Mucus is Your Friend

Early every morning, I walk my dog to the local park, and every day, my nose runs. I don’t have a cold or allergies. I guess my nose is a morning person. But it makes me wonder why, and some online research has taught me some fascinating things about my runny nose and mucus.

A Quart a Day

First, an unsavory, but interesting fact: Our bodies make about a quart of mucus every day. Why? Because it’s got important work to do. Mucus keeps our respiratory tract clean and moist. It usually just drains into your throat and you swallow it. But when you go outside into cold weather, your nose tries to warm the cold air, dilating tiny blood vessels under the mucus-secreting glands. This increases the blood supply to your nose, which increases the amount of mucus produced. Since only so much mucus can drain into your throat, the rest comes out your nose. This is why your nose drips on cold days.

When Mucus is a Warning

Another major function of mucus is to protect against bacteria and viruses. When it is doing its work, mucus will usually look different. A clear runny nose is typical of the common cold, but if there is a more serious viral or bacterial infection, mucus can change color to yellow or green. This can indicate the flu, bronchitis or some other illness – in which case, your doctor can determine if you need antibiotics or some other prescriptive medicine to fight the germs.

So, as we head into winter, keep your hands washed and tissues in your pocket!