Infections also lead to inflammation in the mucous membranes that line the nose and the rest of your airway. This can cause certain airway glands to make more mucus. That mucus can get thick with bacteria and cells that arrive to fight the infection. That can stimulate even more mucus production.
'Snot going away
The mucus in your nose, for example, is moved to the back of the nasal passages and then into the throat by tiny hairs on nasal cells called cilia. And from there, you gulp it down. That's right — you're swallowing your snot all day, every day. You just don't notice it.
Nose blowing can relieve some sinus pressure and provide comfort, but it cannot clear the bacterial or viral infection of the sinuses. The infections require medical attention.
Allergic reactions and respiratory infections like colds, the flu, and sinus infections can cause your body to produce even more mucus. Even something as simple as eating spicy food can trigger increased mucus production, and when you think about it, it makes sense.
Catarrh is usually caused by the immune system reacting to an infection or irritation, which causes the lining of your nose and throat to become swollen and produce mucus. This can be triggered by: a cold or other infections. hay fever or other types of allergic rhinitis.
On the other hand, repeated and forceful nose-blowing can generate pressures that are high enough to force mucus into the sinuses, which could be a factor in chronic sinusitis.
“It might make it temporarily clear, but if you have a cold or allergies, a lot of the blocking is not from snot but from swelling of the lining. So, blowing it out won't really help.” Swallowing is a better way to go, says Gane.
If your mucus is dry and you are having trouble coughing it up, you can do things like take a steamy shower or use a humidifier to wet and loosen the mucus. When you do cough up phlegm (another word for mucus) from your chest, Dr. Boucher says it really doesn't matter if you spit it out or swallow it.
After dealing with a blocked nose during a bout of cold or flu, it is not uncommon for a runny nose to emerge soon after. The good news is that this is a positive sign, though – it is just your body's way of getting rid of any bacteria.
If you happen to develop extra mucus, such as when you have a cold or allergies, your body makes more to trap the germs or irritants and get them out of your body. While it may be an annoyance at the time, excess mucus can be a sign of your immune system in action.
Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
Most colds go away on their own within seven to 10 days and don't turn into anything more serious. Common cold treatment includes over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help reduce your symptoms and keep you comfortable until you recover.
Days 3 to 5: Cough and More Nasal Congestion
Nasal symptoms continue to develop, peaking during the third and fourth days. You may notice that mucus from your runny nose has become thicker, with a yellow or green tinge.
After 2 or 3 days of symptoms, the mucus discharged from your nose may change to a white, yellow, or green color. This is normal and does not mean you need an antibiotic. 10 days and beyond: Lingering symptoms can last up to 2 weeks in some people, especially runny nose, stuffy nose, and coughing.
“Normally, mucus is clear. When you have a cold or infection, it might turn green or yellow,” said Alyssa. Clear snot usually signals allergies or some kind of environmental factor that is triggering your nose to start running, such as inhaling dust or allergens. Clear snot is nothing to worry about.
Day 4: Mucus may turn yellow or green (this is normal). Sore throat improves, but coughing begins. Days 5-7: Energy and congestion improve. 1 week+: Cough usually tapers off after a week, but can take up to 3-6 weeks to fully resolve.
You could also make matters worse by blowing air, nasal bacteria, virus particles, and irritants into your ears and sinuses—which at best could cause irritation, and at worst may trigger an infection, says Andrew Lane, M.D., director of the division of Rhinology and Sinus Surgery Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
So, to answer your questions: The phlegm itself isn't toxic or harmful to swallow. Once swallowed, it's digested and absorbed. It isn't recycled intact; your body makes more in the lungs, nose and sinuses. It doesn't prolong your illness or lead to infection or complications in other parts of your body.
Things like allergies, eating spicy food, and being outside in the cold can result in a more watery nasal leakage. Your body usually makes thicker mucus when you have a cold (caused by viruses) or sinus infection (caused by bacteria). Most mucus problems are temporary.
Take long showers or breathe in steam from a pot of warm (but not too hot) water. Drink lots of fluids. This will thin out your mucus, which could help prevent blocked sinuses. Use a nasal saline spray.