By - Nishat Tasnim
Mucus is a natural bodily product. It keeps your respiratory system clean. The consistency of mucus could be a good indicator of your underlying health issues.
Like, our throat and nasal glands produce 1-2 quarts of normal thin watery mucus per day. And you swallowed it without even knowing. But, thick rubbery mucus from throat is a matter of concern. You may think what is responsible for this?
Well, viral or bacterial infection, allergies, acid reflux, chronic lung disease are responsible for this.
Don’t worry If you are also facing this issue. Here we outlined all the possible causes and home remedies for these conditions. Continue reading till the end to find your solution.
Post nasal drip is a condition where an excess amount of very thick rubbery mucus is produced by the nasal mucosa. Which later accumulates in your throat. And you end up gagging to expel the offending mucus.
Table of Content
What Causes Thick Rubbery Mucus From Throat?
Mucus can take a different texture from thin watery to a thick rubbery consistency. Thin and watery mucus is considered a health condition. Whereas thick rubbery mucus may indicate underlying pathology.
But, what causes this condition? Based on different body sites, the causes also vary. For your convenience, we outline all the probable causes which give rise to this type of mucus:
Causes of Thick Rubbery Mucus From the Throat
Post nasal drip is a condition where an excess amount of very thick rubbery mucus is produced by the nasal mucosa. Which later accumulates in your throat. And you end up gagging to expel the offending mucus.
Some people complain of thick rubbery mucus from the throat with blood. What causes that? Well, It occurs in upper respiratory tract infections. The reason behind it is the dislodgement of hard pieces of mucus.
The mucus membranes are very sensitive. When they come into interaction with the pieces, they bleed. That’s basically the culprit behind this thick stringy mucus in the throat with blood.
Now you may be wondering why mucus hardens in your throat? Well, it also occurs due to post nasal drip. Let me explain. Sometimes the mucous membrane of the nose runs out of moisture. So, they fail to produce watery mucus. As a result, hard, rubbery mucus accumulates in your throat.
However, you may also experience thick rubbery green mucus from your throat. If this happens, then you need to be careful about your home environment. This indicates that your sinuses are getting exposed to bacterial infections or irritants.
Causes of Thick Rubbery Mucus From Lungs
It occurs as a consequence of the following medical conditions :
Respiratory disorders
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Nervous system disorders
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
Others,
- Smoking
- Allergies
- Chronic illnesses
- Surgery (during surgery, the respiratory muscle remains relaxed due to anaesthesia. So, some secretions get accumulated in the lungs and give rise to this).
Along with the aforesaid causes, other conditions also may contribute like :
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Weakness in diaphragmatic muscle.
- Abnormality in vocal cords
- Dehydration
- Tracheostomy
Cause of Thick Rubbery Mucus From the Nose
Here are the contributory factors of thick rubbery mucus from the nose :
- Dry climate
- Upper respiratory infections
- Fungal rhinosinusitis
- Allergies
- Dehydration
If you ever have a runny nose, you may notice that your snot changes color. It can be white, black, green, yellow and so on. Do you know what causes this white thick rubbery mucus from the nose? If not, then take a look.
| Mucus color | Infection indicates |
| white | common cold |
| green or yellow | common cold |
| red or pink | Injury or irritation, pregnancy rhinitis |
| brown or orange | Injury or irritation |
| black | Fungal infection |
Causes of Thick Rubbery Mucus From the Chest
The lining epithelium of our respiratory system produces mucus to protect us against infections. But, when it produces in excess, it may indicate underlying health issues.
Below we enlist some causes which are responsible for the accumulation of mucus in the chest :
- Acid reflux
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Bacterial and viral infection
- Cystic fibrosis
Home Treatment for ThickRubbery Mucus
One of the main contributory factors to causing thick mucus in the environment. With simple ailments, you can easily get rid of them. Below, we will be discussing it.
Keeping the Air Moist
Dry air means a lack of moisture. It irritates the throat and nasal mucosa to produce rubbery secretions. You can easily make the air moist by placing a humidifier in your living area. As a bonus, it will keep your nose clear and also promotes sound sleep.
Drinking Plenty of Fluids
Fluids make the mucus thin. Let me explain a bit. What do we do when catching a cold? Drink warm liquid water to drain the sinuses. It also helps to prevent congestion. The same goes for the cure of the chunky thick rubbery mucus from my nose.
Applying a Warm Cloth
A similar pattern treatment is applying a warm cloth to the sinus areas. It moisturises the nasal cavity and throat. Thus, it helps in aiding thick rubbery mucus from the nose and throat.
Keeping the Head Elevated
The back of the throat is the part where most of the mucus gets collected. You can use 2-3 extra pillows to keep the head elevated. It will save you from discomfort.
Discreet the Cough
When thick rubbery mucus is stuck in the throat, our body tries to discard it. Keep in mind that discreetly it out is way healthier than swallowing back.
Salt Water Gargling
This is one of the proven methods to get rid of the thick rubbery phlegm. You just need to add one teaspoon of salt to warm water. And gargle with it several times. You will be free of these issues soon.
Avoid Smoking
A clinical study reveals that smoking is responsible for producing phlegm in the throat.
Minimize the Use of Decongestant
Decongestant makes the secretions drier. Instead of alleviating your symptoms, it will worsen the conditions.
Others,
- Prevent allergy by avoiding the cause
- Avoid irritants
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine and foods that aggravate the phlegm.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruits
- Blow your nose gently.
Following these, your symptoms will be cured by 80%. However, you should take help from a doctor to get fully cured. Do you know when to knock on their door? If not, then check out below.
When to See a Doctor With Thick Rubbery Nasal Mucus?
Mucus secretions were never a serious concern. But, if it associates with the following symptoms, then you should see a doctor :
- If your sinus pressure lasts for more than 10 days and is associated with fever(>103°F /39°C)
- Continues nasal secretions
- Difficulty in breathing
- Pain in the chest specifically in the lungs
- Whooping noise during coughing
FAQs
Why is my mucus thick like rubber?
There is not a single reason to mention which is responsible for thick rubbery mucus. But, the most common cause that is pronounced out invariably is dehydration. It makes the mucus thick in consistency. Which becomes hard for the respiratory cilia to push.
How do I get rid of thick sticky mucus in my throat?
With simple home remedies, you can easily get rid of the thick rubbery boogers. You can gargle with warm salt water, keep the air humid, stay hydrated, avoid smoking and decongestants etc.
What does it mean when your phlegm is thick and sticky?
Thin and watery mucus indicates a healthy respiratory tract. While thick rubbery mucus indicates underlying pathology. It indicates viral or bacterial infestations to your respiratory system. However, the thick rubbery mucus is a composition of infection, germ cells, debris etc.
What causes thick mucus to build up in the throat?
Naturally, parts of our body like the sinus, throat and nasal mucosa secrete mucus. This mucus may accumulate in the back of the throat giving rise to a condition called post nasal drip. This PND occurs due to infection, allergies, bright lights, spicy foods etc.
Final Words
Thick rubbery mucus from the throat could be a nuisance if left untreated. It will not occur in your case as for now you have a decent idea about different snots.
Above we have discussed when a simple home remedy will be enough and when to see a doctor. Hopefully, it will give you relief soon. Still, if you have any further queries, let us know in the comment section below.
