Mucus is produced by membranes in the nose and sinuses, and its main function is to trap bacteria, viruses, and allergens like dust or pollen in your nose and prevent them from spreading through your body and making you sick. Eventually, the mucus and the substances it has trapped will head to the stomach and pass out of the body. The mucus is also made by the digestive system, the cervix, and the urinary tract. It prevents you from getting sick and protects the tissue that lines your lungs, throat<\/strong>, and nasal<\/strong><\/a> and sinus passages, keeping them from drying out.<\/p>\n You generally don\u2019t notice your mucus unless you are sick. But if you have an infection, your mucus may change its colour. If you smoke or are exposed to an irritant in the air, you may produce more of it than usual.<\/p>\n Watch out for the following mucus symptoms:<\/p>\n If you smoke or are exposed to an irritant in the air, you may produce more mucus than usual. If you start producing a lot of clear mucus, it indicates that you are experiencing allergies and your body is trying to get rid of irritants like pollen or dust.<\/p>\n When you are sick, your mucus may become stickier. When you have an infection, your body produces more white blood cells, and sends them to your airways to fight it, which can give your mucus a yellow or greenish color.<\/p>\n Phlegm is a type of mucus produced by the lungs and respiratory system, unlike the mucus produced by the nose. It\u2019s a sign of inflammation and irritation. Phlegm expelled through coughing<\/a><\/strong> is called sputum.<\/p>\n Excessive mucus production can be caused by:<\/p>\n When you are sick, thicker or stickier mucus may build up in your lungs and throat, causing congestion and difficulty breathing or swallowing. Excess mucus at the back of your nose may drip down your throat and lead to a cough.<\/p>\n Sinus infections or sinus inflammation may stem from an infection in another part of the respiratory system. It may lead to increased mucus production and blocked sinuses.<\/p>\n If you are exposed to irritants in the air like dust, smoke or pollution, you may produce more mucus than usual – a sign that your mucous membranes are too dry.<\/p>\n If you think you might have allergies, a cold, sinus pain, fever or a respiratory infection, notice a change in your mucus:<\/p>\n If this concerns you and your symptoms do not get better or worsen with time, talk to your healthcare provider, who can assess your mucus and diagnose.<\/p>\n Follow the simple strategies mentioned below to manage mucus:<\/p>\n Drink enough water – at least eight glasses in a day (enough so that urine is pale) and limit drinking beverages loaded with caffeine, as they can be dehydrating.<\/p>\n Try using a humidifier to keep your throat and nasal passages moist. This will alleviate the excessive mucus and phlegm production.<\/p>\n When you have nasal congestion, any mucus buildup can drip back into your throat, triggering the cough. Elevating your head or lying on your side may let the mucus drip out instead.<\/p>\n Use irrigation devices, such as neti pots or squeeze bottles, to move a saltwater solution through your nasal passages to clear out mucus and flush out allergens.<\/p>\n While your body needs mucus to stay healthy, a stuffed nose might feel agitating. The above-mentioned strategies are simple yet effective in managing mucus symptoms. Do visit your healthcare provider if the symptoms don\u2019t seem to go away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stay tuned to the Activ Living Community. Keep up to date with the latest health tips and trends through expert videos, podcasts, articles, and much more on\u00a0nutrition<\/b><\/a>,<\/b>\u00a0fitness<\/b><\/a>,<\/b>\u00a0mindfulness<\/b><\/a>,<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0lifestyle conditions<\/b><\/a>\u00a0like Asthma, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Diabetes. Activ Living ke saath sahi sehat ki shuruaat ABHIkaro.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You may also be interested in the following blogs:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Popular Searches<\/strong><\/p>\n How to lower blood pressure<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Fruits good for liver<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Unhealthy foods<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ragi Benefits<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Basal Metabolic Rate<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Acupressure points for High Blood Pressure<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ayurvedic medicine for blood pressure<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0How to control cholesterol at home<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Homeopathy for Asthma<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Biological Age<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Home remedies for TB<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Natural beta blockers<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Negative effects of internet<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Types of walking<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Blood pressure calculator<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Blood sugar calculator<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0BMI Calculator<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever wondered what the annoying sticky material dripping down your nose when you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2963,"featured_media":72711,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[4349,4348],"class_list":["post-72708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle-conditions","tag-mucus-symptoms","tag-what-is-mucus"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnderstanding the different types of mucus<\/h3>\n
Color, consistency, and what they might indicate<\/h3>\n
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Mucus symptoms that need attention<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Excessive mucus production<\/h3>\n
Changes in mucus color or consistency<\/h3>\n
Persistent cough accompanied by mucus<\/h3>\n
Causes that trigger\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The common cold and seasonal allergies<\/h3>\n
Sinus infections and upper respiratory tract infections<\/a><\/h3>\n
Exposure to irritants like dust, smoke, or pollution<\/h3>\n
![\"coughing-mucus_Activ](\"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/coughing-mucus.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen should you seek professional help?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Simple strategies to manage mucus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Staying hydrated<\/h3>\n
Using a humidifier to moisten dry air<\/h3>\n
Elevating your head while sleeping for drainage<\/h3>\n
Saltwater nasal irrigation<\/h3>\n
![\"nasal](\"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/nasal-irrigation.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n
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