Types of snot in adults. What are your snot saying?

Types of snot

A runny nose leads to discomfort and unsettles us.
Difficulty breathing negatively affects performance and sleep, so you always want to get rid of snot as quickly as possible. Treatment of rhinitis should only be prescribed by a doctor, as the causes of the disease can be different. Green snot

Every person has experienced all the “delights” of a cold at least once in his life.

One of them is a terrible runny nose, in which thick green mucus flows from the nose. It is important to be able to understand what such discharge signals.

Yulia Zablotskaya Liquid snot

Probably everyone has encountered liquid snot flowing as if from a tap at least once in their life. It is impossible to control these secretions. For treatment to be effective, the factors that provoked their appearance must be determined.

Yulia Zablotskaya Causes of green snot

When your nasal discharge starts to turn green, it can mean that everything is either going very well or just the opposite. How to figure out when you need to see a doctor, and when you can enjoy your upcoming recovery?

Yulia Zablotskaya Causes of yellow snot

A runny nose is an extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable symptom. When it just begins, no one usually thinks about treatment. However, when the snot does not go away for a long time, thickens and turns yellow, you need to think about the reasons for this condition.

Yulia Zablotskaya Yellow snot

Among the many diseases, probably only a runny nose deserves a frivolous attitude towards it. Unless unexpected symptoms (for example, the appearance of yellow snot) force people to begin treatment.

Yulia Zablotskaya Color of snot Based on the color of nasal discharge, a specialist can more or less accurately determine the reason that caused its appearance. White snot occurs with a cold, green snot occurs with a viral infection, but there are other colors...

Anna Alexandrova

Runny nose with blood in the morning

Bloody snot in the morning usually occurs in those who suffer from chronic hypertension. High pressure causes small capillaries to burst. But this is not the only reason why a bloody runny nose may appear.

Anna Alexandrova

Clear mucus from the nose

If the snot is clear and runny when you have a runny nose, this is a common allergy or the onset of a viral disease. How to stop the development of the disease at the initial stage so that the infection does not spread further through the respiratory tract?

Anna Alexandrova

Orange snot

If your child's snot changes color

In a child suffering from an acute respiratory illness, the color of the snot may vary from white to greenish-brown. If this happens, it means that a viral runny nose has turned into a bacterial one. Many adults, having noticed such changes in the child’s condition, immediately begin to think that it is time to give him antibiotics so that the infection does not “go down”. In fact, in most cases, antibacterial drugs are not needed. Parents can cope with green snot without any medications. To do this you need:

regularly rinse the child’s nose with a weak salt solution;
Give the patient a good drink (dehydration leads to dry mucous membranes and thickening of nasal mucus);
ventilate the apartment several times a day;
create a regime of moist cool air at least in the children's bedroom;
If the baby does not have a fever and the weather permits, walk him outside longer.

If, against the background of green snot, the child’s body temperature rises again, a cough or headache appears, you should contact your pediatrician or family doctor. These symptoms may indicate the spread of infection to the paranasal sinuses, trachea, and bronchi.

The color of snot is, of course, a marker of everything that is happening in the patient’s nose. However, only a doctor can determine the true cause of rhinitis and prescribe the most appropriate treatment. Therefore, if a runny nose bothers you, you should definitely see an otolaryngologist or therapist.

Author: Olga Zubkova, doctor, especially for Moylor.ru

What are your snot talking about?

Snot, mucus, phlegm, runny nose - whatever you call it, it still sounds terrible. However, who would have imagined that the color of snot can tell a lot about the processes occurring in your body.

That's why doctors ask in detail about the color and consistency of mucus, which may be a clue to your illness. When all the signs of a cold are present, rest and moist air will help cope with this kind of runny nose.

But if your snot has a strange color, this is a serious reason to consult a doctor.

What is mucus called?

Mucus coats the nasal cavity, as well as other organs, and serves as a barrier to harmful substances such as dust and germs. It consists of water, cells, salt and mucin, which is a glycoprotein. Mucus has different names depending on its location in the body.

Here are some terms used for locations in the upper respiratory tract:

snot - liquid flowing from the nose;
phlegm - viscous mucus in the throat;
sputum is a expectorated mixture of mucus and saliva;
Postnasal drip is something that flows from the nasal cavity into the throat.

Detailed decoding of mucus

The color and texture of mucus indicate changes happening in your body, such as the presence of viruses, infections, or other health problems. The information below will help you figure out what a particular mucus color means.

Transparent snot

Normal snot is considered to be transparent in color and has a thick, viscous consistency, similar to glue.

As long as your body doesn't produce too much or too little of this mucus, you are in good health.

If your body produces excess amounts of clear mucus, it is likely due to an allergy. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor about appropriate treatment.

White snot

White snot is usually the result of consuming dairy products.

The fat in dairy products can affect the thickness and viscosity of mucus, which will certainly lead to difficulty breathing.

If you have a cold or runny nose, avoid dairy products to relieve nasal congestion. The presence of just white mucus itself is not a cause for concern and is perceived as normal.

Yellow snot

If you have yellow mucus, it could be a sign of a virus or sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses). Most often, light or bright yellow mucus means your body is fighting something like a cold. At first, the color may have a bright shade, which will darken after a few days.

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus causes golden-yellow mucus. Dark yellow sputum may be a symptom of bronchitis or another type of respiratory infection.

The yellow color of snot does not mean an immediate trip to the doctor. It may indicate that your body is in a defensive stage.

Remember, there is no cure for the common cold, and antibiotics only kill bacterial infections. The best cure for viruses is the body's own defenses.

However, if your symptoms worsen, or you have a high fever, headache, or cough with yellow sputum for more than a few days, contact your doctor immediately.

Green snot

Green snot can signal a bacterial or fungal infection caused by mucus that has stagnated in the inflamed nasal passages.

White blood cells are responsible for their production, which respond to infections and inflammatory processes. When white blood cells die, they burst, releasing green pigment.

It merges with the mucus, giving it a green color. This course of the disease requires treatment with antibiotics.

Blue snot

Mucus may turn blue due to certain bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is a fairly rare phenomenon, occurring in one in ten thousand people.

If the color of the mucus becomes thick and rich in color, this is a clear reason to visit a doctor.

Blue pigment can also appear when inhaling powdery substances of a similar color and disappear within a couple of days.

Orange, red, reddish-brown snot

If your snot is red or reddish-brown in color, this is a clear sign that there is blood in it.

The appearance of blood in the nasal mucosa may have the following reasons:

When the sinuses become inflamed, they begin to bleed.
Frequent blowing of the nose leads to the appearance of sores in the nose.
Too dry air causes the tiny blood vessels in the nasal passages to break easily, causing bloody mucus.
Asthmatics often have red or pink mucus.
Smoking can also irritate the nasal passages, causing slight bleeding. When combined with tiny particles of tobacco, the mucus turns reddish-brown.

Black or gray snot

Dark-colored mucus usually occurs as a result of inhaling harmful substances in the air. The function of mucus is to prevent them from entering the depths of the human body. If, due to various circumstances, you have to inhale ash, dust or smoke, then nasal mucus will serve as a kind of antimicrobial barrier.

How to reduce the amount of mucus or phlegm you produce

As a rule, at the initial stage of a viral infection, a copious amount of clear mucus appears in the nose, which over time acquires a bright yellow or greenish tint. Towards the end of the disease, the snot becomes brown or red, and subsequently returns to a transparent color.

To alleviate the symptoms of the disease, the following will come to the rescue:

To moisturize the nasal passages, use sprays based on saline solutions;
drink plenty of fluids to thin mucus and moisten the upper respiratory tract;
eat well – your body will need strength to resist infection;
to reduce fever and body aches, use antipyretics;
drink hot drinks to relieve nasal congestion;
take expectorants to thin sputum;
do not swallow everything that is coughed up;
To keep your throat moist, suck on cough lozenges;
take antihistamines to help relieve cough symptoms if they are caused by allergies;
if yellow or green snot lasts longer than a few days, consult a doctor;
Avoid active and passive smoking.

Remember, strange-colored mucus does not always signal health problems and is not a diagnosis of any disease. It's another matter if it persists for several days and is accompanied by fever, headache and cough. In any case, you can only clarify the situation in a doctor’s office.

I read something that saline sprays are not at all beneficial. You won't understand where the truth is.

Source: https://medoblako.ru/article/o-chem-govoryat-vashi-sopli/

Causes of muconasal secretion

Abundant transparent snot without fever is most often the result of an improper reaction of the immune system to external irritants. Simply put, in an adult or child, the defense system does not adequately respond to the negative impact of the environment. Often the source of an unpleasant symptom is dry indoor air, dust mite secretions, or insufficient humidity in the room.

Many people mistakenly believe that the absence of fever is a guarantee that an inflammatory process does not occur in the body. In fact, this is not so! Under certain conditions (presence of concomitant diseases, weak immunity, poor diet), clear snot in a child or adult can occur when:

infection with viruses (flu);
hypothermia (long stay in the cold);
mechanical trauma to the nose;
damage to the mucous membrane by pathogenic microorganisms.

Separately, it should be noted the risk of developing a disease such as sinusitis. In most cases, sputum and snot in such a disease contain impurities of blood or pus, but sometimes (with catarrhal form) the discharge is transparent, and the temperature rises slightly. Treatment is carried out with Loroxil or its analogues.

Order Loroxil

The color of snot - what does it mean, what disease does it indicate?

Normally, the nasal mucosa produces the “right” amount of mucus, which serves as a barrier to pathogenic microflora. When a person is healthy, he does not even think about the condition of the mucous membrane in the nose.

Nasal breathing is free, nothing “runs” from the nose, life is good.

Very often, when there is dry air in the room, the nasal mucosa becomes dry, swollen and damaged. It can no longer resist bacteria and viruses, and hordes of “evil” bacilli attack the body. Of course, dry air is not the only culprit for a runny nose. Hypothermia, weak immunity, poor nutrition also disrupt the functioning of the mucous membranes.

If viruses and bacteria penetrate the nasal cavity and are not adequately repelled, an inflammatory process occurs, the mucous membrane swells, and liquid snot is released.

What is a runny nose like?

Mucous discharge from the nose

Due to swelling of the soft tissues of the nose, when the vessels are “weak,” mucous discharge appears, which can persist for a long time and be chronic. This phenomenon occurs with vasomotor rhinitis, the cause of which is not always easy to determine. Even pregnant women suffer from this form of runny nose when hormones “rage” in the body.

There are complaints about nasal congestion, you constantly want to blow your nose, mucus is formed in large quantities. Often the nostrils are blocked alternately. Loss of smell, nasal sound, and sneezing appear. Under the influence of various factors, such as weather, food intake, alcohol consumption, neurotic conditions, the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis intensify.

In hypertensive patients, when blood pressure rises, nasal congestion and then discharge of mucous snot are quite common. Nasal congestion itself already signals high blood pressure.

The main reasons for the appearance of mucous discharge during vasomotor rhinitis include:

change in temperature;
hypothermia;
eating food with herbs, spices and other products that irritate the nasal mucosa;
inhalation of strong odors;
hormonal changes in the body;
constriction of blood vessels in the body;
pituitary tumor;
unknown reasons.

Clear white snot from nasal passages

This discharge occurs with all types of runny nose, especially at the beginning of the disease. Therefore, in the first days of the disease, the cause of such discharge should be compared with other symptoms. If there is an elevated body temperature, sore throat, or headache, these are signs of ARVI.

allergic has most likely “crept up” . The patient complains of sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy sensations in the nose. Allergic rhinitis appears at any time of the year, but the more favorite months are May–June, when active flowering occurs.

Sometimes clear snot appears when foreign objects enter the nose; this phenomenon is more common in young children who are becoming familiar with the outside world.

Copious nasal discharge

The immune response, or activation of the body's defenses, begins when fighting opposing infectious agents. There is copious mucus discharge from the nose and the nose is stuffy. Snot flows over the upper lip, irritating the skin. On the first day of illness, the snot intensifies and its volume increases. The patient has a headache and sleep is disturbed.

The cause of such discharge is the causative agents of acute viral infections, of which there are a huge number in nature.

Often the cause of excessive nasal discharge is allergens, sinusitis, anatomical problems of the nasal septum, dry indoor air, and vascular diseases.

Thick snot

The nasal mucosa, when irritated by watery and clear snot, begins to secrete more mucus, it thickens in order to expel viruses and bacteria as quickly as possible. Thick discharge ceases to be transparent and acquires its own color, from white to brown, and sometimes blood appears in the snot.

“Colored” snot is a sign of complications, and they may indicate ENT pathologies such as:

persistent runny nose;
sinusitis;
nasal polyps;
sinusitis;
ethmoiditis;
adenoids.

Symptoms for all diseases are different, but the common complaints of patients remain:

nasal congestion;
discharge from the nasal passages from scanty to abundant;
sneezing;
burning and tickling in the nose;
impaired sense of smell and nasal breathing;
headache.

White snot - what does it mean?

This color of snot occurs in many ENT diseases, especially at the beginning of the pathological process. Adenoid vegetations, polyposis, fungal infections of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, allergic and viral runny nose are manifested by white snot.

Such a variety of causes requires the right approach in each individual case, since, most likely, we are talking about a prolonged runny nose. With white snot, as a rule, there is no sneezing or tickling in the nose. The mucus has a fairly thick consistency. Depending on the cause of the runny nose, treatment is prescribed.

What does yellow snot mean?

If yellow shades appear in the snot, immediately contact an ENT specialist. Some doctors believe that yellow snot indicates the end of a runny nose. Indeed, even snot has individual characteristics, and in some patients this is how a runny nose ends.

But, in most cases, the yellow tint of snot is a sign of a bacterial infection that the immune system could not overcome. And you can’t do without antibacterial agents.

Yellow snot is often thick and difficult to stand out. The patient has an increase in body temperature, headache, and poor health. Yellow snot often becomes a harbinger of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses.

We wrote about the treatment of a runny nose with a yellow tint in the article [treating thick yellow snot].

What does green snot mean?

When the snot turns green, we are undoubtedly talking about viral-bacterial or bacterial rhinitis. This occurs as a result of untimely treatment of a viral infection and a weakening of the body's defenses.

With green snot, other symptoms appear: headache, nausea, pain in the joints and calf muscles, lack of appetite, weakness, sore throat, cough. This combination of symptoms indicates a complication: sinusitis, otitis, sinusitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and other diseases.

The treatment of green snot is carried out by an ENT specialist. Untimely treatment can lead to serious consequences, including surgical treatment.

We wrote about the treatment and causes of green snot here [how to get rid of green snot].

Brown snot - what are they talking about?

With a complicated runny nose, the infection spreads to the nasal sinuses, where pus begins to form and accumulate. The pus sometimes thickens and turns into crusts, which is what gives the brown color to the snot. Often such discharge appears with candidiasis in the sinuses.

The patient complains of headache, high body temperature, and discomfort in the sinuses. The purulent process spreads to nearby organs. This condition is dangerous, including blood poisoning, and therefore requires immediate treatment in the ENT department.

Purulent snot - what does it mean?

Yellow, green and a mixture of these shades often indicate the beginning of a purulent process in the nasal cavity. It should be noted that such snot has a specific putrid odor, which causes nausea and a gag reflex in patients.

Purulent processes occur against the background of elevated temperature and general malaise. The snot is often thick and difficult to blow out.

Purulent discharge can occur with sinusitis, sinusitis, or an abscess in the nasal cavity. The purulent process in the nasal sinuses causes meningitis, otitis media, sinusitis and other diseases.

An article on the topic - how to treat a purulent runny nose.

What do bloody snot mean?

The nasal mucosa consists of a network of small blood vessels. Banal nose picking leads to minor damage and bleeding from the nasal passages. Overexertion when blowing your nose also causes nosebleeds.

In some cases, blood indicates a nasal injury, tumors, atrophy of the mucous membrane, increased fragility of blood vessels, sinusitis, hormonal disorders, high blood pressure, physical strain, and stay at high altitudes (mountainous areas).

We wrote how to treat snot and red nasal discharge in the article [treatment of a runny nose with blood streaks].

Today you learned what the color of snot means, and that it plays an important diagnostic role, and accordingly helps the doctor navigate treatment tactics. During your consultation with an ENT specialist, try to talk in detail about all the symptoms that cause discomfort, and if necessary, provide the snot for the doctor to see.

Timely treatment is the key to getting rid of snot in the acute period. This will make it possible to “defeat” the disease and prevent it from becoming a chronic disease. Take care of your health!

Why you shouldn't be afraid of clear snot

Source: https://LOR-explorer.com/lechenie-soplej/tsvet-soplej-chto-znachit

Causes of a runny nose

The appearance of rhinitis may indicate the development of an inflammatory process. In any case, the reasons may be different, namely:

reaction to an allergen (allergy to wool, fluff, feathers, dust, chemicals, etc.);
consequence of trauma to the nasal cavity;
infection (ingress of bacteria, viruses, fungi);
physiological rhinitis (in infants);
drug-induced runny nose (side effect of medications);
disorders of the nervous system;
sign of hypothermia;
drying out of the mucous membrane;
the presence of tumors in the nose (adenoids);
weakened immunity and a sign of other diseases.

Now let’s take a closer look at the color of the discharge.

Greens

This color of snot indicates the presence of bacterial flora. This is usually considered a sign that there is inflammation in the lower region.

Olive-colored snot is characteristic of diseases such as:

sinusitis;
sinusitis;
pneumonia;
bronchitis.

Which snot is better, green or transparent? The second option is definitely preferable - this is a sign of the norm.

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=V4ACoaPTVKY

Allergic

With allergies, the color of snot is the same as at the first signs of a cold. The symptoms of the disease will be the distinguishing feature of these two pathologies. At first, you can make a mistake, since there is no sense of smell, it is difficult to breathe through your nose, there is itching and burning in the nose, and there is clear snot. What are they talking about if an elevated temperature is added? Of course, about a cold. Allergic snot has no color and is not accompanied by fever. When near an allergen, stronger secretion may begin.

Yellow

If the snot is yellow, this means that there is some kind of infection in the nasopharynx area. This color of snot may indicate ongoing complications and an advanced disease. With sinusitis, frontal sinusitis and other serious diseases, yellow sticky snot appears or has a thick consistency.

An orange color may appear if there is blood coming from the nose or a capillary has burst.

Also, such discharge may indicate that the cold is in its final stages.

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=Lhb2QRYzUaY

White

White snot in an adult is often a sign of allergies, hypothermia, the onset of an acute respiratory viral disease or influenza. This color of snot also occurs in the presence of adenoids in the nasal cavity.

Transparent

What does transparent snot mean? If such a secretion is not accompanied by anything else, then, as mentioned above, this is a normal physiological process. In babies in the first months of life, such discharge can be abundant and this is also not a pathology.

If there is sneezing, itching, burning and swelling of the mucous membrane, this may be the beginning of the development of an inflammatory process, a cold, medicinal or allergic rhinitis.

A doctor will help you determine the diagnosis.

Reds

Red secretion is characteristic of traumatic rhinitis. Snot of this color mixes with blood. Brown and red discharge is a sign that the integrity of the mucous membrane has been compromised, a capillary has burst, or there are erosions.

Another brown secretion occurs with complicated rhinitis. Accumulations of pus that have been in the sinuses for a long time also take on this hue. Candidiasis of the sinuses also manifests itself. If no measures are taken, there is a risk of infection in other organs.

Blue

Blue secretion is caused by infection with a bacterium called Pseudomonas pyocyanea (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). This rare microorganism gives such a symptom.

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=5N2QvSp7owI

What color is your snot: safe treatment for a runny nose

Doctors do not recommend treating a runny nose, just as they do not recommend lowering the temperature if it is below 38. Because acute rhinitis (as a runny nose is called in medical language) in most cases goes away on its own, and the body even actively resists its treatment.

There is a well-known saying: if a runny nose is treated, it goes away in seven days, and if left untreated, then in a week. And indeed it is.

And all because a runny nose is a protective and very important reaction to irritants: allergens, spicy food, physical activity, violent emotions, or the same cold. A runny nose is an indicator that the body has enough strength to fight infection. And mucus, although unpleasant, is still useful.

Nasal secretion, or, in simple terms, snot, is an important weapon that is secreted by the mucous cells of the paranasal sinuses to catch and expel dirt, dust, viruses, and infections.

Joel Fuhrman

, Doctor of Medical Sciences: “To get rid of the pathogen, the inner lining of the nasal cavity begins to actively produce mucus. It washes away the virus particles along with it. And if you take drugs that block the production of mucus in the nasal cavity, the body is deprived of its natural defense against infection.”

According to research by University of Chicago associate professor Daniel Murrell, the human nose, without any runny nose, produces as much as two liters of mucus per day, which we swallow without noticing. It’s just that in winter the attack of viruses intensifies, and the nose, in response, raises more mucus to protect itself. And after the battle, the runny nose goes away on its own - but only if complications do not arise.

Alexander Gorovoy

, otolaryngologist: “If rhinitis does not go away within seven days, then this is already an alarming signal. This means that the mucous membrane cannot cope with large amounts of mucus and complications in the form of sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, and otitis media are possible. Up to the development of bronchitis and pneumonia. As a result, complications can lead to life-threatening meningitis or brain abscess.”

The tendency to nasal congestion can also be congenital. The cause is a deviated nasal septum. Normally, the angle between the lateral cartilage of the nose and the wall separating the nostrils should be 15 degrees. Otherwise, air passes deep into the cavities in either too large or too small portions. And this makes it insufficiently moisturized, unwarmed and unsterile.

The mucus secreted during a runny nose can be different: liquid and transparent, like water, and also thick and unpleasant in color. Entire scientific studies have been written about this, on the basis of which scientists from the American Chemical Society released a visual animation called “What are your snot talking about?”

Clear mucus means the nose is coping. If the discharge is white, it means that other cold symptoms have been added to the runny nose and it is already more difficult for the immune system to fight them, but it is still tolerable. Another thing is yellow snot, which indicates symptoms of a viral infection.

And it’s definitely time to be alarmed, if the mucus thickens and turns green, it means that bacteria have been added to the viruses, and the nose can no longer cope. Although there is a stage that is quite dangerous, when the discharge turns red and brown. This is a signal that inflammation damages blood vessels and mucous membranes, causing snot to mix with blood.

However, although color is important and very indicative, it is still only one of the criteria by which a diagnosis is made.

Valery Nikonorov

, otolaryngologist: “If you just have copious nasal discharge, a feeling of nasal congestion, then these are signs of ordinary rhinitis, which goes away on its own in three to seven days. Watery eyes, shooting pains in the face, a headache - these are already complications, the body cannot cope on its own, it’s time to see a doctor for full-fledged treatment.”

Many people try to treat a runny nose with sprays and drops that are offered in pharmacies. But in reality they are not very useful. Most of these remedies do not cure anything, and even vice versa.

They forcefully constrict the vessels in the nose, the blood flow to the mucous membrane freezes, the swelling subsides, but not for long - after a couple of hours a new dose is needed. Moreover, the intervals between doses are constantly becoming shorter.

A dependence arises: if you constantly force the blood vessels to contract under the influence of drugs, then within a week the body will forget how to do this on its own.

But that's not so bad. Vasoconstrictor sprays dry out the nasal cavity, causing the mucous membrane to work with redoubled force and eventually become inflamed and grow, narrowing and blocking the nasal canals. There comes a moment when a person can only breathe through his mouth, and only a surgeon’s knife can return his nose to full life.

And such sprays and drops block the blood flow to the brain, which leads to headaches, insomnia, absent-mindedness, irritability, and lethargy. Therefore, in many countries the sale of vasoconstrictor drugs without a prescription is prohibited, and even if prescribed by a doctor, they cannot be used for more than five days.

So-called traditional medicine advises sticking garlic in your nose, but official medicine is against such rituals. But eating garlic when you have a runny nose is really beneficial.

Finnish scientists in their study proved that garlic, onions, honey, blueberries and green tea work better than many medicines, as well as foods high in vitamin C: rose hips, red pepper, black currants, sea buckthorn, apples and sauerkraut.

Steam baths also help, especially dropping essential oil into the water, but only natural oil, and not synthetic or reconstituted pacifiers. An indication of this should be found in the composition on the label. Tests conducted in India showed that all patients who inhaled steam with oils were cured of a runny nose much faster than others.

It is also effective to rinse your nose with salted water. Of course, pharmacies have ready-made drops and sprays with supposedly sea water, but it is better not to rush into buying them: such a solution is very easy to make yourself from ordinary and cheapest salt.

Related news

Source: https://www.ntv.ru/cards/4081/

Common reasons

The causes of rhinitis, in which profuse snot flows like a stream, may lie in a wide variety of irritating factors.

Clear mucus in a person's nose is relatively normal until clear, thick snot begins to cause discomfort. If clear snot does not go away for a long time, it means that the special glands of the mucous membranes have malfunctioned. What to do in such a situation depends on the cause of the runny nose.

If a patient has clear snot flowing continuously, the following reasons may be the culprits of the disease:

mucus in the nose is the result of respiratory and viral diseases;
prolonged contact with cold air, hypothermia;
allergic reaction to flowering plants, particles of animal fur;
unreasonably long use of vasoconstrictor drugs;
foreign object in the nasal canals;
mechanical damage to the mucous membranes.

Nasal discharge: what does the color of snot indicate?

A runny nose is a fairly common occurrence for each of us. Some mistakenly consider it an independent disease, although it is a symptom that signals pathological processes occurring in the body.

And before dealing with nasal discharge, it is necessary to eliminate the main cause that provoked it. Depending on the disease, the color of the discharge will vary.

What does the color of snot mean? The answer to this question will be given by a doctor - otorhinolaryngologist of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences - Vladimir Mikhailovich Zaitsev.

Vladimir Zaitsev conducts an appointment in his clinic

What is snot?

There is always mucus discharge from the nose. Even when a person is healthy, the nasal mucosa produces a small amount of secretions - this is the norm. In this case, a person does not even notice the mucus - there is enough of it to moisturize the nasal cavity and not enough to leak out and cause discomfort.

As soon as an infection or other pathogen enters the nasal mucosa, the receptors of the mucous membrane are irritated, the volume of secretions increases sharply, and the color of the snot changes. In medicine, this condition is called rhinitis, and in everyday life we call it a runny nose or snot.

If you look from a chemical point of view, snot is a compound consisting of water, a special protein - mucin, salt, enzymes, dust particles and dead cells.

There are many reasons why a runny nose may occur. It can be:

· viruses;

· bacteria;

· allergens;

· mechanical injuries of the nose;

· getting a foreign body into the nose;

· drug-induced runny nose (reaction to the use of medications);

· presence of neoplasms in the nasopharynx (for example, adenoids);

· hypothermia.

Each of the above conditions is manifested by nasal discharge of different colors and thickness. The nature of the discharge allows an experienced doctor to determine what kind of pathological condition we are dealing with and what caused the rhinitis.

What is snot

Snot is a secretion that the respiratory system produces in the nasal cavity. It is needed to lubricate the mucous membrane, humidify the air entering the body, retain microparticles, and also protect against pathogens.

This mucus consists of:

water;
protein (mucin);
salt;
enzymes;
dust particles;
various dead cells.

What color can snot be? They come in different colors, that is, different shades. Colored usually in the presence of pathology. What kind of snot should a healthy person have? Normal is a colorless secretion that does not cause discomfort and does not flow from the nose. What color is snot when you have the flu? There may be either clear or yellow-green discharge.

The types of snot depend on the stage and type of disease.

The color of the discharge changes throughout the course of the disease. For example, at the beginning of a runny nose they are liquid and transparent, then they thicken and acquire a white or yellow tint. Self-treatment and diagnosis are prohibited.