Have you ever been sick, super congested, and don’t know how you are producing so much mucus? With each blowing of your nose, you ask yourself, “How can there still be more?” Though a nuisance while sick, Mucus production is actually a really neat process our bodies do!
Though it may be gross to some – as a nurse, I have a hard time gauging the gross factor scale for others. I would encourage you to read and maybe learn something new that will never let you take your mucus for granted again.
The purpose of Mucus
Mucus has many functions.
- Lines organs of the body to protect against dryness and irritation to the mucous membranes.
- There are antibodies in your mucus that fight off foreign invaders
- Due to mucus’ thick and sticky texture, it traps pollen, irritants, dander, allergens, bacteria, and more.
The increase in mucus production isn’t bad but a good thing when you are sick because the foreign invader is trapped in the mucus, and then the body tries to expel it by sinus drainage. Did you know our mucus is a major player in our immune system?
But where does it come from?
It is produced by goblet cells, which are a type of epithelial cell (skin cell) that produces mucin. Mucin is the main material of mucous.
They create the mucosa lining of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, urinary system, nose, sinuses, and throat. Pretty cool!
What is it made of?
Mucus is mostly made up of water, about 95%, and other components like …
Glycoproteins initiate the immune system by allowing white blood cells to move throughout the body, identifying and attacking foreign invaders.
Proteoglycans act as receptors for immune cells, aiding in adhesion to host cells and modulating the immune response.
Lipids or fatty compounds are important for a ton of body functions, including energy storage, absorbing vitamins, and making hormones.
DNA, interestingly enough, can affect the viscosity and the elasticity of the mucus. This happens because the DNA entangles with mucin fibers, which makes the mucus thicker. This thick mucus can block and obstruct the airway, as in Cystic fibrosis.
What your mucus is telling you
As a nurse, I know I sometimes talk about things that most people would think of as impolite, but I think it is important to understand our bodies and be able to then act to help what your body needs. Your mucus production is one sign that something is going on in your body.
You may already know this, but the coloring of our mucus can tell you what is going on; some simple examples that normally ring true are:
Clear mucus is normal mucosa coloring.
Yellow mucus can be a sign of infection, such as a cold or viral infection.
Greenish/brown/bloody mucus can be a sign of infection, like a bacterial infection.
Tints of blood can be a sign of irritation to the mucosa lining in the sinus cavity, causing sensitive small blood vessels to burst from inflammation.
Brown or black is usually a complication of smoking, a sign and symptom of some lung diseases, or inhalation/exposure to something toxic; I would recommend seeing a doctor with this one.
Fun fact about antibodies
Let me nerd out for a second, please. Antibodies’ jobs are to disable and mark foreign invaders so that these cells can come to it and recognize that it is not part of the body. Then, one of my favorite cells, a phagocyte, will swallow and eat the invader. Is that not so cool!? That happens on a molecular level in our bodies all the time, but especially when we are sick! If you find this interesting, I go into how our body responds to sickness with our fevers in another blog post. I will link here: https://wonderfullymade-kmk.com/why-do-we-have-cold-chills/
Tips and Tricks
If you find yourself struggling with sinus congestion and copious amounts of sinus drainage, especially when you are miserable and cannot breathe due to a stuffy nose at night, some tips that I utilize with my family is to take a steamy shower to help open up your sinuses and increase the running of your nose so that you can get out as much as you can before going to bed. I make echinacea/elderberry hot tea with some local honey and lemon juice. Personally, I have not utilized it, but I have heard people rave over a netty pot or sinus irrigation system (you have to use sterile water if you do this), or there are also saline nasal sprays people enjoy utilizing.
I am not a doctor, and I do not prescribe or diagnose. I am not giving recommendations; I am just stating what has helped my family. There is a brand called Genexa, which makes effective medicine without nasty ingredients, dyes, fillers, or artificial additives. When we need to bring out the big guns and utilize active ingredient medications, it gives me reason to feel so much better about it when there are not any dyes and unnecessary chemicals in it. Just thought I would share that with you because a friend shared it with me, and I am thankful for her.
How Great are His Works!
Lord, thank you so much for designing our bodies in the way that you have. It is a beautiful masterpiece, and how anyone would think that a divine creator did not fashion us baffles me. Lord, I pray that those whose eyes are closed shut will be opened. Anyone who does not know you, Lord, I pray that their hearts will be softened this new year. I pray for those who do believe in you, God, that their faith will be renewed and strengthened in this new year. And most of all, I pray that You will get all praise, honor, and glory in all that we do. Praise you and you alone, Lord!
Disclaimer: These posts are for educational purposes only. I do not diagnose or prescribe. Please contact your PCP before making health changes. No advertisements or paid partnerships were included in this post, though that would be cool 🙂