What the Color of Your Mucus Means
Today’s article may gross some people out, but the functions of our bodies can often be gross. With that said, we’re going to talk about mucus — specifically, how the color of your mucus can give you an idea of your health. There can be value in taking note of this often-overlooked health sign. We’re not suggesting you check your phlegm every time you sneeze or cough, but glancing at it if you’re feeling unwell might help you figure out if you’re just feeling off or if you have an infection.
What Is Mucus?
The reason mucus can show what’s going on inside your body is because of what it is. Mucus is viscous substance that lines many of the tissues and internal surfaces of our bodies (e.g., our nose and lungs). It’s also called phlegm, though, technically, phlegm refers to mucus created specifically by the respiratory system. Anyways, mucus plays an important role in our health. It’s an integral part of our immune system, trapping pathogens before they can become a problem. Mucus also contains antibodies and enzymes that aid the immune system by killing the trapped pathogens before ushering them out of your body with a well-timed cough or sneeze. In a sense, mucus is the bouncer of your body.
What the Color Means
You may have heard someone tell you that green mucus means a bacterial infection and yellow means viral, but this is actually a myth. The color of your mucus doesn’t tell you the type of illness you have. It can be useful in telling you if you’re sick or how severe of a reaction you’re having. Generally, the color of your mucus refers to a reaction in your immune system. Normally, mucus is fairly clear, so when there’s a color to it, that means there’s something else there. Most of the time, this “something” is white blood cells acting as part of your immune system. The more vibrant the color your mucus, the more white blood cells that are in it, usually; that’s not always the case.
Cloudy or Milky
When you see cloudy mucus, this usually means a very mild infection or even seasonal allergies. This is due to the small number of white blood cells in the mucus. This is likely nothing to worry about, though worth keeping an eye on if it develops further.
Yellow or Green
If the mucus takes on a yellowish or greenish color, it often points toward an infection (though it may just be the result of an irritant). While this can occur from a buildup of white blood cells overnight, when you have seasonal allergies, it’s more common when you have a cold or infection. The reason it turns a yellow or greenish color is due to the white blood cells, specifically neutrophils. These cells contain a greenish-colored enzyme that colors your mucus in high concentrations. So, when it’s yellow, you’re dealing with a mild infection. The greener the mucus gets, the more severe the infection likely is, because your immune system is working harder to get it under control. You likely don’t need to rush to the doctor but bringing this up to your primary care physician wouldn’t hurt.
Brown or Red
Now this grouping has nothing to do with your immune system. If your mucus is brown or red, it tells us that there’s blood in your mucus — the brighter and redder the color, the fresher the blood. Depending on where the blood is coming from, this can mean a few things. If the mucus is coming from your nose or sinuses, it can be from trauma to your skin tissue, from blowing or sneezing too hard and tearing in the skin, or from dryness causing cracks in the skin. If the brown or red mucus is coming from a cough, that means the blood is in your lungs or airways. This can be more severe. The most common explanation is prolonged coughing causing tears or a chest infection. It can also be much more dangerous. If you’re finding brown or red mucus in your coughs, you should see a doctor to ensure it’s not something more severe.
Black
The most concerning of all the colors of the mucus rainbow, black-colored mucus points to two things. The less worrisome explanation of the two is the presence of pollutants, specifically smoke. If you smoke or recently were in close vicinity of a large fire, the smoke can pollute your mucus. Even if you suspect that this is the cause, you should still see the doctor, because the other reason is a severe infection. This can be a fungal infection, tuberculosis, or even lung cancer. Each of those conditions are dangerous and need treatment immediately. If you’re coughing up black mucus, see your doctor immediately.
● ● ●
While the color of your mucus won’t tell you whether you need antibiotics or antiviral medications, you can use it as a nice way to gauge the severity of an illness or symptoms. It’s important to remember that the color of your mucus only provides general signs of your health. If your mucus is lightly cloudy, but you feel horrible or your symptoms have stuck around for a while, it’s still worth going to the doctor.
Featured Blogs
- Learning to Ski
- The Stories Behind Classic Christmas Carols
- 4 More Tips to Make Christmas Tree Hunt Less Stressful
- Why Do We Celebrate That? Other Festive Holidays
- A Senior Guide to Boston
- A Senior Guide to Edinburgh
- How Does Medicare Cover Osteoporosis?
- What are Ulcers?
- Medicare's Coverage of Parkinson's Disease
- What is a Cognitive Screening?
- Spooky Spots for Halloween 2023
- 4 Ways to Keep Trick-or-Treating Safe
- 10 Classic Horror Books for Halloween
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2024
- 10 Safety Rules for Seniors Who Enjoy Hunting
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- A Senior Guide to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- A Senior Guide to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- All About Enrolling in Social Security
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Madrid
- Does Medicare Cover Open-Heart Surgery?
- Exercise Tips for Summer
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lisbon
- Hosting a Safe Summer Barbecue
- Senior Summer Barbecue Tips
- Does Medicare Cover Biopsies?
- 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have High Blood Pressure
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Finger Lakes
- Does Medicare Cover Endoscopies?
- Ways Seniors Can Recover from a Workout
- Is Chocolate Healthy for You?
- Understanding Adult ADHD
- How Does Medicare Cover Hypertension?
- The Symptoms and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
- How to Determine What Temperature to Use When Cooking
- Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Keeping Fit on Vacation
- Is Your Tonsillectomy Covered by Medicare?
- Tips for the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Kitchen First Aid Tips
- What Does FDA-Approved Mean?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Guide to New York City
- How to Caramelize Onions
- Why Do We Celebrate That? April Fools’ Day
- Medicare and Powers of Attorney
- The Essential Role of Eggs in Cooking
- What are Different Types of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine? - Tips for Remembering to Take Your Medicine
- What is Medicare Part E?
- Building Your Basic At-Home Senior Gym
- How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to New Orleans
- How to Navigate & Read Academic Articles
- Phytonutrients: What Plant Color Says About Nutrition
- How to Prevent or Reduce Inflammation
- Osteoporosis: Risk Factors, Signs, and Treatment
- How to Make Homemade Pretzels
- Researching Your Ancestry and Family Tree
- How Medicare and Social Security Work Together
- What is Nordic Walking?
- Food Questions You've Been Embarrassed to Ask
- How Medicare Changed for 2023 and Beyond
- Tips for Using a Microwave
- How to Clean Your Ears Safely
- Skiing as a Healthy Hobby for Seniors
- 3 More Great Places to Celebrate New Year's Eve
- Why Do We Celebrate That? More New Year's Eve Traditions
- Panettone, the Italian Christmas Dessert
- A Simple Homemade Gingerbread Recipe
- How to Make Christmas Decorating Jollier
- The Science of Winter Weight Gain
- Seasonal Picks: 3 Foods You Should Try This Winter
- 5 Tips to Make Getting Your Christmas Tree Stress-Free
- Show-Stopping Potato Side Dishes for Thanksgiving
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Boeuf Bourguignon
- Holiday Travel Tips to Reduce Stress
- Does Medicare Cover Pain Management?
- Is Hunting a Healthy Senior Hobby?
- Ways You Can Get More Politically Involved
- What are Medicare's Lifetime Reserve Days?
- Spooky Spots for Seniors Halloween 2022
- How to Make Soul Cakes for Halloween
- Jack O' Lantern Carving Tips for Halloween
- Easy Ways to Peel a Potato
- 2023 Social Security COLA Largest in Decades
- Exercise Tips for Autumn
- How to Make Candy Apples at Home
- Why are Medicare Insurance Sales Calls Recorded?
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2023
- CMS Updates Medicare Enrollment Rules for 2023
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to London
- Does Medicare Cover Insomnia Treatment?
- Healthy and Easy Homemade Dog Treats
- The FDA Finalizes Ruling to Increase Access to Hearing Aids
- What the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Means for Medicare
- Tips to Make Flying and Airports Less Stressful
- CMS Projects Lower 2023 Part D Average Costs
- The 15 Golden Rules of Airplane Etiquette
- How Often Should You Shower?
- What are Medicare Pilot Programs?
- How to Care for Your Cast Iron Cookware
- Confronting a Loved One About Hurtful Behavior
- What Does Creditable Coverage Mean for Medicare?
- Using Za'atar in Your Cooking
- Dealing with Canceled Flights
- Protecting Your Vacation from Flight Disruptions
- Do Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Medicare Coverage?
- Which is Better: A Bath or Shower?
- Are Weight Loss Medications Healthy?
- Healthy Strategies for Anger Management
- The Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- The Difference Between Common Cooking Papers and Foils
- What are Medicare I-SNPs?
- Identifying Toxic Relationships in Your Life
- Healthy Ways to Spice Up Your Water
- All About Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans
- Medicareful Travels: A Senior Guide to All-Inclusive Resorts
- Does Medicare Cover Occupational Therapy?
- Lower 2023 Medicare Part B Premium Could Be on the Way
- Which is Better: Natural or Artificial Sweeteners?
- Tips for Vacationing with Pets
- Is It Better to Work Out Harder or Longer?
- Tips for Traveling with Your Pet
- Are Medicare Part B Giveback Plans Worth It?
- Introducing the Medicareful Living Family Cookbook!
- Medicare Coverage for Treatment of PTSD
- The Causes and Treatments of Nasal Congestion
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Spring Rolls
- Medicare Freezes Late Enrollment Penalties for Qualifying Enrollees
- What is a 5-Star Medicare Plan?
- What is PTSD?
- What is Inflammation?
- What is Medicare's Secondary Payer Program?
- What You Should Know When Buying Cast Iron Cookware
- What Does MACRA Mean for You?
- What to Do If You Receive a Terminal Diagnosis
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Homemade Lobster Ravioli
- Reading and Understanding Your Blood Pressure
- How to Be a Snowbird in Retirement (18 Questions to Ask!)