How to Distinguish Throat Mucus from Lung Mucus?

The throat belongs to the upper respiratory tract, and excessive mucus secretion in the upper respiratory tract is often caused by chronic pharyngitis or postnasal drip. The nasal secretions flow into the throat and stimulate the throat, leading to the production of mucus. Cough symptoms are often not obvious, but local symptoms in the nasal cavity or throat are more pronounced, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, dry throat, or a feeling of foreign body.

The lungs belong to the lower respiratory tract, and cough symptoms are often more pronounced. Other symptoms of lung diseases, such as hemoptysis, low-grade fever with night sweats, and chest pain, may also be present. Chest CT can be used to further identify lung diseases.

1. Weak Constitution: Weakness in the spleen can lead to the retention of dampness and its condensation into mucus.

2. Weak Spleen and Stomach: Weakness in the spleen and stomach can lead to the retention of food and damage to the spleen and stomach. Eating raw or unripe fruits and vegetables, or drinking excessive amounts of water during a fever, can also lead to the retention of dampness and its aggregation into mucus.

3. Improper Treatment of External Pathogens: Improper treatment of external pathogens or a weak constitution predisposed to external infections can damage the lung qi, preventing it from regulating the waterways and transporting fluids to the bladder. This can lead to the retention of fluids and the formation of mucus. Mucus accumulates in the lungs, impeding the lung qi and causing coughing and excessive mucus production.

4. Nasal Inflammation: Patients with nasal inflammation often have excessive mucus production. The nasal mucosa secretes a viscous, thick mucus that is transported to the nasopharynx by nasal cilia and adheres to the nasopharyngeal region, causing a feeling of foreign body in the throat. This mucus can be coughed out.