia. If it sits there long enough, it dries even further, becoming the crusty accretion colloquially known as a booger.
Boogers, as it happens, are the subject of some scientific study. Several researchers have considered the question of why people pick their noses. One theory is that people simply derive pleasure from the act of "cleaning up," and while tissues aren't always available, your fingers are.
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