There is probably not a single person on Earth who has never had a cold. Therefore, each of us knows that a common cold is a cold. But not everyone knows where the snot comes from, and what function they perform. In this article we will try to deal with these issues.
What is a snot?
To understand where snot comes from, you need to know what they are and the mechanism of their appearance.
Snot, or muconasal secretion, is a mucus produced by the mucous membranes, which includes water (95%), protein mucin (3%), salts (1-2%), as well as epithelial cells.
Mucin determines the properties of mucus - it gives it viscosity, that is, the more it is produced, the thicker the snot. In addition, it has antimicrobial and antiviral effects. Snot always stand out, even in a healthy person in small quantities. And this happens due to the fact that mucin absorbs moisture from atmospheric air and increases many times in volume. That's where the snot comes from in our nose. They envelop the surface of the nasal mucosa and prevent the penetration of viruses, bacteria, dust particles into the respiratory tract.
Causes of snot
While there are few of them, few people wonder where the snot comes from, because they, as a rule, do not cause inconvenience.
But if viruses or bacteria get into the upper respiratory tract, a lot of mucus begins to be released, which
makes breathing difficult. The reason for this is the same mucin. It neutralizes pathogens, while losing its bactericidal properties and flows out of the nose, and instead of spent mucus
a new one is formed.
Another cause of snot is allergy. In this case, mucus is produced in order to flush irritating allergens from the inside of the nose.
Also, slightly more than snot is usually released during mechanical damage to the nasal mucosa, for example, with scratches. Mucus envelops the wound, thereby preventing infection from entering it.
What are snot?
Surely you noticed that snot are different in consistency and color. They can be transparent and liquid or thick and green. Their color can be yellow, and gray, and even brown. By the type of snot, we can assume what kind of infection the infection that struck the patient is viral or bacterial. Let us examine this question in more detail.
If the snot is colorless and liquid, then this indicates that the body was attacked by viruses. The same consistency of mucus happens with allergies. But if bacteria settled in the upper respiratory tract, the snot becomes thick and green. To neutralize bacteria, a greater amount of mucin is needed, and the more it is, as mentioned above, the more thick and viscous the mucus becomes. At the same time, antibodies that fight bacteria, produce enzymes that stain mucus in green.
Rust-colored snot can indicate more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia or airway bleeding. For smokers, snot can be yellow or brown. The reason for this is nicotine, which stains mucus.
How to get rid of snot with allergies?
Recently, due to environmental degradation, allergies have become quite common. It can be on anything - on flowering plants, dust, fungus, some food, wool and much more. Most often, it is accompanied by abundant discharge of snot. When an allergen enters the nasal cavity, mucus begins to release, which tries to wash it off. Therefore, the first thing you need to try to stop contact with an irritating substance, if, of course, it is known. For seasonal allergies, daily rinsing of the nose with water can help. Antihistamines that block the production of histamine, local hormonal drugs, and vasoconstrictor drops in the nose, which relieve swelling of the mucosa, are also prescribed.
Cold treatment for the common cold
To the question "What to do: snot flow, how to treat them?" many doctors answer that, first of all, it is necessary to ensure an easy outflow of mucus from the nasal cavity, and for this it must be liquid.
Therefore, it is necessary to regularly moisten the mucous membrane - irrigate it with saline solutions, as well as monitor the humidity in the room - it should not be too dry. In this case, mucin absorbs a large amount of moisture, the mucus liquefies and flows freely, and along with it pathogenic bacteria, you only need to blow out from time to time.
To alleviate the condition, especially at night, you can use vasoconstrictor drops in the nose. They relieve swelling of the mucosa, and breathing becomes much easier. But they can not be abused, since with prolonged use they exacerbate the severity of the condition.
Doctors also prescribe, depending on the nature of the disease, antiviral drugs or antibiotics that treat not the snot itself, but their cause.
Treatment of the common cold with traditional medicine
In the fight against the common cold, alternative methods of treatment have excellently proven themselves. Here are some of them.
- Aloe juice is used in the form of freshly squeezed juice, buried in the nose several times a day. Aloe has an anti-inflammatory property, an immunostimulating effect and antiviral activity, helps to cleanse the body of toxins. Getting into the blood through the numerous blood vessels in the nose, aloe promotes a speedy recovery.
- Grate onion or garlic, add warm vegetable oil, let it brew for several hours, strain and drip into your nose several times a day. Onions and garlic are known for their antimicrobial properties.
- Beetroot juice is also able to effectively fight infection. The root crop must be grated, squeeze the juice, dig it into the nose for 2-3 drops 3 times a day. If burning sensation is felt, then it can be diluted with water.
There are many more traditional medicine, with which you can effectively get rid of snot, from the whole variety you need to choose your most convenient method.
Thus, we figured out where the snot comes from, what is the reason for their appearance and how to treat them. It becomes clear that they are not only not harmful to the body, but, on the contrary, stand on the protection of our health. Do not be ill!