Once you talk about it, everyone feels dirty and disgusting, and anyone wants to avoid it, but in medicine, phlegm is one of the signs of lung health. Traditional Chinese medicine has always said that "the lungs are the instruments for phlegm storage", which deserves our attention. Not only traditional Chinese medicine, modern medicine also has this view.
Modern medicine believes that the essence of sputum is respiratory secretions. During the formation process, the dust, bacteria, impurities, etc. that will stick to the respiratory tract and lungs, and will eventually be spit out of our mouths. It is also because of the series of phlegm formation that it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a "barometer" of lung health.
How does sputum form?
sputum formation is mainly formed by the secretion of goblet cells in the respiratory tract secretion glands. The main function of goblet cells in the respiratory tract is the secretion function.
Continuously secrete liquid keeps the respiratory tract moist, and can adhere to pathogens and dust in the inhaled air, and finally form sputum and excrete it out of the body, so it plays a protective role in the respiratory tract and maintains the health of the respiratory system.
When respiratory inflammation occurs, such as virus or bacterial infection, inflammation will stimulate the human respiratory system and lead to an increase in goblet cells secretion. These secretions contain a large number of inflammatory cells, which can kill pathogens entering the body and form pus and sputum to be excreted from the body.
There is a layer of cilia on the tracheal mucosa of human beings. The main function of these cilia is to swing continuously and eliminate various secretions in the airway from the respiratory tract through the swing of cilia.
When there is no inflammation in the respiratory tract, the secretion of goblet cells is relatively small, and the sputum is formed, so spitting is rarely seen. When inflammation occurs, the secretion will increase and a large amount of sputum will form.
Is it harmful to swallow the phlegm accidentally?
If you go out and go to a public place, you will not spit anywhere if you find coughing and having phlegm? If you carry tissues with you, you can also wrap them in tissues and throw them into the trash can. What if you swallow them accidentally?
First of all, sputum is a secretion of the human respiratory tract. In order to ensure that the airway mucosa is in a moist state, some secretions will be produced every day. Once a microbial infection occurs, the airway secretions may be excessive and sputum may be produced.
coughing up phlegm is actually a kind of protection for the body. While the phlegm is coughed out, some harmful substances in the body will also be adhered and excreted from the body. When the sputum is swallowed, the bacteria in it will be killed after being corroded by gastric acid, and will not cause too much harm to the human body.
But if the bacteria are very strong and can withstand the corrosion of gastric acid, swallowing phlegm may cause the bacteria to spread in the body, and even cause gastrointestinal infections. For example, patients with tuberculosis should not swallow the phlegm, and avoid people around them when coughing or coughing phlegm to avoid infection.
Sputum is the "barometer" of lung health?
[Position of sputum]
The location of sputum is formed in the respiratory tract, and our respiratory tract is divided into the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract, and the lungs are connected to the lower respiratory tract.
Therefore, when there is inflammation or abnormal secretions in the lungs, the respiratory tract is the only way, so some bacteria or other substances in the lungs will inevitably stick to the spit out, which will also affect the normal physiological state of the phlegm. Therefore, the health of the lungs can be judged through sputum or what diseases exist.
[How to spit]
Spit, that is, coughing up phlegm. Its essence is to carry phlegm out of the respiratory tract through the airflow of the lungs.
On the contrary, if the lungs are healthy, the lung airflow is disordered, and it is difficult to cough out sputum in normal ways, which can also be used to judge whether the lungs are healthy. Not only that, if you spit, if you experience throat pain and hoarseness, it means that there are certain problems in the respiratory tract, and you need to drink more water and take timely care and treatment.
[Color of Sputum]
You can also distinguish whether the lungs are normal by the color of the phlegm. If the color of the phlegm is heavier and will be turbid, it means that the lungs produce some secretions that do not affect the color of the talk. That is to say, the darker the color of the phlegm, the more problematic the body will be. The main colors of the phlegm will be divided into the following 5 types. We can distinguish different conditions of the body through color.
"red, yellow, green, gray and white" five types of phlegm, what does it mean,
, bloody phlegm-"red phlegm"
Strictly speaking, if such phlegm color appears, it is likely that there is blood in the phlegm, so the phlegm will turn red, or it may be a red and pink color, which is also called "blood phlegm". This sputum color appears in
. It is likely that capillary rupture occurs in the bronchial and trachea of the lungs, or it may be a condition of tuberculosis or bronchodilation , and symptoms of mild bleeding occur, and adhesion to the sputum through the lung gas. Therefore, when this sputum color appears, you should pay attention and actively seek medical attention.
. Bacterial sputum—"yellow sputum"
If there is a bacterial infection in the patient, it induces adverse reactions in the respiratory system and lungs. The discharge of sputum must pass through the respiratory tract and causes epilepsy to cause yellowing. This condition is a symptom of inflammation or pus. The patient first undergoes anti-inflammatory treatment.
The causes of yellowing of sputum include emphysema , tuberculosis, lung cyst . According to clinical manifestations, if these symptoms appear in the lungs, in addition to spitting yellow sputum, it will be accompanied by chest pain, dizziness, headache, and dry cough.
, rust-colored sputum —"green sputum"
When it comes to green sputum, it may be rare for people to see green sputum, but some patients will also have this green sputum. This sputum is often caused by swelling and causing lung infection to .
The immune system is transporting a large number of neutral white blood cells and infection sources to fight against the war, and the green protein they are in will make the sputum appear green and yellow.
. Mucus sputum—"gray sputum"
If the sputum you vomit one day is gray or even black, it is actually not directly related to your own disease constitution, but is related to the impact of external infection on the lungs.
If you consume some film or dust angle for a long time, work will cause infection to the lungs. For example, some textile workers recommend that you try to wear masks and do relevant care when working to reduce lung damage.
. Slurry phlegm - "white phlegm"
Normal people usually spit white phlegm, which is thinner and very similar to water. The phlegm we spit has a certain texture, which means that the respiratory system is abnormally diastolic and phlegm is difficult to form, and it will be accompanied by various diseases such as emphysema and pulmonary edema . This will cause the color of the phlegm to turn white, and limb weakness, asthma and edema will occur.
How to prevent coughing of sputum?
. Drink more water on weekdays. You have to drink more water at work and at home. Water can accelerate the metabolism of the environment in the body and help you excrete some dirty and useless things.
. Develop good living habits and don’t smoke.
. Take protective measures. People who must work in heavy oil smoke should try to protect themselves, such as wearing a mask, going out regularly to breathe some fresh air, and doing at least once a year.
, spicy food and beverages. Usually eat less spicy products, and try to choose non-colored ones when drinking beverages. Especially some carbonated drinks .
. Strengthen physical fitness. Health care means that you should pay attention to diet, have regular life, and exercise. Therefore, exercise is indispensable. You can jog for 15 minutes every day.
