How to treat thick snot?
Poor ecology, poor-quality nutrition lead to a weakening of the immune system, as a result of which susceptibility to infectious diseases increases. During an illness accompanied by a runny nose, thick snot of various colors can be released from the nasopharynx. The discharge may be white, yellow or green.
Liquid secretions, although they cause a lot of inconvenience, are not as dangerous as thick ones. The increased formation of thick mucus in the nasopharynx makes nasal breathing difficult. The patient's condition worsens at night. Thick snot in a child under one year old can cause respiratory arrest.
Causes of thick snot
The production of mucus in the nasal cavity is a protective mechanism of the body. It is mucus that helps protect the mucous membranes of the nose and respiratory system from damage when inhaled dust particles, household chemicals and other substances. It also protects the body from pathogens.
Mucus is made up of water, salt and mucin (protein). It protects the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract from damage and overdrying. Thickening of mucus occurs due to an increase in protein content, so the body tries to strengthen the defense and fight the disease.
Why does thick snot change color to white, yellow and green?
Thick snot that has a natural color in most cases indicates the presence of a cold or respiratory allergy. If the appearance of a runny nose is caused by hypothermia of the body, then at the first stage liquid mucus is released, which gradually thickens.
white snot
With a cold, thick white snot begins to stand out almost immediately. A change in color occurs in cases where the necessary treatment is not carried out and the disease becomes neglected. Thick snot, which has a white color, is released from the nasopharynx and with allergic reactions. In this case, the increased production of mucus and its thickening is caused by allergens entering the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract.
This process is considered normal, because with a respiratory allergy, the body tries to protect itself from an invading irritant. The white color of such secretions is due precisely to the high concentration of mucin protein.
green snot
The secretion of thick green mucus instead of white, as a rule, indicates the presence of chronic diseases in the body and their exacerbation, for example, bronchitis or pneumonia. The body tries to cope with it on its own, while the immune system begins to actively produce white blood cells to destroy the infection, the decay products of which turn white thick mucus green.
Many believe that the green color of the snot indicates neglect of the common cold, but this is not always the case, since in most cases this phenomenon indicates the internal struggle of the body with the disease.
yellow snot
Yellow snot instead of white in children practically does not occur, since most often this phenomenon occurs in adults, mainly in smokers. Particles of nicotine, getting into the respiratory system, settle on its mucous membranes and give the protective substance a yellow, and sometimes brown color.
But, if a person does not smoke, and the discharge of mucus from the nose is yellow, you should be wary and consult a doctor. Experts say that in non-smokers, the appearance of yellow nasal mucus is much more dangerous than green.
If, in addition to a runny nose, no other symptoms are observed, this may indicate the presence of a serious disease in the body, for example, cancer. A non-smoker with the appearance of yellow discharge from the nose should urgently consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.
Why are thick snot dangerous for babies?
If a baby has liquid, almost transparent mucus secreted from the nose, this is not dangerous. A runny nose in babies can be physiological or occur during teething. But if any discharge from the nose appears, it is better to consult a doctor to be sure that such a phenomenon does not pose a danger.
The appearance of thick snot in a baby is always a serious cause for concern, not only because of the disease that caused them. Of course, such a phenomenon in a baby indicates that an inflammatory process is underway.
But, besides this, a severe runny nose with thick snot in a newborn is dangerous in itself, since the baby still cannot breathe through the mouth and independently clear the nasal passages by blowing out. Thick mucus makes nasal breathing difficult, which can lead to oxygen starvation of internal organs, including the brain.
For this reason, it is necessary to treat the baby immediately, as well as to carry out regular procedures for cleaning the nasal cavity. But it is impossible to prescribe treatment to a child on his own, a doctor should do this.
Treatment Methods
If you experience a severe runny nose and the appearance of thick snot of any kind, you should not self-medicate. It is necessary to accurately determine the causes of the disease, and only a doctor can do this by examining the patient and examining. Treatment for a runny nose includes:
- Taking antihistamine, antimicrobial and antiviral drugs;
- Cleansing the nose with saline solutions. After carrying out the washing procedures, it is necessary to carefully blow out the nose. After the procedures, babies need to remove mucus from the nasal passages using a special aspirator;
- The use of nasal drops with a vasoconstrictive effect. They need to be buried only after cleansing the nasal cavity;
- Regular airing of the room, carrying out wet cleaning;
- The use of agents for moisturizing the nasal mucosa (Aquamaris, Aqualor);
- Plentiful drink;
- Inhalations with special solutions or decoctions of herbs.
Due to the strong density, the elimination of mucus can cause many difficulties, therefore, its accumulation and stagnation are often observed. This is an excellent breeding ground for pathogens and often causes complications. Therefore, it is necessary to treat a runny nose not only in a timely manner, but also correctly.