Dr. Sanderson shares if it is harmful to the lungs if one swallows mucus.
Dr. Sanderson:
No, it’s not harmful. Mucus is a normal product of our respiratory epithelium and that mucus comes up and we sometimes will cough it out, sometimes swallow it, but it does not harm. It’s a normal body product and is not in any way harmful.
About Dr. Sanderson, M.D.:
Dr. David R. Sanderson, M.D., practices at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in pulmonary care. Dr. Sanderson attended the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. He completed his residency and fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Visit Dr. Sanderson at Mayo Clinic