Black nasal mucus may be a sign of a serious fungal infection. While not common, people with compromised immune systems may be susceptible to this type of illness. The actual texture of your snot has a lot to do with its moisture content. Nasal mucus that flows freely has more water content than snot that is hard. In some cases, drinking more water may help thin your mucus. Changes in texture can happen throughout the duration of an illness.
Watery discharge from the nose may be a warning sign of a cerebrospinal fluid CSF leak. It may be difficult to tell the difference between a cold or other viral infection, and a bacterial infection.
Instead, pay attention to the duration of your illness and the worsening of your other symptoms. Most colds last between 7 to 10 days. They usually peak in severity between days three and five. A bacterial infection may worsen as it progresses and continue beyond this time period. In rare cases , the infection may spread to the eye or brain.
Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:. Think your snot may be the result of allergies? There are several things you can do to clear your congestion:. Alternatively, you may try using a neti pot to rinse debris or mucus from your nose. You can find neti pots online here. Snot is produced by your sinuses as protection against the outside world and its many viruses and other dangers.
Most causes of congestion are due to viruses and allergies, not bacterial or fungal infections. Unless you have an underlying medical condition, you may try at-home comfort measures to clear your congestion. If you notice warning signs of bacterial infection or have other concerns about your health, see your doctor. Read this article in Spanish.
Generally, a shorter period of discolored snot and feeling crappy is more likely to be viral, while lingering infections are more likely to be bacterial. Voigt explains, while longer illnesses that persist or worsen are more likely to be bacterial. This is when you should see your doc, who may need to prescribe antibiotics to get you healthy again. As SELF previously reported , sometimes your snot becomes discolored when you just Another thing to pay attention to with yellow or green snot is the smell and consistency.
Some people suffer from chronic sinusitis , which makes nasal mucus very thick and glue-like, green or yellow-colored, and even a little funky-smelling, Dr. A chronic sinus infection can last for weeks or months at a time, according to the Mayo Clinic. And icky snot is far from the only unpleasant symptom. You may also experience congestion, difficulty breathing, pain and swelling around the sinuses, and a bad cough. If you have abnormal nasal mucus that just won't clear up with time or antibiotics, consider seeing a specialist like an otolaryngologist a ear, nose, and throat doctor to figure out what's causing your symptoms.
Although it may be alarming to find on your stark white tissue, a few specks of blood or a pinkish hue in your snot is actually no big deal. This damage often occurs when people are sick and blowing their nose too hard and too often, which can cause little tears in the membranes lining the inside of the nose—which are often already inflamed from fighting off infection, Dr. Voight explains. Oh, and brown snot is kind of off-putting, but typically indicates old blood that has been chilling in there a while, Dr.
In those situations we call an acute exacerbation of your underlying cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis, you may require antibiotics. If you have really resistant bacteria growing in your lungs, you may need to have IV antibiotics or an aggressive regimen to keep things under control.
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Email address. First name. Last name. Date of birth. ZIP code. Smoking is, of course, also a risk factor for lung cancer, a wide variety of other cancers, heart disease, and most other respiratory problems. However, black mucus and phlegm can also be caused by exposure to other workplace irritants, such as asbestos and silica. The smoke from large fires can deposit soot in your airways, turning your mucus and phlegm black. Wearing a special mask over your nose and mouth when exposed to a large fire or polluted air can help prevent irritants from settling in your airways.
Diseases that affect your respiratory system can cause many changes in the color and thickness of your mucus. You may be at greater risk of fungal infection if you have a compromised immune system.
Going through cancer treatment, for example, or having an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections. The types of fungus that can be breathed in and cause an infection are often found in hot climates, such as the desert Southwest or the tropics.
The airway irritation caused by an infection may even cause some bleeding, which can turn mucus a reddish brown or black. Tuberculosis , or TB, is a highly contagious bacterial infection. In addition to dark phlegm, other signs of TB include a nagging cough that lasts for weeks, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, and coughing up blood.
Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs in the lungs, and it often leads to fluid buildup in one or both lungs. Pneumonia is a potentially fatal condition.
It can be a difficult disease to treat because it may be caused by a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms.
In addition to dark mucus, other signs of pneumonia include chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, fever, and fatigue. Black mucus or phlegm has many other possible causes. Blood travels from the heart, through the lungs where it exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen , and then back to the heart to be pumped out to the rest of the body. In heart valve disease , this backed up fluid can build up in the lungs, causing congestive heart failure.
This can create frothy or blood-streaked sputum, causing phlegm to become pink, red, rust-colored, brown, or black. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications are designed to reduce the risk of developing blood clots that could potentially block an artery, leading to conditions such as heart attack or stroke. Unfortunately, these blood-thinning medications can raise the risk of internal bleeding. Coughing up blood or dark phlegm is a sign of a bleeding event and a possible signal that your medication regimen needs adjusting.
Some autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, such as sarcoidosis , directly affect the lungs and cause black or brown phlegm to develop.
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