Snot (or nasal mucus, to use the proper term) is the slime produced by the mucous membranes inside your nose. Over the course of a single day, your body can produce up to a couple of deciliters of it. During a common cold, the nasal membranes can become inflamed and filled with fluid — a condition known as acute rhinitis — which significantly increases mucus production.
But all of that is probably familiar to anyone who’s ever had a cold. Instead, here are ten fun and gross facts about your own snot that you’re very unlikely to know!
1 This is what your snot is made of…
Those beloved (or hated) nose boogers start inside your nose as mucus, which is made up mostly of water, combined with proteins, salts, and a wide range of chemicals. Mucus is produced by body tissues — not only in the nose, but also in the mouth, sinuses, throat, and gastrointestinal tract.
It has a sticky, slimy consistency that helps trap potentially harmful substances in the environment, such as pollen, viruses, and bacteria. [source]
2 That’s when it’s time to pick those boogers…
Snot helps protect the body from viruses and other particles from entering your airways. When you cough or sneeze, a lot of mucus is expelled — but the mucus that stays inside your nose eventually dries out.
Once it hardens, it turns into those tiny nose boogers, and that’s when it’s time to pick them out. [source]
3 But you should never pick your nose with your fingers…
You should try to avoid picking your nose with your fingers as much as possible — tempting as it may be! Every time you put your fingers up your nose, there’s a risk of spreading bacteria, depending on where your hands have been beforehand.
It works the other way around too: snot can be full of harmful bacteria. That’s why it’s better to remove boogers using a cotton swab or another suitable tool instead. [source]
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4 You should also never eat your snot…
Although it’s very unlikely that anything dangerous will happen if you eat your snot, it’s definitely not recommended. Not only is it rather unpleasant to watch, but there’s also a reason why snot is meant to leave the body — especially once it has dried.
The habit of eating one’s own snot is known as mucophagy. [source]
5 More reasons to stop picking…
And that’s not the only reason to keep your fingers out of your nose in the hunt for the “perfect” boogers. Chronic nose picking — a condition known as rhinotillexomania — can damage the delicate nasal lining, cause inflammation and bleeding, and increase the risk of respiratory infections.
And that’s definitely something you want to avoid, right? [source]
6 Faster than a cheetah…
A sneeze can travel at over 160 km/h (100 mph) — faster than a cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, which reaches a top speed of 104.4 km/h (65 mph).
Even if you cover your sneeze with your arm, microscopic droplets of snot can still escape, making it best to sneeze away from others whenever possible — even though that’s easier said than done. [source]
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7 A major myth about your snot…
You may have heard that green-colored snot means you have a bacterial infection, but that’s actually just a myth. A greenish color can occur for many different reasons, most of which are completely natural and not necessarily a sign of anything serious. [source]
8 How common nose picking really is…
According to studies, one in five people picks their nose at least five times a day. That means 20% of the population is digging around in their nose daily — and multiple times at that.
So… are you one of them? [source]
9 Mucus is secreted from almost every opening in your body…
You don’t just have mucus-producing tissue in your lungs, nose, mouth, and throat. You can also find it in your ears, eyes, reproductive organs, urinary system, and gastrointestinal tract.
In other words, mucus plays a much bigger role in your body than most people realize. [source]
10 This is why your snot can turn greener when you have a cold…
The color of your snot (or mucus, if you prefer the proper term) mainly depends on what it contains. The more cells — especially white blood cells — present, the thicker and more colored it usually becomes, often turning yellow or green.
During infections, the number of these cells in the mucus increases, which is why the color change is so common when you’re sick. [source]
5 Common Questions About Snot
It consists mostly of water, mixed with proteins, salts, enzymes, and immune cells, which help trap dust, bacteria, and viruses.
The color comes from white blood cells released during immune responses. More cells usually mean thicker and darker mucus, especially during infections.
It’s unlikely to be dangerous, but it’s not recommended since it contains trapped bacteria, viruses, and debris meant to be expelled from the body.
It plays a crucial role in protecting the airways, keeping tissues moist, and filtering out harmful particles before they reach the lungs.
Occasional picking isn’t dangerous, but doing it frequently can damage the nasal lining, cause bleeding, and increase the risk of infections.
