Do you constantly feel mucus in your throat, or is thick mucus difficult to clear? Mucus is often seen as a problem, but in reality, it plays an important role in the airways’ natural defence system.
Most of the time, mucus does its job almost unnoticed. However, if more mucus is produced than usual or it becomes thick and sticky, it can be more difficult to clear. This may lead to coughing, frequent throat clearing or the feeling that there is constantly mucus in your throat.
So where does mucus come from, why does it build up, and how can you support its natural clearance?
Why Is There Mucus in the Airways?
Mucus is an important part of the airways’ natural defence system. It helps trap airborne particles, pathogens and other impurities before they can travel deeper into the respiratory tract.
Tiny hair-like structures called cilia on the surface of the airways continuously move mucus towards the throat. At the same time, particles trapped in the mucus are carried out of the airways. This natural cleaning mechanism is known as mucociliary clearance.
Mucus itself is therefore not a problem. A healthy amount of mucus that can move freely helps keep the airways clear.
Why Does Mucus Build Up in the Throat or Airways?
The feeling of mucus in your throat can occur when more mucus than usual is produced or when its normal clearance has slowed down.
A familiar example is a cold or another respiratory infection, which can increase mucus production. Allergies and various airway irritants can also cause excess mucus. Sometimes mucus drains from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat, a condition commonly known as post-nasal drip.
This means that mucus in the throat without a cold is not unusual – there are several possible causes.
Why Does Mucus Become Thick and Sticky?
The water content of mucus plays an important role in how easily it moves through the airways. Normal airway mucus consists mostly of water, and its composition and hydration affect how effectively the cilia can move it along.
When the water content of mucus decreases and it becomes more concentrated, the mucus becomes thicker and may move more slowly. Highly concentrated mucus can also adhere more firmly to the surface of the airways.
This is why maintaining healthy airway moisture is important for the airways’ natural clearance mechanisms.
How Can You Help Loosen Thick Mucus?
When mucus is thick and difficult to clear, the key is to support the airways’ own natural clearance mechanisms.
The cilia continuously move mucus towards the throat, while coughing helps clear mucus that has accumulated in the airways when necessary. The properties of the mucus also affect how effectively these mechanisms work: well-hydrated mucus moves more easily than highly concentrated mucus.
Maintaining adequate hydration is also important. Drinking enough fluids may help keep mucus thinner and easier to clear.
The aim is therefore not to eliminate mucus altogether, but to help the airways’ natural clearance system work as effectively as possible.
When Should Persistent Mucus Be Investigated?
Occasional mucus is normal, but persistent or noticeably changed mucus should be investigated.
If mucus persists for several weeks or is accompanied by new or severe symptoms, it is advisable to contact a healthcare professional. There are many possible causes of persistent mucus, so rather than simply trying to clear it, it may be important to determine what is causing the symptom.
How Can WellO2 Help Loosen Mucus?
WellO2 combines warm steam with adjustable breathing resistance in a single breathing exercise.
The warm steam moisturises the airways and their mucous membranes. Positive pressure helps the steam travel effectively through the airways, while breathing against resistance helps open the airways and loosen mucus.
The exercise can be performed through the mouth or through the nose using the WellO2 nasal mask. This makes it easy to combine airway moisturisation and breathing exercise as part of a daily routine for looking after your airways.
Mucus Is Part of Healthy Airways
We usually only notice mucus when there seems to be too much of it or when it becomes thick and difficult to clear. Most of the time, however, it is quietly doing an important job.
Mucus helps protect the airways, traps impurities and helps carry them out of the respiratory tract. Rather than trying to eliminate mucus altogether, it is worth supporting the airways’ natural clearance mechanisms and the normal movement of mucus.
Sources
- Bustamante-Marin XM, Ostrowski LE. Cilia and Mucociliary Clearance. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 2017.
- Boucher RC. Airway Mucus Function and Dysfunction. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010.
- Boucher RC. Physiology and Pathophysiology of Human Airway Mucus. Physiological Reviews. 2022.