Is waking up with thick mucus in your throat a sign of the flu or a cold? And if so, is there anything you can do about it? Experts Explain It To Nu.nl.
“As soon as it gets wetter outside, your nose gets wetter too,” says entoctor liane tan. Mucus in your throat this time of year is Mainly Snot, She Says. Because of the temperature differentials we are experienced now, your nose has to work harder and you may suffer from a runny nose. Accordance to her, it is therefore not surprising if you wake up with mucus in your throat.
On the contrary, your upper airways are always covered with a layer of mucus. They Catch Dirt and Move the Mucus Towards Your Throat. There you swallow it (Unnoticed) again. “In the event of an infection, the mucous membrane produces more mucus as a reaction, in order to remove the virus or bacteria more quickly,” Says ted van Essen, Former Family Doctor and Chairman of the Influenza Foundation.
“Then you May Start Sniffling or Coughing Up Mucus.” If the mucus disappears after swallowing a few times, there is not much to worry about, Says van Essen. If you Continue to Suffer From It, There May Be Another Reason Than A Cold. “For example, mucus is a common problem for smokers.” But it could also be that the mucus Becomes Drier and Thicker in your Sleep. “
If you suffer from this every morning, tan advises checking whether it is not too cold in your bedroom. Because the air you breathe in at night influences the amount of mucus you produce. Accordance to her, a room temperature of around 18 degrees is fine. “Otherwise it will quickly Become Too Cold and Your Nose Will Start Producing Snot As A Reaction.”
How to prevention Wandering Dust Partles
However, it is better not to turn the heating up too high, because you will breathe in Drier Air Again. And dry air can cause a dry throat, which makes your mucus thicker and thicker. An open bedroom Window Right next to your bed is not always better either. “You might think: Great, Fresh Air. But That Moist, Cold Breeze can actual affect your mucous membranes.”
“Especiate With House Dust Mites you can Suffer, But Without An Allergy, Cold Air and Dust Partles Can Irritate Your Nose.” If you still want to ventilate, it is better to open a window somewhere other than in your bedroom. To Further Prevent Wandering Dust Particas, Tan also Recommends Vacuuming As Early AS Possible in the Day. “Just Better is to mop your bedroom.”
You also Produce Saliva Throughhout the Day. “Because you are lying horizontally at night, the snot and saliva can accumulate in your Nose and throat. The moment you get up, the mucus drops down,” Tan explains. “Mucus should be liquid. As soon as it Becomes Thick, you may suffer from stuck mucus.”
Try a Nasal shower
A glass of water next to your bed can help remove the mucus. Like a nasal shower. “We Ent Doctors Consider A Nasal Shower As Normal As Brushing Your Teeth,” Says Tan. That is a child or watering can with which you rinse and clean your will with salt water water.
From Essen also suggests that steaming can help thin the mucus, making it easy to cough up. “There are no medicines for it.” And now that it is getting curder, you may be more likely to suffer from cold symptoms. “But that Doesn’t Always have to be a cold,” Says Tan. “The Mucous Membranes of Your Nose and Throat are just working a little harder.”