Mucus v. Phlegm: What’s The Difference?
HuffPost
Doctors break down exactly what these two terms mean and what you should know about them.
Most people are all too familiar with the icky, uncomfortable feeling of having mucus build up in the nasal passageways while suffering through a cold or bad allergy flare-up.
Or is it phlegm, rather than mucus? What exactly is the difference between these two words? Do they describe the same slimy annoyance or separate substances? Below, experts break it down.
What is mucus?
“Mucus is a slippery, gel-like substance your body naturally produces to keep your nose, throat, lungs and other parts of your respiratory system moist and protected,” Dr. Anitha Srinivasan, chief medical officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, told HuffPost. “It traps dust, germs and other particles so they don’t irritate your airways or cause infection.”
Your body constantly produces mucus as part of your everyday functioning immune system.
