|
Dear Victoria:
Questions like yours are just mucus, errr...I mean music, to my ears! That's because you've given
me a terrific chance to explain the marvelous role of mucus in fighting disease! This ooey, gooey
substance is ready to slime harmful germs any time, anywhere by trapping dirt and bacteria that get
into your nose or throat! While there's always a thin layer of mucus in your nose, it functions in
its full glory when you're sick with a cold. That's when your mucus glands work harder than ever to
make extra mucus that will fight off that invasion of extra germs. Hundreds of tiny, moving hairs
called cilia also help out in the struggle against sickness. These hairs lie just below the layer
of mucus and sweep old mucus and dirt away from your lungs like a broom. The mucus then travels up
to your mouth where it's (yecch!) swallowed or to your nose where it's sneezed out. Unfortunately,
the surplus mucus can run out of your nose like water through a faucet, too! This slippery stuff
will also make your head feel stuffy, but hey--in the long run it's worth the inconvenience.
Even when you're not sick, you may find that your nose is still oozin' overtime! So why does
it seem like your mucus glands are still busy making mucus? Well for one thing, they're not! You're
getting that disturbing dripping sensation because cold winter temperatures are making tiny water
droplets in your warm, moist nose come together or condense. These condensed droplets form big
drops that get so heavy that they run right out of your nose. So don't feel like a drip--a runny
nose in winter weather is perfectly natural!
Signed,
Wendell
|
