Your phlegm may get thicker and darker as an infection progresses. The scale ranges from mucoid (frothy) and mucopurulent to purulent (thick and sticky). The consistency of your phlegm can change due to many reasons. Red or pink phlegm is commonly caused by: Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Congestive heart failure (CHF), Pulmonary embolism, Lung cancer.Ĭontact your doctor if you’re producing more phlegm than normal, having intense coughing spells, or notice other symptoms like weight loss or fatigue.
Pink is considered another shade of red, so it may also indicate that there is blood in your phlegm, just less of it. This phlegm is mostly filled with water, protein, antibodies, and some dissolved salts to help lubricate and moisturize your respiratory system.Īn increase in clear phlegm may mean that your body is trying to flush out an irritant, like pollen, or some type of virus.Ĭlear phlegm is commonly caused by: Allergic rhinitis, Viral bronchitis, Viral pneumonia.īlood is likely the cause of any shade of red phlegm. Your body produces clear mucus and phlegm on a daily basis. It more often affects people who have cystic fibrosis. It’s an uncommon condition that can cause black phlegm. A black yeast called Exophiala dermatitidis causes this infection. Coughing up black sputum may also be accompanied by shortness of breath.įungal infection.
It mostly affects coal workers or anyone else who has frequent exposure to coal dust. One type in particular, black lung disease, may cause black sputum.
#Coughing up white phlegm but not sick crack#
Smoking cigarettes or certain drugs like crack cocaineTrusted Source may lead to black sputum. It may also mean you have a fungal infection that needs medical attention. Seeing black phlegm may mean you have inhaled a high amount of something black, like coal dust. Seek immediate medical attention if you’re having difficulty breathing.īlack sputum is also called melanoptysis. White phlegm is commonly caused by: Viral bronchitis, GERD, COPD, Congestive heart failure. You may experience white phlegm with several health conditions. You may see this color after your phlegm appears red or pink.īrown phlegm is commonly caused by: Bacterial pneumonia, Bacterial bronchitis, Cystic fibrosis, Pneumoconiosis, Lung abscess. You may also consider this color “rusty” in appearance. Green or yellow phlegm is commonly caused by: Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Sinusitis, Cystic fibrosis The change occurs with the severity and length of the potential sickness.
At first, you may notice yellow phlegm that then progresses into green phlegm. If you see green or yellow phlegm, it’s usually a sign that your body is fighting an infection. Here’s your guide to different conditions that produce phlegm, why it might be different colors, and when you should see a doctor. You may notice different colored sputum and wonder what the colors mean. When you cough up phlegm, it’s called sputum. You typically don’t produce noticeable amounts of phlegm unless you are sick with a cold or have some other underlying medical issue. Phlegm is a type of mucus made in your chest.
0 kommentar(er)
