Q: I have been dealing with sticky mucus for about two years now. It gets into the back of my throat and bronchial tubes and is very hard to cough out. I went to a pulmonologist who suggested I try Mucinex and if that didn’t work, to use my Albuterol inhaler every four to six hours to open the airways so I could get rid of it. However, nothing seemed to help. He diagnosed it as an asthma condition. It even affects my voice at times. When I try to cough it out, it’s like a rubber band that snaps right back in. I also use an inhaler to prevent inflammation in my lungs due to my asthma.
What else could I possibly do? I’ve made an appointment with an ENT specialist to see if it could be due to post nasal drip.
A: I must begin by indicating that mucus – to a degree – is good. It acts as protection for the tissues that line the mouth, nose, throat, lungs, and GI tract. Mucus actually contains antibodies that help the body identify viruses and bacteria, as well as enzymes and antibodies that kill the invaders it traps. These tissues should not dry out but should act as protection for the areas. As I have indicated in the past, a healthy body produces between one and one and one half liters of mucus each and every day, most of which goes down the throat without notice or concern. Unfortunately, the body is complex and when too much mucus is produced, we do notice it and spend countless sums of money purchasing over-the-counter and prescription products in an attempt to bring things back to normal.
It’s important to consider that anything that irritates the mucus membranes can actually cause them to produce an abundance of mucus. Asthma, a sinus or bacterial infection, allergies, or the excessive use of a nasal spray might cause a buildup of mucus. If you can identify the possible cause(s), you might then be able to ease the condition by using an over-the-counter antihistamine in proper doses, drinking additional water, learning to recognize an allergen such as tobacco smoke, or even by using a humidifier in the home to keep the air moist.
One method of ridding excess mucus is with a netti pot that resembles a small tea pot. A saline solution is introduced into one nostril and it ultimately drains out the opposite nostril. Irrigation is good but shouldn’t be overdone since all too frequently, the process may wash away some of the protective substances that help prevent a person from getting ill.
So, let’s hit on some possible reasons for your excess mucus. Initially, your excess mucus may be related to cigarette smoking, the foods you consume and the beverages you drink – things that vary from person to person. For example, soy milk is known to cause excess mucus, as is orange juice, lemonade, coconut, dairy products and the various edibles that contain soy products. One method of determining if specific food items are the culprit is to eliminate one product at a time to find if there is any variation in the amount of mucus developed. This will likely require that you keep a log of what you consume so you will ultimately know what to eliminate from your diet. And, should this be the cause for your excess mucus, remedies might include ginger tea, ginger ale that actually contains real ginger and not an extract or ginger flavoring, ginger root capsules, and an old standby for other readers but apparently not you, Mucinex.
On a different note, coughing up mucus (phlegm) is a common symptom of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Then there is the possibility of nasal polyps, asthma, acute bronchitis, and more. Any change in the amount or color of the mucus may indicate the presence of a bacterial or lung infection.
If you are so hampered that your quality of life is affected, it’s time to be more aggressive in getting the answers you need. Keep your appointment with the ENT specialist who can sort out what has been suggested by your pulmonologist and who can make further recommendations. Be sure to ask about allergy testing that may be appropriate in your case. Good luck.
