Cold weather has strange effects on your body as it may happen and one of the aspects that is greatly noticeable is the excess mucus in your nose. Most individuals think that this surplus of mucus is a sign that they are becoming ill when the reality is much more interesting. When your condition is cold, you will produce more mucus as an emotional response to shield your lungs.
With cold air, the level of temperature and moisture contained in it is much lower than what your lungs demand. Warm and humid air is optimal in your respiratory system. The passageways of your nose warm the cold air and add moisture meaning that your lungs are supplied with air of safe temperature.
At the instant that cold air reaches your nostrils, minute blood vessels in your nose start to swell. This growth assists in heating the air faster. The nasal tissues also produce more mucus as they get warmed up. This extra mucus also serves as a humidifier, which moisturizes the dry air, and then it runs deeper to your respiratory system.
This is necessary since cold and dry air may cause irritation of lungs tissues. Annoyance may cause coughing, shortness of breath or pain. Your nose averts these undesirable effects through the manufacture of more mucus. This is the natural defense mechanism which makes your lungs work well even during severe weather conditions.
Even in very cold places, the runny nose is felt by the people almost as soon as they go out. This is termed as cold-induced rhinorrhea. The mucus creates a shield of dust, bacteria and others.
The reaction of your body also occurs with respect to the speed of the temperature drop. When you step out of a warm inside environment and go into freezing outside temperature, your nose will warm up immediately. The sudden cold shock triggers the nasal glands to secrete mucus at a quicker rate to form the well-known dripping feeling.
The cilia within the inside of your nose are supported also by the increased mucus. These fine hair like structures sieve harmful materials. Cilia may also decelerate in cold weather due to low temperature. Additional mucus assists them to keep the particles moving off your lungs.
Condensation is another interesting aspect of such a process. When the warm air passes through your lungs into cold air around the nostrils, it condenses and it comes out in the form of a thin fluid. This adds to the runny-nose effect produced by the natural production of the mucus. It is a totally normal physiological response.
The effort to dry out the delicate tissues within your nose is also done by cold air. This also maintains the health of your nostrils and minimises chances of being infected during winter.
This excess production of mucus is felt more in the cases of people who are in morning walks or outdoor activities. Exercise also makes you breathe more, as cold air circulates through your nose.
The additional mucus is caused by the fact that the respiratory defenses of the body are working flawlessly, and as annoying as it may sound this is nonetheless a good sign. The nose is considered the primary defense mechanism, in which all the breaths are filtered, warmed, and moisturized before passing through the lungs.
This natural system also assists in the prevention of asthmatics symptoms due to winter. This means that your nose is protecting you because it heats up the air and the airways are not constricted or the breath is not uncomfortable. Individuals who are vulnerable to cold air in winter can be made aware of this process in order to be better caretakers of their respiratory systems.
Making scarfs or wearing masks will help in decreasing the amount of mucus that is produced because air will be warmer when breathing. According to the recommendations of many specialists, it is better to cover the mouth and nose when it becomes extremely cold.
One of the numerous environmental adaptation ways in the human body is the production of cold weather mucus. It shows the level of smartness of the respiratory system that ensures the lungs are not damaged. Your nose guarantees you comfortable breathing even when temperatures have gone really low.
The next time you get a runny nose when cold outside, then you will remember that your body is keeping your lungs warm. The conditions during winter are easier to comprehend and control with this knowledge.
The mucus production induced by cold is a component of a very well-constructed biological mechanism that ensures that the process of breathing is continuous, smooth, and healthy. It helps to support your lungs, shield your airways, and make sure that all the breaths are of the appropriate temperature and humidity.