Mucus is a slippery substance secreted by -- and covering -- the mucus membranes that line your respiratory tract. Glands in your nose, sinuses and throat generate mucus, which is helpful in cleansing and moisturizing your nasal passages....
The human body produces some degree of mucus on a daily basis. Clear, thin mucus is a sign that the immune system is functioning well. Yellow or green thick mucus is a sign that the body is fighting some sort of infection, however. The darker the...
Mucus in the eye may indicate the presence of an eye condition. Knowing some of the possible causes for this type of excess drainage may help determine appropriate treatment options. However, if the excess mucus does not improve, or if other...
Mucous becomes trapped in your throat due to varying reasons such as post nasal drip, the common cold or allergies. When this occurs you may find yourself suffering a nonproductive cough and scratchy throat. Eliminating allergens and thinning...
Consuming gluten is typically safe for most people, unless you are intolerant or allergic to the protein. Gluten intolerance, also known as celiac disease, is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the lining of the small intestines, causing...
Excessive mucus may cause your child to be uncomfortable, irritable and have trouble sleeping. This excessive mucus may be a sign of acute sinusitis, bronchitis or cystic fibrosis. If your child is showing discomfort due to mucus you should...
Vaginal discharge, or mucus, is normal. MayoClinic.com describes it as a combination of fluid, cells and bacteria that are continuously shed through the vagina. The purpose is to clean and protect the vagina. Discharge can be different for each...
Mucus can build up in different places in the body, including the lungs, throat, nose and chest. Coughing is often the best way to expel excess mucus from the throat and lungs. Your child will need to blow his nose if the mucus is in the nasal...
Mucus is a secretion generated by your mucus membranes. Excess mucus production is a symptom of another health problem and is not itself considered a disease. There are many possible causes of excess mucus, including acute sinusitis, bronchitis...
Our lungs work hard for us every day, helping to ensure we have sufficient oxygen to power every function in our bodies. Considering the level of pollution in our air and our tendency to breathe shallowly, it can be helpful to give our lungs a...
The nose and chest can get congested due to colds, flus, sinus infections, allergies and even pregnancy. According to MedlinePlus, an online medical resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, nasal congestion is not actually caused by an...
Mucus, or phlegm, in the throat may be the result of smoking, the common cold or another respiratory condition, such as allergies or bronchitis. Regardless of what is causing the problem, getting rid of the buildup might take some time. For those...
While there are numerous anecdotal reports that insist milk or other dairy products increase the production of mucus, the Australian Dairy Research Council conducted a study in the early 1990s that determined milk consumption did not, in fact,...
Intestinal mucus is a thick, slimy substance produced in the mucous membranes of your colon, or large intestine. It helps protect your intestinal walls against pathogens and damage from food and wastes that pass through your digestive tract. Too...
Mucus can form in the eyes with the onset of allergy symptoms or irritation from contact lenses. Dry eyes tend to have a stringy mucus formation that settles into the corners of the eye and underneath the eyelid. Because your eyes are extremely...
According to "The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary," mucus is a viscous substance that is mainly mucin, water, cells and inorganic salts -- secreted by the glands and cells of the mucous membranes. It works as a protective coating....
Mucus is a thick fluid that can help lubricate your tissues and protect your mucus membranes from damage. It can be found in your nasal passages, throat, lungs, intestines, digestive system, urinary tract, reproductive tract and other body...
Post-nasal drip occurs when thick excess mucus drains from the sinuses down the throat. This is usually a temporary condition that may be a result of a cold, flu, infection or hay fever. Normally this is not serious, but you should contact your...
Mucus, also referred to as phlegm, is a thick substance that protects your mucous membranes. According to William M. Thurlbeck and Joanne L. Wright, authors of the book "Thurlbeck's Chronic Airflow Obstruction," excess mucus can accumulate in your...
A cough is the immune system's attempt to remove an irritant that has made its way in the respiratory tract. An occasional cough is normal and usually occurs in response to excess mucus, particles in the air or bothersome food. A nagging or...
Every child has glands in his nose and throat that produce mucus. Normally, this mucus doesn’t cause much of a problem, dripping unnoticed down the back of the throat and eventually making its way into the stomach. But when glands begin to...
The flu is a colloquial description of the influenza virus. According to "Diseases and Disorders, Volume 2," influenza is highly contagious. Often, coughing or sneezing associated with influenza releases droplets into the air that will infect...
Every year, from November to April, more than 60 million people in the United States are infected with an influenza virus, or the flu, according to KidsHealth, a health information site sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. The influenza virus is...
A cough occurs as a reflex response when an irritant, such as mucus, stomach acid or an inhaled irritant stimulates nerves in the respiratory system. Patients describe shortness of breath, the feeling of not getting enough air, as an intense...
Cold glasses of milk are a common sight on dinner tables around the world. Milk is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, and many doctors recommend that children and adults drink 2 to 4 cups of the beverage each day. Although milk certainly has...
A neti pot performs nasal irrigation, or nasal lavage, to eliminate excess mucus in the nasal and sinus cavities. Sinus infection, cold and allergy sufferers may find benefits when using the neti pot, advises MayoClinic.com. The solution washes...
Babies are especially susceptible to developing upper respiratory infections that can cause coughs because they put everything in their mouths and are often around other young children who carry germs on unwashed hands. According to the Mayo...
If your child often wheezes, coughs or finds it difficult to breathe, you or his doctor might suspect asthma. This chronic breathing disease is marked by excess mucus, muscle tightening or swelling of the lining in the airways. But while most...
