# Where is all this snot coming from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516 "2013-01-27T05:55:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/1 "2013-01-27T05:55:30Z")
I have a cold, and it has been lingering for over a week. I hae finally been able to blow the mucus trapped in my sinuses. So I blow, and fill out a Kleenex, only to find that before the kleenex is at the bottom of the trash, the nose/sinuses are filled once again to maximum capacity. I can blow forever, and it doesn’t matter. I can’t get to a point where there is no longer any mucus filling my sinus cavity back up. So my serious question is, where does all the mucus come from? Is it generated and created instantly, on the fly? So everytime I blow my nose, it replenishes itself automatically? Or, since that seems unlikely, is it packed into every nook and cranny in my skull, so when I blow out what I consider a good amount, I am in reality not even scratching the surface? Where does it store itself in the head? I know the eyes, ears, nose and throat are all connected… Are there overflow areas of the sinuses that permit copious amounts of mucus to be stored? I know I’m not the only one who has this problem or who has noticed it. What’s the straight dope? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/2 "2013-01-27T07:30:20Z")
There’s not as much snot as you think. Your nostrils actually get swollen inside, so clearing the mucus does not completely relieve the congestion. Further blowing at that point is fruitless because you’re just forcing air through an empty but constricted snot launcher. But yeah, you can produce copious snot at surprising speed. Look at a video of anyone who gets hit with pepper spray or tear gas. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/3 "2013-01-27T12:46:23Z")
Cecil addressed this, some time ago: [How does my nose produce so much snot so fast when I have a cold? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1246/how-does-my-nose-produce-so-much-snot-so-fast-when-i-have-a-cold) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/4 "2013-01-27T16:13:59Z")
There’s an ol’ factory in your nose. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/5 "2013-01-27T16:30:07Z")
Snort. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/6 "2013-01-28T03:37:38Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Cecil addressed this, some time ago: [How does my nose produce so much snot so fast when I have a cold? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1246/how-does-my-nose-produce-so-much-snot-so-fast-when-i-have-a-cold) Dex, thanks for tHe link. I never knew Cecil answered it, but it makes sense. I couldn’t be the first person to ask this one. I am amazed at the lack of volume he states in the article. Half an ounce? All that blowing for half an ounce? Incredible.. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/7 "2013-01-28T03:42:34Z")
What I want to know is if it’s true that yellow snot means you’re sick and clear snot means it’s an allergic reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/8 "2013-01-28T04:03:33Z")
This is mentioned in the current “why do you get … phlegmy” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-this-snot-coming-from/648516/9 "2013-01-28T17:17:16Z")
I’ve just canceled my lunch. And possibly dinner… :eek: