Mucus or snot usually has a negative, and often unsightly, connotation associated with cold weather and allergy season, snorting and sucking noises, and the use of lots of tissues. While there are steps you can take to get rid of mucus, make sure you do it right so that it doesn't block your body's natural processes or make the symptoms worse.
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Method 1 of 3: Get Rid of Mucus with Home Remedies
Step 1. Take a break
If you have an infection, getting plenty of rest can help your body recover. You may have a lot of work to do, but don't push yourself beyond the things that really need to be done.
If you have a bacterial sinus infection, you may need to take antibiotics and a mucoactive (eg Mucinex) to clear the mucus
Step 2. Increase fluid intake
Consuming adequate amounts of water every day can thin the mucus and help clear the nasal passages.
- For this reason, you can also consume decaffeinated soups and teas as they can relieve colds.
- Try drinking peppermint tea or eating pineapple. The menthol content in mint and bromelain in pineapple can help reduce coughs caused by mucus.
- On the other hand, caffeinated drinks and alcohol can increase mucus production and dehydrate the body.
Step 3. Apply a hot compress
Dip a clean washcloth in warm water, then squeeze out the excess water. Next, place the warm washcloth on your nose and cheeks. The heat from the washcloth will loosen mucus and relieve the pain caused by the blockage.
The heat will thin the mucus (which is mostly solid) making it easier for you to expel it by blowing your nose
Step 4. Take a warm bath
The steam that comes out of the warm water will open your nasal passages which makes it easier for you to expel mucus. A warm bath will also help remove mucus as the hot steam can open the nasal passages so that mucus can be expelled easily. Remember, when the nose is blocked, the nasal passages will be completely closed. The steam will dissipate the heat and thin the mucus so you can expel it easily.
- You can also inhale steam for the same effect. Boil a pot of water, then remove from the stove. Prepare a blanket or cloth to cover your face and a pot of hot water, then inhale the steam to loosen mucus. Be very careful not to expose your skin to the excessive heat from the pot or the hot steam. Position your face at least 30 cm above the water. You can add essential oils, such as tea tree oil, mint oil, or eucalyptus oil to help open the sinuses.
- You can also use a humidifier (a humidifier) to relieve the symptoms.
Method 2 of 3: Remove Mucus with Over-the-counter Medicines
Step 1. Do the treatment carefully
Over-the-counter medications like oral decongestants and nasal sprays can be very effective if you're producing too much mucus and you still want to go to school or work. However, you should not take it for more than three days.
- Consuming these products for more than 3 days can have a boomerang effect when mucus builds up in larger quantities than before.
- Most of these products also have side effects, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate.
Step 2. Take an oral decongestant to relieve the blockage
Decongestants can relieve nasal congestion by reducing swelling of the tissue in the nasal passages. Mucus will dry in the lungs so that the airways become open. The mucus can be removed easily which will prevent the increase in mucus production.
- There are two types of over-the-counter decongestants: one for 12 hours and one for 24 hours. Try taking Tylenol Cold and Flu or Advil Cold and Sinus.
- Decongestants come in a variety of forms, such as pills, liquids, or nasal sprays.
- Before taking a decongestant, read the label and drug content carefully.
- If you have hypertension, consult your doctor before taking decongestants that contain the active ingredient phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine because both can raise blood pressure.
Step 3. Try taking cough suppressants and expectorants
Cough suppressants (eg dextromethorphan) will prevent the cough reflex and reduce the adhesion and surface tension of mucus. This makes mucus easier to expel from the body, relieves pain from coughing too much, and clears secretions from the upper and lower airways. Guaifenesin contained in mucoactive agents (eg Mucinex) is a cough expectorant that can thin mucus. This will make it easier and faster to remove mucus from the respiratory tract.
- You may get greater benefit if you take drugs that contain dextromethorphan and guaifenesin at the same time, such as Robitussin DM. This drug can function as a cough suppressant and expectorant.
- Some side effects that can appear include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches.
Step 4. Use a corticosteroid nasal spray
This medicine is sprayed directly into the nasal cavity. Nasal spray can constrict the blood vessels in the nose, shrink nasal tissue, and reduce swelling that occurs in the sinuses and nose. Nasal sprays also help stop mucus production and make it easier to clear the nasal passages so that the breath becomes easier and the mucus dries quickly.
If you want a nasal steroid (eg Flonase), you will need to see a doctor for a prescription
Step 5. Take an oral antihistamine
Antihistamines for colds block histamine, a substance that can trigger an allergic reaction and make the tissue in the nose swell and secrete mucus. Over-the-counter antihistamines that can dry out mucus include ioratidine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
- You should take an antihistamine once a day before bed.
- Remember that antihistamines have a side effect, namely drowsiness. So, do not take this drug if you drive a vehicle or operate heavy machinery.
- You should also be aware of other side effects, such as dizziness, headache, and dry mouth.
- Antihistamines should not be taken at the same time as expectorants.
- If you have persistent and severe allergies, ask your doctor for an allergy shot.
Step 6. Drain the water into the nasal passages
Nasal flushing (also known as nasal rinsing) is a process performed by manually draining water into the nasal passages. The principle in this nasal rinsing method is to put salt water (saline) into one nostril to loosen the accumulated mucus, then drain it into the other nostril. This will remove mucus buildup and speed up the drying process.
- You can use a neti pot or a bulb syringe.
- Always use a solution (salt water) that comes from sterile water, distilled water, or water that has been boiled to prevent bacteria from entering.
- Always wash nasal rinse equipment properly after you use it, then dry it.
- Don't rinse your nose too often, as this can strip some of the natural protective substances needed to fight infection.
- You can also gargle with salt water to get the same effect.
Method 3 of 3: Understanding the Causes of Mucus
Step 1. Understand that mucus is beneficial to the body because it keeps the lungs clean
Maybe you do not realize that the body is always producing mucus, sometimes as much as a liter a day. Even if you feel completely healthy, the cells in your mouth and nose (called "goblet cells") turn water, polysaccharides, and proteins into mucus, forming a characteristic sticky texture.
- An important reason why mucus is so beneficial to the body: mucus is sticky so it can catch irritant or harmful particles before they reach the lungs.
- If there is no mucus, dust and dirt particles that may not be visible when you blow your nose will enter the body.
Step 2. Pay attention to the body's response
When you are sick, the body will produce mucus in greater quantities to ward off invaders (can be bacteria or viruses).
- This is why you often only notice mucus when you are sick. Under normal conditions, you can swallow mucus at a rate equal to your body's ability to produce it. However, when you are sick, the body produces mucus more quickly with greater amounts so that excess mucus will clog the nose.
- Mucus mixed with saliva and white blood cells will turn into phlegm.
- Some things that can also stimulate mucus production include food, environmental factors, cigarette smoke, allergens (allergies), perfumes, and chemicals.
- When mucus production increases, the sinuses can become blocked, leading to bacterial buildup and sinus infections.
Step 3. Don't rely too much on color
Many people think that the color of mucus can indicate the type of disease suffered. While there is little benefit in observing the color of mucus, doctors never rely on it to make a diagnosis or prescribe a particular treatment.
- Usually, healthy mucus will be clear.
- If the mucus is white or cloudy, you may have a cold.
- Mucus that is yellow or green can indicate a bacterial infection.
- If you want to find out if you have a cold or a sinus infection, a more accurate measure of how to find out is based on the duration of the symptoms. If you have a cold, you will have a runny nose followed by a stuffy nose, which will last for 2-3 days each. In sinus infections, symptoms can last for a week or more.
