Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Every time it’s cold or whatever flu, the mucus will usually start to flow. Apart from being a marker of a person’s health, the color of the mucus is also useful for diagnosing certain diseases.
The nose and throat of humans are lined with glands that can produce 1-2 liters of mucus every day. It may sound gross, but you swallow it all day without knowing it.
This nasal mucus is responsible for keeping the lining of the nose and sinuses moist, trapping dust and other particles from the inhaled air. They also fight infection, and mucus also helps humidify the air you inhale, making it easier for you to breathe.
Quoting Healthline, mucus has a consistency that can change. Usually mucus is very runny, but when the mucous membranes become inflamed, the mucus will thicken. This is what will cause the mucus to become a very annoying runny nose.
Some health conditions that can cause inflammation of the nasal lining include infections, allergies, irritants, and vasomotor rhinitis.
Discoloration of mucus to runny nose
In a healthy body condition, the mucus will be clear or transparent, but when you are infected with a disease it can turn yellow or green. It’s just that this is not an absolute thing, you have to confirm it to the doctor.
Colds, allergies, and runny nose
Increased mucus production is one way your body responds to colds and allergies. This is because mucus can act as a defense against infection and a means to rid the body of what is causing inflammation.
When you have the flu, your nose and sinuses are more prone to bacterial infections. The flu virus can trigger the body to release histamine, a chemical that inflames the lining of your nose and causes it to produce a lot of mucus.
Thicker mucus or mucus can make it more difficult for bacteria to settle in the lining of your nose. Colds are also your body’s way of flushing bacteria and other unnecessary materials from your nose and sinuses.
An allergic reaction to dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, or hundreds of other allergens can also cause the nasal membranes to become inflamed and produce excess mucus. The same is true for nonallergenic irritants that enter your nose or sinuses.
Crying causes excess mucus
One common cold trigger that has nothing to do with infection or allergies, or any other medical condition, is crying.
When you cry, the tear glands under your eyelids produce tears. As well as running down your cheeks, tears flow down the tear ducts at the inner corners of your eyes. Through the tear ducts, the tears flow down your nose. They then mix with the mucus that lines the inside of your nose and produce clear mucus.
(chs)
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