White phlegm is usually not a reason to be concerned. It’s recommended that you see a medical professional as soon as possible if you are persistently coughing up black sputum. Irritants like charcoal can mix with the mucus in your lungs when breathed in, leaving a scary-looking color when it comes back up.ĭark phlegm may also indicate a fungal infection, which is potentially serious if located in the lungs. Gray or Black Phlegmĭark pigmented sputum is common in excessive smokers, coal miners, or others who are consistently exposed to breathing in airborne pollutants. Always discuss your symptoms with a medical professional if you are concerned. However, it may be a sign of a more serious condition like tuberculosis or a pulmonary embolism. This can happen if you’re suffering from a terrible cold or flu, and it usually doesn’t require any special treatment. However, sometimes blood in the airways occurs due to heavy coughing that breaks the blood vessels in the lungs. You should visit a doctor if you ever cough up blood persistently. This is because this color represents bleeding in the respiratory tract and lungs. If you ever cough up something that sort of looks like blood, this is probably an indication that something more severe is going on inside of your body. Despite its alarming color, it’s usually an indication that the body is just doing its job. If this is the case, it might be a sign that your body is fighting off a more serious infection, such as a virus. Sometimes, phlegm might look a bit more green than yellow. While it might seem strange that white blood cells cause yellow phlegm, the color is due to certain enzymes such as myeloperoxidase, which fight off infection. As these cells get picked up in the mucus, they can cause it to have a yellowish hue. When confronted with infection-causing bacteria, your body releases white blood cells to attack. If you cough up some yellow phlegm, it’s likely a sign that your body is fighting off a mild infection. Here are what some of your phlegm colors might be telling you. When you become sick due to a bacterial or viral infection, phlegm can thicken and change color as the body tries to fight off these invaders. While not all colors are cause for concern, it’s important to know what each might indicate. However, certain conditions can change the color of phlegm. For that reason, having clear phlegm is completely normal, and you might see some if you cough now and then just to dislodge some specks of dust or clear your throat. Phlegm by itself is composed of just water, salt, and other cells. This special mucus is what we know as phlegm. However, your lungs and lower airways contain a special type of mucus that protects your breathing tract from pollution and other contaminants. Many parts of your body contain mucus, but it’s most abundant in your airways, such as your nose, throat, sinuses, and mouth. As a result, it uses a thick substance called mucus, or sputum, to trap germs and contaminants and prevent them from entering your bloodstream. Your body’s immune system is one of the first lines of defense against foreign invaders such as allergens, bacteria, and viruses. The word “phlegm” is probably one of the worst words in the entire English language, right behind “moist” and “squelch.” But oddly enough, we couldn’t think of a better word to describe what this stuff actually is. So let’s take a look at everything you need to know about coughing up yellow phlegm, including when to see a doctor and how to alleviate your coughs fast. While it might be unsightly to look at, your phlegm can actually tell you a lot about your current health status. While most coughs are dry and don’t come with any excess mucus, some of them might shoot up some yellow or green fluid from your throat. If you have ever had a sinus infection, odds are it's probably accompanied by a fever, a sore throat, headaches, a runny nose, a cough, and yellow phlegm. It’s essentially your body’s way of letting you know it’s time to take some action. You cough when you’ve inhaled too much smoke or other particles. You cough when you’ve got a cold or the flu. Coughing is one of the first indications that you might be getting sick, in one way or another.
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