Stuffy Nose? Don't Worry! Researchers Say It's A Sign That Your Immune System Is Working

Mucus has several names. Most commonly, it is called snot—the sticky goo that pours from your nose during a cold. Many refer to it as phlegm—the gunk that clogs your lungs and makes you cough. While its colour and texture make it look like one of the grossest productions of our body, it is actually proof that your immune system is working.

To begin with, many of you might think that mucus is only produced when you have a cold or flu. In reality, your body is producing mucus all the time. “Mucus and phlegm get sort of a bad reputation,” Dr Richard Boucher, a lung expert at the University of North Carolina told NIH. “People think about it as something you’re supposed to cough up and get out, that it’s a bad thing. But in truth, mucus really is the interface between you and the outside world.”

We Swallow Mucus And We Don't Even Know It

According to Dr Stephanie James, Associate Professor at Regis University, we produce 1 to 2 quarts of mucus every day, and we swallow it without even realizing it. The mucus is a constant part of our immune system, trapping invaders like viruses and bacteria. When one of these invaders starts causing an infection around our nose, certain cells release neurotransmitters that signal the body to recruit more immune cells around that area. This leads to the production of even more mucus. These neurotransmitters cause blood vessels in the nasal area to become leaky, allowing watery secretions from the blood to enter the nasal cavity. This swelling contributes to congestion.

What Does Colour Of Snot Mean?

Normally, mucus is clear. However, during illness, the snot can acquire colour—yellow or green. This is a direct result of your immune responses in fighting the infection. However, scientists say that the color alone cannot determine whether the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria.

Still Struggling? 5 Simple Hacks For Stuffy Nose

Nasal Wash: Use a neti pot or nasal irrigation kit with saline solution to flush out mucus and relieve congestion. Mix warm distilled water, a pinch of baking soda, and half a teaspoon of salt for a DIY rinse.

Steam: Inhale steam from a hot shower or bowl of boiling water to thin mucus. Repeat three to four times daily.

Chicken Soup: Hot broths help loosen mucus but offer only short-term relief.

Devices & Decongestants: Bioelectronic sinus devices ease inflammation, while OTC decongestants shrink nasal blood vessels. Avoid nasal sprays for more than five days.

Peppermint: Menthol acts as a natural decongestant. Drink peppermint tea or use menthol-based chest rubs.

Intrestingly, Muscus Also Aids Digestion

Besides being an innate part of your immune system, Mucus is also a part of the gastrointestinal system, as it forms a protective layer lining the entire digestive tract. In a study published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, researchers underscored that the gastrointestinal tract is in contact with food every day and is the largest habitat for human microbes. Various foods and the commensal microbiota are exogenous, which ideally should be rejected by the immune system. It is here that the mucosal immune system establishes and maintains immune tolerance to innocuous foreign antigens to ensure the exchange and absorption of beneficial substances.