A person begins to think about what snot is at an early age. Basically, mucous discharge does not bother us, but only until the moment when disease-causing processes begin in the body. Excessive production of mucosal secretions causes such an unpleasant phenomenon as a runny nose. So why do we need this viscous liquid?
Functions of mucus in the nose
Snot is produced by the respiratory system in the nasal cavity. This is a special secret necessary for the normal functioning of the body. It serves a number of very useful functions:
- prevents dust and small particles of debris from entering the respiratory tract;
- wets mucous membranes;
- helps to humidify the air entering the body;
- fights disease-causing viruses and bacteria.
We need snot to enrich all internal organs and tissues with oxygen. So that the organs are not damaged, the nasal mucus humidifies the air up to 100% and warms or cools it down to 36.6 ᵒС. These are the ideal air parameters for assimilation.
When bacteria or viruses enter our body, proteins and amino acids contained in the nasal secretion go into battle. They fight pathogens. This is evidenced by the excessive production of mucus, which we used to call a runny nose. This is how the protection of the respiratory tract from the penetration of pathogenic agents works.
Snot components
The mucus produced in the human nose contains a large number of useful components. The basis of snot is water. However, we know that mucus is not like water in consistency. What makes it thicker? A special protein is mucin. It consists of almost 100% sugar and, in contact with moisture, can increase in volume 600 times.
Salt is also part of the mucus. This is known by those who are "lucky" to taste the snot. The mucus also contains proteins and enzymes that are directly responsible for the fight against viral and infectious diseases. They recognize pathogens, actively attack them and prevent them from entering the respiratory tract.
Dead cells and dust that we breathe in the air are also part of the mucus. All impurities unnecessary for the body remain in the nose, over time they turn into boogers and are removed mechanically. Snot prevents foreign particles from entering the lungs and bronchi. This is why our nasal cavity produces these secretions every day.
The rate of secreted mucus
Contrary to the beliefs of ordinary people, mucus is produced in the nose all the time, and not only during colds. We breathe in about 2,000 liters of air per day, and all this volume needs to be heated or cooled, humidified, cleaned of dust and dirt in order for the body to function normally. It is impossible to do this without snot; it is they who act as a natural filter for the respiratory tract.
A healthy person's nose produces approximately 500-700 ml of mucus per day. We do not notice its presence, because the secretions flow down the back wall of the nasopharynx into the throat, and we simply swallow them. This is not hazardous to health, as the gastric juice kills all viruses and bacteria that may be contained in the snot.
However, there are often cases when the production of a secret increases by several tens of times. This indicates a disturbance in the body.
Can i eat snot?
Small children often eat nasal discharge, and this should not be mistaken for a pathology. We constantly involuntarily swallow mucus, there is nothing to worry about. However, swallowing snot is safe only if there is no infectious process in the body.
In case of bacterial and infectious diseases, it is recommended to remove snot by washing or blowing out. It is not worth swallowing such secretions, as they may contain pathogenic microorganisms that disturb digestion. It is best to stay at home in the midst of an illness in order to cleanse the nose in time.
Snot color
When the composition of the mucus is normal and we are healthy, the snot has a liquid consistency. They do not run out of the nose or make breathing difficult. If there are any deviations in the body's work, the color of the discharge changes. The appearance of a secret can tell a lot about a person's disease, for example:
- Liquid transparent mucus indicates an allergic reaction. It also often appears as a result of being in cold air, when tasting too spicy or hot dishes, while crying or at the very beginning of an infectious disease.
- Yellow, yellow-green or green mucus is typical for the height of bacterial and viral infections. Snot stains in this color due to the active production of neurophilites - white blood cells that fight pathogenic microorganisms. When neurophilites die, they release a green pigment.
- Snot with an admixture of blood indicates that you either blow your nose too intensely, and this leads to damage to blood vessels, or you have chronic atrophic rhinitis - a disease in which microcracks appear in the dry nasal mucosa.
Causes of the common cold
Rhinitis (runny nose) is an excessive build-up of nasal mucus. This process is associated not only with the onset of ARVI or other infectious diseases, it can be episodic. Consider what are the causes of mucosal hypersecretion.
- Hypothermia. We all noticed that snot appears in winter in the cold. This is a normal process, as the inhaled air heats up to body temperature in the mucous membrane, and then exits through it. Due to the large temperature difference between the environment and the exhaled air, excessive mucus is produced.
The air is too dry or hot. As the mucous membrane dries up in such conditions, it begins to produce more secretion. To avoid this, make sure that the room temperature does not exceed 20 ᵒС, and the air humidity does not drop below 60-70%.- Cry. The nose and eyes are closely interconnected. When a person cries, an excess of tears enters the nasal cavity, which leads to the release of snot.
- Hot and spicy food. A runny nose is an absolutely normal reaction of the body to a high temperature of food or its sharpness. When food is eaten, the vessels in the turbinate expand, and mucus is formed more actively.
- Allergy. What caused the allergy can only be determined by testing. Any allergens, getting into the nose, cause a protective reaction of the mucous membrane, it tries to force them out by excessive formation of nasal mucus.
- Infections. Viral, fungal and bacterial diseases also activate defense processes. The mucus prevents pathogens from entering the respiratory tract. In this case, snot from one nostril, increased body temperature, headache and other symptoms of the disease can be observed.
The air is too dry or hot. As the mucous membrane dries up in such conditions, it begins to produce more secretion. To avoid this, make sure that the room temperature does not exceed 20 ᵒС, and the air humidity does not drop below 60-70%.How to treat a runny nose
Before deciding how exactly to eliminate snot, you need to find out what led to their excessive discharge. There is no such independent disease as a runny nose. This is a state of the body, which is a consequence of various pathological processes. To understand what caused the violation, you need to go to an appointment with a specialist. The doctor will be able to determine the causes of the ailment and prescribe effective treatment.
Medications:
- Antihistamines. Block the action of histamine. They are used to treat allergic rhinitis.
- Vasoconstrictor. Suitable for removing edema from the mucous membrane. They should be used very carefully, because with prolonged use (more than 7 days) they can lead to addiction and the development of atrophic rhinitis.With this disease, the mucous membrane is depleted and becomes dry, therefore it cannot fully perform its functions.
Ways to eliminate symptoms
In order to prevent complications from occurring, you need to very carefully study what caused you to get a runny nose. If the disease proceeds normally and does not have any alarming symptoms, then it will be enough to take measures to improve nasal breathing. Medicines should be used only in extreme cases on the recommendation of a doctor. To improve the condition will help:
Inhalation. Breathing in the vapor of essential oils or saline is very helpful in relieving nasal breathing. This can be done not only in the clinic, but also at home.- Washing. Rinsing the nose is recommended with medicinal infusions and decoctions with antibacterial action. A saline solution, which is sold at pharmacies or made at home, is also great. With the help of these funds, you can not only wash out the mucus, but also degrade the one that cannot be blown out due to its thick consistency.
- Moisturizing the mucous membrane. After cleansing the nose, it is imperative to treat the mucous membrane with a moisturizer. For this, solutions with vitamins A and E, peach or sea buckthorn oil, glycerin solution are suitable.
Inhalation. Breathing in the vapor of essential oils or saline is very helpful in relieving nasal breathing. This can be done not only in the clinic, but also at home.Precautionary measures
To prevent snot from flowing out of the nose and making it difficult to breathe, you need to be very responsible about your health. As a preventive measure, you can apply the following measures:
- hardening of the body;
- increased local and general immunity;
- balanced fortified food;
- wearing protective masks during epidemics;
- maintaining optimal humidity and temperature in the house.
To increase immunity, walk more in the fresh air, do sports, play active games. It is better to replace vitamin supplements with natural products.
If frequent rhinitis is associated with enlarged adenoids or other physiological features, it is worth seeking help from surgeons.
Drawing conclusions
Snot is an integral part of the activity of our body, they are entrusted with a huge number of tasks with which they cope on a daily basis. Not only pathological changes, but also common irritating factors can lead to excessive mucus formation.
If you are worried about a runny nose, accompanied by other symptoms, this is a reason to see a doctor. Timely treatment of the disease that caused the disorder will help to quickly return to the usual rhythm of life.
