Bloody Mucus

Ear Nose | Otorhinolaryngology | Bloody Mucus (Symptom)


Description

Mucus is a gelatinous and thick fluid produced by mucus cells that line the intestines, the nose, urinary and reproductive cells and other body organs. Mucus composition is represented by water, salts, glycoprotein (mucin) and other small cells.

Mucus-producing tissue lines the mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Mucus acts as a protective blanket over these surfaces, preventing the tissue underneath from drying out. Mucus also acts as a sort of flypaper, trapping unwanted substances like bacteria and dust before they can get into the body. It also contains antibodies that help the body recognize invaders like bacteria and viruses, enzymes that kill the invaders it traps, protein to make the mucus gooey and stringy and very inhospitable, and a variety of cells, among other things.

Mucus is usually clear in color and represents sickness or disorder when color changes. Bloody or brownish mucus is usual discharged when in inflamed sinuses which causes bleeding to occur, that mixes with mucus.

Causes

Brown mucus is a common complain of smokers, because tobacco smoke irritates the mucus inning causing it to becoming damaged and inflamed. Brownish or bloody mucus is also present in nasal polyps or irritated mucus membranes, or in the case of an irritated throat. Alcohol consumers often have inflamed and engorged throats and bronchi, thus coughing up blood stained or brownish mucus.

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