Coughing up Thick Mucus - What Are Common Causes of Thick Mucus?
Coughing up thick mucus .Mucus within the human physique serves many very important features. Most significantly, mucus protects the physique from dangerous substances by appearing as a barrier and by facilitating the elimination of such substances. The presence of thick mucus is commonly a sign that the physique is combating an infection, attempting to rid the physique of dangerous substances or responding to the ingestion of sure meals.
For animals within the vertebrate phylum, mucus is produced by mucous membranes which can be situated in varied locations inside the physique of the animal. In people, mucous membranes are positioned on cavities of the physique that come into contact with the surface world. These embrace the nostrils, mouth, ears and genitals.
Mucus is made from water, carbohydrates, proteins, cells and salt, and it serves many vital capabilities for the human physique. Mucus protects organs by performing as a barrier that stops any international matter from making its approach into the physique. For instance, mucus within the nasal cavity traps allergens and dirt particles earlier than they will make their manner into the lungs. This helps forestall people from irritation or an infection that may be attributable to widespread irritants reminiscent of smoke, mildew and plenty of micro organism and viruses.
In finishing up its protecting perform, mucus additionally removes dangerous particles. Thus, when the mucous membranes come into contact with an infectious agent equivalent to a micro organism or virus, they start to extend mucus manufacturing to extend the effectivity of elimination. This leads to the manufacturing of thick mucus. As an illustration, when the nostril is contaminated with the widespread chilly virus, the nasal and sinus membranes enhance the manufacturing of mucus with a purpose to take away the virus from the physique, thus ensuing within the thick nasal mucus generally skilled throughout a chilly.
The identical phenomena takes place when the physique comes into contact with an allergen. For many individuals that suffer from allergic reactions, the presence of the set off allergen on their mucus membranes causes a rise within the manufacturing of mucus, leading to thick mucus meant to eradicate the pollutant from the physique. Elevated mucus manufacturing can happen in any a part of the physique that has mucous membranes and comes into contact with an allergen.
In some folks, thick mucus could be the results of a meals sensitivity or allergy. That is usually the case with dairy merchandise. Many occasions, the fats in dairy merchandise will increase the viscosity of mucus, and a few folks discover an elevated quantity of thick mucus of their nasal passages and lungs shortly after consuming these meals.
