How can you effectively clear mucus from your chest. What are the most effective home remedies for chest congestion. Which over-the-counter medications help relieve excess mucus. When should you see a doctor for persistent chest congestion.

Understanding Chest Congestion and Mucus Buildup

Chest congestion, often accompanied by a persistent cough, is a common symptom of various respiratory conditions. It occurs when mucus accumulates in the lungs and airways, causing discomfort and difficulty breathing. While not typically life-threatening, chest congestion can significantly impact your quality of life and, if left untreated, may lead to further complications.

Mucus, also known as phlegm or sputum, is a natural substance produced by the body to protect and lubricate the respiratory system. However, when excess mucus is produced due to infections, allergies, or other factors, it can become problematic.

What causes excess mucus production?

• Viral or bacterial infections (e.g., common cold, flu, bronchitis)
• Allergies and sinus issues
• Chronic respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma, COPD)
• Environmental irritants (e.g., smoke, pollution)
• Dehydration
• Certain medications

Hydration: The Foundation of Mucus Relief

One of the most effective and simplest ways to combat chest congestion is by staying well-hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin out mucus, making it easier to expel from your body.

Which liquids are most beneficial for clearing mucus?

• Water: The most essential fluid for overall hydration
• Warm herbal teas: Can provide soothing relief and additional health benefits
• Broths and clear soups: Offer hydration and potential anti-inflammatory properties
• Fresh fruit juices: Provide vitamins and antioxidants to support immune function

Warm liquids are particularly effective as they can help loosen mucus in both the chest and nasal passages, providing temporary relief from congestion. Aim to consume at least 8-10 glasses of fluids daily when dealing with chest congestion.

Harnessing the Power of Salt Water Gargling

Gargling with warm salt water is a time-tested remedy that can help alleviate the symptoms of a cold, including excess mucus production. This simple yet effective method works by reducing inflammation in the throat and breaking down mucus.

How to prepare and use a salt water gargle solution:

1. Mix 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water (use filtered or bottled water for best results)
2. Take a sip of the solution and tilt your head slightly back
3. Gargle for 30-60 seconds, allowing the salt water to reach the back of your throat
4. Spit out the solution and repeat as needed, up to 3-4 times daily

For those who find gargling uncomfortable, saline nasal sprays or neti pots can be effective alternatives. These methods help flush out excess mucus and irritants from the nasal passages, providing relief from congestion.

Elevating Your Head: A Simple Yet Effective Technique

Keeping your head in an elevated position, especially during sleep, can significantly aid in mucus drainage. This simple adjustment to your sleeping position can provide relief from congestion and improve your overall comfort.

How does elevating your head help with mucus drainage?

When you lie flat, mucus can accumulate in your throat and chest, exacerbating congestion and potentially leading to coughing fits. By elevating your head, you allow gravity to assist in the natural drainage of mucus, reducing buildup and associated symptoms.

Tips for effectively elevating your head:

• Use multiple pillows to create a gentle incline
• Invest in a wedge pillow designed for this purpose
• Adjust the head of your bed if possible (for adjustable beds)
• Ensure your neck is properly supported to avoid strain

Aim for an elevation of about 6-8 inches or a 30-45 degree angle for optimal results. This position not only aids in mucus drainage but can also help reduce post-nasal drip and alleviate sinus pressure.

Harnessing Humidity: Using a Humidifier for Mucus Relief

Dry air can exacerbate respiratory issues and make mucus thicker and more difficult to expel. Introducing moisture into the air through a humidifier can help loosen mucus and provide relief from congestion.

What are the benefits of using a humidifier for chest congestion?

• Moistens air passages, reducing irritation
• Thins mucus, making it easier to expel
• Can help soothe a dry, irritated throat
• May improve sleep quality by reducing nighttime coughing

When using a humidifier, it’s crucial to maintain it properly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Clean your humidifier regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions and use distilled water when possible to minimize mineral buildup.

DIY steam inhalation methods:

If you don’t have access to a humidifier, you can create your own steam therapy at home:

1. Take a hot shower and breathe in the steam
2. Lean over a bowl of hot water, covering your head with a towel to trap the steam
3. Use a facial steamer if available

These methods can provide quick relief, especially when combined with essential oils known for their decongestant properties.

The Sweet Solution: Honey as a Natural Remedy

Honey has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various ailments, including respiratory issues. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make it an excellent choice for combating chest congestion and soothing coughs.

How does honey help with mucus and congestion?

• Acts as a natural cough suppressant
• Coats the throat, providing relief from irritation
• May have antimicrobial properties that can help fight infections
• Can help boost the immune system

Recent studies have shown promising results regarding honey’s effectiveness in treating coughs, particularly in children. A 2018 meta-analysis of six randomized studies suggested that honey may be more effective than no treatment, placebos, and even some over-the-counter medications for relieving coughs.

How to use honey for chest congestion:

1. Take 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey directly
2. Mix honey into warm herbal tea or lemon water
3. Create a honey and ginger syrup for added benefits
4. Use honey as a natural sweetener in place of sugar

It’s important to note that honey should not be given to children under one year of age due to the risk of botulism. For older children and adults, however, it can be a safe and effective natural remedy for chest congestion and coughs.

Exploring Essential Oils for Respiratory Relief

Essential oils have gained popularity as natural remedies for various health issues, including respiratory problems. Certain essential oils may help loosen mucus in the chest and provide relief from congestion.

Which essential oils are most effective for chest congestion?

• Peppermint oil: Known for its cooling and decongestant properties
• Eucalyptus oil: Helps open up airways and reduce inflammation
• Tea tree oil: Has antimicrobial properties that may help fight respiratory infections
• Lavender oil: Can help promote relaxation and improve sleep quality
• Thyme oil: May have expectorant properties to help clear mucus

A 2020 meta-analysis of seven studies suggested that essential oils may help relieve some symptoms of respiratory illnesses, although results were mixed. It’s important to note that while research is promising, more studies are needed to conclusively determine the effectiveness of essential oils for respiratory issues.

How to use essential oils for mucus relief:

1. Diffusion: Use an essential oil diffuser to disperse oils into the air
2. Steam inhalation: Add a few drops of oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam
3. Topical application: Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply to the chest (always perform a patch test first)
4. Bath: Add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath

It’s crucial to use essential oils safely and as directed. Always dilute oils properly before topical use and consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating them into your wellness routine, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant or nursing.

Over-the-Counter Solutions: Decongestants and Expectorants

When home remedies aren’t providing sufficient relief, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be an effective option for managing chest congestion and excess mucus. Two main types of medications are commonly used: decongestants and expectorants.

What’s the difference between decongestants and expectorants?

Decongestants work by shrinking swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages, reducing inflammation and allowing for better airflow. Expectorants, on the other hand, help thin and loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up and expel from the body.

Common OTC decongestants:

• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE)
• Oxymetazoline (Afrin nasal spray)

Popular OTC expectorants:

• Guaifenesin (Mucinex, Robitussin)
• Bromhexine (not available in all countries)

When using OTC medications, it’s important to follow the dosage instructions carefully and be aware of potential side effects. Decongestant nasal sprays, for example, should not be used for more than three consecutive days to avoid rebound congestion.

Combination products:

Many OTC cold and flu medications combine decongestants, expectorants, and other ingredients like pain relievers or antihistamines. While these can be convenient, it’s essential to check the active ingredients to avoid doubling up on medications or taking unnecessary components.

Always consult with a healthcare professional or pharmacist before starting any new medication, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are taking other medications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Chest Congestion

While many cases of chest congestion can be managed at home, there are instances where professional medical attention is necessary. It’s important to recognize the signs that indicate a more serious condition or when home remedies and OTC medications are not providing adequate relief.

When should you consult a doctor for chest congestion?

• Symptoms persist for more than 7-10 days without improvement
• You experience difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Your cough is severe or accompanied by chest pain
• You cough up blood or rust-colored sputum
• You have a high fever (above 101°F or 38.3°C) that doesn’t respond to fever reducers
• You experience unexplained weight loss or night sweats
• You have a compromised immune system or chronic health conditions

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly. A healthcare professional can perform a thorough examination, order necessary tests, and prescribe appropriate treatments if needed.

Potential treatments a doctor may recommend:

1. Prescription-strength decongestants or expectorants
2. Antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is suspected)
3. Inhaled corticosteroids for inflammation
4. Bronchodilators to open up airways
5. Antiviral medications (in cases of influenza)

Remember that early intervention can prevent complications and lead to faster recovery. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your symptoms or if your condition isn’t improving with home care.

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Mucus Production

In addition to the remedies and treatments discussed, making certain lifestyle changes can help reduce mucus production and improve overall respiratory health. These changes can be particularly beneficial for those who experience chronic congestion or are prone to respiratory issues.

What lifestyle modifications can help reduce mucus production?

• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Maintain proper hydration
• Practice good hygiene to prevent infections
• Manage allergies effectively
• Improve indoor air quality
• Incorporate regular exercise
• Follow a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables

Smoking is a major irritant to the respiratory system and can significantly increase mucus production. Quitting smoking or avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to substantial improvements in respiratory health.

Dietary considerations for reducing mucus:

While scientific evidence is limited, some people report that certain foods may increase mucus production. Consider reducing or eliminating these foods if you notice they exacerbate your symptoms:

• Dairy products
• Processed foods high in preservatives
• Sugary foods and beverages
• Fried and fatty foods

On the other hand, incorporating foods rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids may help support immune function and reduce inflammation.

The importance of stress management:

Chronic stress can weaken the immune system and potentially exacerbate respiratory issues. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can contribute to overall health and may help reduce the frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms.

By implementing these lifestyle changes alongside the remedies and treatments discussed earlier, you can create a comprehensive approach to managing chest congestion and reducing excess mucus production. Remember that consistency is key, and it may take time to see significant improvements. If symptoms persist or worsen despite these efforts, don’t hesitate to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment options.

How to Get Rid of Mucus in Chest: 8 Tips

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To ease chest congestion, you can try home remedies, including drinking liquids, using a humidifier, and taking over-the-counter decongestants. In some cases, you may need a prescription for stronger medication.

If you’re dealing with a persistent cough, you likely have a buildup of mucus in your chest.

Although this isn’t a life threatening condition, it can affect your quality of life. If left untreated, it can lead to additional complications.

Before you head to the doctor, there are a few things you can do to help clear up your symptoms at home.

Keep reading to learn more about the different treatment options available.

For many people, home remedies are an effective first-line treatment. Try these options:

1. Drink liquids

Drink lots of fluids. It sounds cliché, but you likely hear this advice often because it works.

Liquids help thin out mucus. Warm liquids can help clear out mucus in the chest and nose. This can relieve congestion, giving you a small respite from your symptoms.

2. Gargle with salt water

Research shows that gargling warm salt water can help relieve the symptoms of a cold, which can include excess mucus.

Try to mix a cup of warm, filtered, or bottled water with half to three-quarters teaspoon (tsp) of salt. Take a sip and tilt your head slightly back and gargle for 30-60 seconds. Alternatively, use saline solution in spray or neti pot form.

3. Elevate your head

Try to keep your head upright, especially at night. This will help the mucus drain out faster. You can do this by propping up a few pillows under your head.

4. Use a humidifier

Steam can also help loosen mucus and clear up congestion. You can pick up a humidifier at your local drugstore. You may find it beneficial to use it at night near your bed. This can help ease congestion while you’re sleeping.

Depending on your needs, you can make your own steam room or humidifier at home in the following ways:

• Breath in steam in the shower
• Lean over a bowl of hot water, placing a hand towel over your head to help trap the steam around your face.

5. Take honey

Honey has been used as a natural remedy throughout history and is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. There is some evidence it may be particularly helpful in relieving nighttime coughs in children.

One 2018 meta-analysis of six randomized studies also found evidence to suggest that honey may be more effective than no treatment, a placebo, and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

However, it wasn’t necessarily more effective than the common cough suppressant Dextromethorphan (Mucinex, Robitussin, and others).

6. Use essential oils

Certain essential oils may help loosen mucus in the chest. A 2020 meta-analysis of seven studies suggest essential oils may help relieve some symptoms of respiratory illnesses, though the results of the studies were mixed.

Peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil are also used as natural decongestants.

You can make use of essential oil in one of two ways:

• Diffuse it: Pick up a diffuser from your local drugstore, and add a couple of drops of the oil to a hot bath to release the scent into the air.
• Breathe it in: Fill a bowl with hot water and a few drops of essential oil. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a hand towel to help trap the steam. Breathe in the steam for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Apply topically: Mix 12 drops of carrier oil for every 1 or 2 drops of essential oil. Do a skin patch test first. If there’s no irritation in 24 hours, you can apply it directly to your chest.

While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.

7. Take a decongestant

Decongestants are available in liquid, tablet, or nasal spray form at your local drugstore. Common OTC options include:

• oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex): This is a nasal spray that shouldn’t be used for longer than three days.
• pseudoephedrine (Sudafed): People with certain conditions may need to avoid taking Sudafed.

Follow the directions on the packaging. A decongestant can speed up your heart rate and make it harder to fall asleep. You may find it better to take it during the day.

8. Slather on a vapor rub

Vapor rubs contain decongestive ingredients, but they’re applied topically instead of ingested.

You can usually rub it onto your chest every night until the symptoms stop. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.

In one older 2010 study, researchers studied children who received either vapor rub treatment, petrolatum ointment, or no medication. Vapor rub scored the highest in providing relief from cough and congestion.

Another 2017 study found that people with a cold who used Vicks VapoRub could sleep better at night, though the study didn’t determine whether this is definitely due to the relief of symptoms like a cough.

9. Avoid smoking

Smoking can actually increase mucus in your airway, so it’s a good idea to avoid it.

Read more about how to quit smoking.

10. Eat certain foods

Try adding more onion, garlic, lemon, or cayenne pepper to your food.

A 2018 survey suggests they may help relieve symptoms of colds and coughs, which includes reducing mucus. Spicy foods containing capsaicin might also provide temporary relief of sinus congestion by stimulating the flow of mucus.

If you find that the mucus lasts for more than 3 to 4 days or that your condition gets worse quickly, your doctor may suggest a prescription decongestant, which is stronger than an OTC decongestant

They may also prescribe a prescription nasal spray to help open up your nasal passageway.

Talk with your doctor about how long you should use them. Typically, if you use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3 days in a row, you may end up stuffed up again.

Learn about the types of decongestants.

If your symptoms persist, make an appointment to see your doctor. This is especially true if you have a fever, chest pain, or trouble breathing.

It’s also important to see a doctor if:

• the congestion worsens and lasts longer than 3 or 4 days
• mucus changes from a runny substance to a thicker texture
• mucus has a green or yellow color, as this may indicate an infection

In most cases, mucus and related congestion will clear up within 7 to 9 days.

Is mucus good or bad for the body?

You need some mucus to moisturize your mucous membranes and filter out allergens and microorganisms from your nose and mouth. However, too much mucus usually indicates a respiratory illness like a cold, allergies, or asthma.

What causes mucus in the throat?

Your body produces mucus to cover the moist surfaces of your body, like your lungs, sinuses, or mouth. When your body is fighting a cold or reacting to an allergen, the body will make more mucus.

Why won’t the mucus in my throat go away?

If your excess mucus isn’t going away, it means your body is still fighting an infection or you are still being exposed to something irritating like an allergen. Your doctor can determine the cause and suggest treatment.

There are a number of home remedies that may help relieve chest congestion, such as gargling with salt water, using essential oils, or taking an OTC decongestant.

That said, if symptoms don’t improve, you may need prescription medication that will depend o the cause.

Robitussin vs. Mucinex: Best OTC Chest Remedy

The standard over-the-counter Robitussin and Mucinex products contain different active ingredients that relieve different symptoms from cough to congestion.

Robitussin and Mucinex are two over-the-counter remedies for chest congestion.

The active ingredient in Robitussin is dextromethorphan, while the active ingredient in Mucinex is guaifenesin. However, the DM version of each medicine contains both active ingredients.

What’s the difference between each active ingredient? Why might one medication be a better choice for you than the other?

Here’s a comparison of these drugs to help you make your decision.

Robitussin products come in several varieties, including:

• Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief (dextromethorphan)
• Children’s Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief (dextromethorphan)
• Robitussin 12 Hour Cough & Mucus Relief (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)
• Robitussin Cough + Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)
• Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough + Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)
• Children’s Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)

Mucinex products are packaged under these names:

• Mucinex (guaifenesin)
• Maximum Strength Mucinex (guaifenesin)
• Children’s Mucinex Chest Congestion (guaifenesin)
• Mucinex DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)
• Maximum Strength Mucinex DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)
• Maximum Strength Mucinex Fast-Max DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)

How they work

The active ingredient in Robitussin and Mucinex DM products, dextromethorphan, is an antitussive, or cough suppressant.

It stops your urge to cough and helps reduce coughing caused by slight irritation in your throat and lungs. Managing your cough may help you sleep.

Guaifenesin is the active ingredient in:

• Mucinex
• Robitussin DM
• Robitussin 12 Hour Cough & Mucus Relief

It’s an expectorant that works by thinning the mucus in your air passages. Once thinned, the mucus loosens up so you can cough it up and out.

Forms and dosage

Robitussin and Mucinex both come as an oral liquid and oral tablets, depending on the specific product.

In addition, Robitussin is available as liquid-filled capsules. Mucinex also comes in the form of oral granules, which are called mini-melts.

The dosage varies across forms. Read the product’s package for dosage information.

People ages 12 and older can use both Robitussin and Mucinex.

Several products are also available for children who are ages 4 and older:

• Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief (dextromethorphan)
• Children’s Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief (dextromethorphan)
• Children’s Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin)
• Children’s Mucinex Chest Congestion (guaifenesin)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before using either drug.

Dextromethorphan, which is in Robitussin and Mucinex DM, may be safe to use while pregnant. Still, check with your doctor before taking it. More research is needed on using dextromethorphan while breastfeeding.

Guaifenesin, the active ingredient in Mucinex and several Robitussin products, has not been adequately tested in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

For other options, check out how to treat a cold or flu when pregnant.

Side effects from dextromethorphan and guaifenesin are uncommon when taking the recommended dose, but they may still include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• stomach pain

Additionally, dextromethorphan, which is in Robitussin and Mucinex DM, can cause sleepiness.

Guaifenesin, the active ingredient in Mucinex and Robitussin DM, may also cause:

• diarrhea
• headache
• hives

Not everyone experiences side effects with Robitussin or Mucinex. When they do happen, they usually go away as the person’s body gets used to the medication.

Talk with your doctor if you have side effects that are bothersome or persistent.

Do not use medications with dextromethorphan, including Robitussin and Mucinex DM, if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 2 weeks.

MAOIs are antidepressants that include:

• isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)

There are no reported major drug interactions with guaifenesin.

If you take other medications or supplements, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Robitussin or Mucinex. Either one may affect the way some medications work.

You should also never take Robitussin and Mucinex products that have the same active ingredients at the same time. Not only will this not resolve your symptoms any faster, but it could also lead to an overdose.

Taking too much guaifenesin can cause nausea and vomiting. An overdose of dextromethorphan may lead to the same symptoms, as well as:

• dizziness
• constipation
• dry mouth
• rapid heart rate
• sleepiness
• loss of coordination
• hallucinations
• coma (in rare cases)

A 2014 case study also suggested that an overdose of guaifenesin and dextromethorphan may cause kidney failure.

There are many different products that include the brand names Robitussin and Mucinex and may include other active ingredients.

Read the labels and ingredients for each to make sure you select one that treats your symptoms. Use these products only as directed.

Stop using them and talk to a doctor if your cough lasts more than 7 days or if you also have a fever, rash, or constant headache.

Tip

In addition to medication, using a humidifier may help with cough and congestion symptoms.

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Caution

Don’t use Robitussin or Mucinex for a cough related to smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. Talk to your doctor about treatments for these types of coughs.

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The standard Robitussin and Mucinex products have different active ingredients that treat different symptoms.

If you’re only looking to treat a cough, you may prefer Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief, which just contains dextromethorphan.

On the other hand, you can use Mucinex or Maximum Strength Mucinex, which only contain guaifenesin, to reduce congestion.

The DM version of both products have the same active ingredients and come in liquid and tablet form. The combination of dextromethorphan and guaifenesin reduces coughing while thinning the mucus in your lungs.

A substance has been created that suppresses the production of mucus in the lungs of asthmatics – Nauka

TASS, March 23. American biochemists have created a compound that blocks the production of key components of sputum in the human lungs and upper airways. This allows it to be used as a remedy for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, the Texas State University press office said on Wednesday.

“Accumulation of sputum in the airways is dangerous for carriers of many lung diseases, as mucus obstructs air movement, and often causes coughing and serious respiratory problems. Other drugs simply suppress inflammation or thin sputum, but do not prevent its production “, – said a professor at the University of Texas at Houston (USA) Barton Dickey, quoted by the press service of the university.

WHO currently estimates that about 260 million people suffer from asthma, including a large number of children and the elderly. In addition to this, about 15% of the world’s inhabitants suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a permanent narrowing of the airways associated with damage to lung tissue as a result of air pollution or smoking.

Professor Dickey and his colleagues have created a substance that will significantly alleviate the condition of carriers of both diseases as a result of the fact that their lungs begin to produce significantly less mucin, an organic substance that plays the role of a key component of sputum. In the production of this compound, as the researchers note, a large chain of genes is involved.

Some of them are responsible for the production of sugar and protein components of the mucin, while others are responsible for their combination with each other and the release of the finished mucin into the airways. A few years ago, Professor Dickey and his colleagues discovered that the key role in the process of mucin assembly is played by the SNARE protein complex, which is responsible for capturing and expelling vesicles with mucin molecules outside the lung cells.

His discovery made scientists think about whether it is possible to block the work of SNARE in such a way that lung cells stop releasing mucin into the environment. To do this, the scientists studied the three-dimensional structure of the SNARE complex and tracked how its shape changes and what other molecules it interacts with as sputum is produced.

These experiments indicated that another protein molecule, Syt2, plays an important role in its work, responsible for binding the vesicle with mucin molecules to the cell membrane. Having uncovered this relationship, Professor Dickey and his colleagues have prepared a set of short protein molecules that can bind to Syt2 and block its work. Subsequent experiments showed that one of these chains, named SP9, almost completely suppressed the production of sputum in cultures of lung cells.

The work of this substance was also successfully tested by scientists in experiments on mice, which indicated its high efficiency. Further preclinical animal experiments and trials involving volunteers, as biochemists hope, will confirm the possibility of using the SP9 protein.for the treatment of COPD and to combat the consequences of developing asthma.

Why mucus is needed in the body and outside it

The scientific journalist of the biological profile Susanna Vedlich studies in her monograph such a ubiquitous phenomenon as mucus, primarily from the point of view of global evolutionary processes that are impossible without natural lubricants and solvents. Critic Lidia Maslova presents the book of the week, especially for Izvestia.

The Book of Slime. A slippery trail in the history of the Earth”

Moscow: AST Publishing House, 2023. – per. from German Angelina Kostikova. — 352 p.

Such natural-scientific research cannot be “dry” by definition, especially since the author dilutes them with entertaining cultural studies and even defines the philosophical meaning of slime. This substance leads its not always noticeable, but necessary existence on the border between worlds and people, covers many border and contact surfaces in living organisms and in the environment (say, between sea and land), helps with sexual contact, and when meeting with any contagion, on the contrary, interferes: “Sickness is weakness, sex is awkwardness, and death is our greatest fear. All these borderline experiences between health and helplessness, me and you, life and death have a lot to do with slime.”

The Book of Slime has a rather loose, flowing structure and is composed of 26 chapters, each of which, as Wedlich suggests, can be read entirely on its own, “because not every reader will be interested in all facets of the topic.” The chapters are conditionally grouped into seven sections, the titles of which help to roughly navigate the topic: “phenomenon”, “physics”, “organism”, “life”, “evolution”, “nature” and “environment”. This approach has its drawbacks for those who still decide to read the book from cover to cover and will constantly be faced with a repetition of the past.

Photo: AST Publishing House

Susanna Vedlich “The Book of Mucus. A slippery trail in the history of the Earth”

“In order to ensure understanding in selective reading, the underlying concepts and processes are explained several times if necessary,” Wedlich immediately warns, thus making his study into an ideal teaching aid. Since slime somehow accompanies all living things everywhere, the range of information contained in the book is quite wide, and in the final chapters the author rushes into space and gives the floor to astrobiologists (thinking about whether extraterrestrial life could originate from a microbial slimy substrate, as on Earth. There, she recalls Stanisław Lem’s Solaris, “a grandiose science fiction novel for which there was no unambiguous interpretation”, with its “protoplasmic intelligent ocean” that covers the entire planet.0003

With Solaris, in which, according to Wedlich, Lem wanted to show humanity the limits of its capabilities, The Book of Slime mounts Howard Phillips Lovecraft’s Shadow over Innsmouth, which features sinister protoplasmic shoggots. The progenitor of the horror genre, Lovecraft, who skillfully played on a person’s instinctive aversion to slime, is generally one of the most frequently quoted favorites of Suzanne Wedlich: “In his works, strange creatures, such as Cthulhu, try to gain dominance over people or, even worse, quietly mix with them” .

Despite the fear of slime, exploited by literature and cinema (Wedlich mentions the first slimy horror film “The Drop” in 1958, “Aliens”, “Ghostbusters” and “The Fly”), Wedlich advises not to be too squeamish about slime and not to forget that and man himself, by nature, has much in common with hydrogel and jelly-like substances: “… people are biological creatures with an amorphous nature, and we cannot preserve either our outer bodily shell or inner culture for a long time.” Therefore, you should not indiscriminately condemn and stigmatize slime. Instead of undeserved antipathy, it would be useful to pay more attention to the many-sided mucus, which, “depending on its origin and function, hides behind a number of pseudonyms, such as gel, biofilm, vegetable glue, glycocalyx, and also, depending on the habitat, is called biological soil crust or sea snow.

Photo: Global Look Press/Jonathan Borg

Moreover, Vedlich hints rather transparently: the further evolution of life on Earth may turn out so that the human species both appeared and disappeared purely for environmental reasons, gradually degrading back into mucus, teeming microbes from which multicellular organisms once originated. Having examined this mechanism in detail, the author of The Book of Slime tries to carefully look into the future, to the next round of evolution, and allows for an option that is not entirely alarmist and apocalyptic, but not particularly optimistic either: “… a friendly team of warming, oxidation and excessive ocean fishing will wipe out all higher species in some marine habitats. As a result, food chains are depleted. What will be left? Slime and nothing but slime.”

After studying biologists’ predictions of a “victorious march of microbial mats, algae and jellyfish,” Vedlich asks questions: “Will humanity be able to withstand this catastrophe and find food? <.