Here's what the color of your snot really means
Views (164)
Boogers can tell you quite a lot about the state of your health. Here's what the color of your snot says about you, in one simple table.
Though it may be offputting, mucus is a vital part of the body's protection.
The color of your boogers can help you figure out what's going on in your body.
Here's what the color of your snot means, in one simple table.
Very few people talk about these things, but let's break that taboo.
The mucus in your nose serves many functions. Its color can tell you and your doctor a lot about what's going on in your body — especially when it's been an abnormal shade for a long time.
You should know that snot color is not enough to diagnose anything outright.
Still, it offers a unique glimpse into your body's strange ways of telling you that something's up.
Clear mucus is totally normal. The body naturally produces a lot of mucus
Snot is a mixture of protective proteins and salts, with water. It keeps your nasal passages lubricated and germ-free by acting as a moisturizing barrier against dehydration and foreign objects, including bacteria and viruses.
Having a little clear mucus in the nose is nothing to be worried about. But if the amount drastically increases, it could mean that you're suffering from allergies or the start of a cold or flu.
White mucus could mean a bunch of different things.
Most often it means that your nasal passages are irritated and swollen, restricting mucus flow and causing it to dry out.
This could also be due to a nasal infection, allergies, or dehydration.
After they've done their job and die, the white cells are flushed out of your body with your mucus, and in the process can dye it yellow.
Yellow mucus doesn't mean that you need antibiotics — the body faces infections all the time and is very good at fighting them off.
An infection could also be caused by a virus, in which case the antibiotics would be useless.
At this point, you may want to wait it out and see if things improve over the coming week or so.
Your mucus can also turn green from a large build-up of dead white blood cells.
If your mucus has been green for a few weeks or longer, you should see your doctor; especially if you have a fever or feel nauseated.
Red or pink mucus means there's some blood in your nose.
This results from any number of things, including allergies, infection, and lots of blowing or rubbing. Physical trauma — like walking into a wall face-first — can also turn your snot red.
But brown mucus isn't always because of blood. It could also be caused by dirt, dust, discoloration from cigarette smoke, snuff, or a spice.
If you're coughing up brown mucus, though, you should see a doctor because this could be a sign of bronchitis.
It can also be due to inhaling dirt or dust; or after smoking cigarettes or marijuana.
If your mucus is black for no obvious reason, you should see a doctor. This is especially true if you have a fever, chills, or have difficulty breathing.
This article was first published on Jan 1, 2016. Julia Calderone contributed to the previous version of this article.
0 Likes