Does coughing up green phlegm mean your getting better

Consistently rated one of the worst words in the English language, "phlegm" is hardly a great conversation starter. Medically speaking, though, your phlegm can be an important barometer for your health. Serious changes in your phlegm can be a valid reason to speak to your doctor.

"Color changes in your phlegm can mean a number of different things health-wise. Importantly, you can observe these changes quickly and easily, and these can help you decide if you need to seek medical attention," says Barbara Kreel, MD, a Geisinger ear, nose and throat specialist.

What is phlegm?

The body uses mucus to trap germs and contaminants. Many parts of the body produce mucus, like the GI tract, throat, nose, sinuses, mouth and more.

Phlegm is mucus from your lungs and lower airways that protects against germs and foreign contaminants like pollution.

"Clear phlegm is normal. It’s made of water, salt and other cells," says Dr. Kreel. "When you become sick, the phlegm may thicken as well as change color as your body fights off the infection."

Here are what some of the colors of your phlegm might be trying to tell you:

White

White phlegm is normally no cause for alarm. It indicates sinus activity and nasal congestion. As the airway passages get inflamed, the phlegm in the respiratory tract can thicken and become white.

Yellow

Yellow phlegm is a sign that your body is fighting off a mild infection.

"White blood cells are responsible for fighting infections, and as they get picked up in the mucus, they can cause it to have a yellowish hue," says Dr. Kreel.

Green

Cough up green phlegm? Green mucus is an indication that your body is fighting off a more serious infection. While the green color may be alarming, it’s a natural byproduct of the immune system activity necessary to fight off the infection. Consider seeing your doctor if your other symptoms are getting worse.

Red

Red or pink phlegm can be a more serious warning sign. Red or pink indicates that there’s bleeding in your respiratory tract or lungs.

Heavy coughing can cause bleeding by breaking the blood vessels in the lungs, leading to red phlegm. However, more serious conditions can also cause red or pink phlegm.

"If you’re experiencing red or pink phlegm, you should talk to a physician sooner," says Dr. Kreel. "As a one-time symptom, it may not really be an issue, but if persistent, it might signal conditions like tuberculosis or a pulmonary embolism. Determine if you’re experiencing other symptoms that may indicate something serious, and always err on the side of safety."

Brown

Brown phlegm can also be a warning sign because it signals prior bleeding. As the blood ages, it turns brown. If you notice brown phlegm, you should see your doctor.

Black

Black phlegm is cause for immediate action — it likely signals a fungal infection, especially for people with compromised immune systems. You should see your doctor right away.

"Bear in mind that phlegm discoloration is only part of the story," says Dr. Kreel. "Just because your phlegm is white or yellow doesn’t give you a clean bill of health. Phlegm color is a reference point that needs to be considered along with other symptoms. If you have any reason to think your condition is worsening or your symptoms are bad, talk to your doctor."

Next steps:

Is it a cold, flu, allergies or COVID-19?
Can I get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?
Meet Barbara Kreel, MD

Many people believe the color of your mucus indicates how sick you are and whether an infection is bacterial or viral. But deciphering mucus color meaning isn't that straightforward. For example, yellow mucus is a normal occurrence as a cold progresses, but it can also mean allergies.

It's actually common for mucus to change from clear to white, yellow, or green during a single illness. This progression is due to changes in the immune response as days pass and what's mixed with the mucus itself.

In some cases, a change in mucus color may not require you to do anything but seek at-home or over-the-counter treatments to ease other symptoms, if needed. In others, it may be a sign of a health problem that needs medical treatment.

This article walks you through the various colors your mucus can take on—clear, white, yellow, green pink, red, orange, brown, and black—and their possible causes. It also helps you determine if it's time to see a healthcare provider.

Clear Mucus

Healthy, normal mucus is clear and made up of water, salt, proteins, and antibodies. Your body makes it night and day to protect your nasal passages, putting out about 1.5 quarts daily.

You may have an especially runny nose with clear mucus:

• During the early stages of a cold or other viral illness
• Due to allergies (allergic rhinitis)
• As a result of nonallergic rhinitis, which is especially common during pregnancy

Rarely, watery nasal discharge can result from a leak of cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain, usually due to trauma or certain medical conditions. Get emergency medical help if you have watery discharge along with:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Light or noise sensitivity
• Headaches that get better or worse with a change in position

White Mucus

White mucus is often associated with a cold or other infection that causes a stuffy nose. When you're congested, inflammation in your nose makes it harder for the snot to flow out, and it starts to dry. This makes it cloudy and thick.

It may also turn white due to the presence of immune cells that your body sends to battle the illness.

Yellow Mucus

Yellow mucus means your illness is progressing normally. White blood cells and other cells from the immune system have come to fight the germs making you sick. Some of them are now exhausted and being washed away by mucus.

The texture of yellow mucus is likely drier and thicker than it used to be as well.

Yellow mucus may also mean you have allergies. Allergens irritate the nasal passages, which can lead to the production of thick, pale yellow phlegm that runs down the back of the throat and causes coughing.

Green Mucus

Green, thick snot means your body is fighting a hard battle. Even more depleted immune cells and waste products are being flushed out.

Green mucus isn't a reason for immediate concern. But if you're still sick after about 12 days, you could have a bacterial infection and might need antibiotics. Especially if you have a fever or nausea, it's time to see a healthcare provider.

Mucus Color and COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19 usually include a dry cough. Most people do not express mucus while they’re sick with coronavirus. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t mucus in the lungs.

People with severe COVID-19 who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may have a buildup of phlegm in the lungs. This mucus is thick and concentrated and cannot be coughed up like the phlegm that's related to the flu or common cold.

Pink or Red Mucus

When you have pink or red mucus, it means there's blood in your nose. This can be caused by:

• Blowing your nose a lot
• Picking your nose
• Getting hit in the nose
• Dry nasal passages due to illness or weather
• Pregnancy

Blood in the nose is more common if you live in a dry climate or at a high elevation. Having asthma or allergies can also cause blood in your nose. A constantly runny nose can irritate nasal passages and cause one of the tiny capillaries in your nose to burst.

If you've had some sort of trauma to your nose or face, such as a car accident, you should see a healthcare provider right away. Other reasons to seek medical help include:

• Prolonged bleeding for more than 30 minutes
• Heavy bleeding, or more than a tablespoon of blood
• Difficulty breathing with a bloody nose

Brown or Orange Mucus

Brown mucus could result from dried blood getting mixed in. Mucus can also turn brown or orange if you inhale something like dirt, a red spice such as paprika, or tobacco (snuff).

This color doesn't typically result from illness.

Black Mucus

Black mucus is rare and means you should see a healthcare provider right away. It is often a sign of a fungal infection that needs to be treated. These infections can cause serious symptoms and some forms require surgery.

Most healthy people aren't susceptible to these infections. They're more common, although still somewhat rare, in people with an immune system that's weakened due to illness or medication.

Other potential causes of black snot are:

• Cigarette smoking
• Use of illegal drugs

Don't just assume you have black snot because you're a smoker, though. Not only can a fungal infection be dangerous, it could be a sign that you have an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, so get medical attention.

Mucus in Diarrhea

A small amount of mucus with stool may be completely normal, but can also be associated with diarrhea and illness. If you notice a significant amount of green mucus in the poop of a toddler, baby, or adult, it may indicate a bacterial infection. See your healthcare provider to determine whether medication is needed to treat the infection or if it can run its course and resolve on its own.

When Should You Be Concerned?

If you have congestion with the following symptoms, it may be time to get evaluated:

• Severe symptoms
• Symptoms that persist for more than two weeks
• Starting to feel better and then getting sick again, usually with a cough and a temperature above 102 degrees F. These are signs of a secondary infection (such as a bacterial infection after a virus).
• Yellow mucus or green mucus for longer than two weeks accompanied by pain and pressure in your sinuses and face. These symptoms may indicate a sinus infection.

Your healthcare provider can determine what over-the-counter or prescription medicine is best to help relieve your symptoms.

While mucus is associated with bacteria, it's important to remember that bacteria are present in your body all the time. Some make you sick and some don't. Just because they're in your mucus doesn't necessarily mean they're problematic—or that you need antibiotics to get better. For example, bacterial infection only occurs in between 0.5% and 2% of rhinosinusitis cases. Many sinus infections go away on their own without antibiotics, but some do require treatment.

Summary

Changes in mucus color, from clear to white to yellow to green, are part of the normal course of an illness. It's a sign that your immune system is fighting to get better.

Pink, red, orange, or brown mucus, on the other hand, is typically not from an illness. It may just mean that there is blood or dried blood in your nose. If you have black mucus, which is rare, it may signal a fungal infection and you need to see a healthcare provider.

A Word From Verywell

Healthcare providers don't often make a diagnosis based solely on the color of mucus, but it can help complete the picture. So while it's useful to tell your healthcare provider if your mucus has changed color and consistency, don't expect to automatically get antibiotics just because it's green. Your healthcare provider will use all the information at their disposal to determine the best course of action.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you need antibiotics if your mucus is green?

  You may. Green mucus is a sign that the body is fighting a difficult infection. If you are still sick after a couple of weeks, this can be a sign of a bacterial infection. In these cases, it's a good idea to contact a healthcare provider.

• What causes blood in mucus from the nose?

  Mucus that contains blood can be caused by frequently blowing your nose, picking your nose, getting hit in the nose, dry nasal passages, living at high elevation, living in a dry climate, pregnancy, asthma, and allergies. Mucus from the nose is usually a red or pink color.

• Where does mucus come from?

  Mucus is made by mucus glands, which are located in the mouth, nose, throat, stomach, intestines, and vagina. Mucus production is a natural and important process that helps the body in various ways, such as by lubricating tissues and flushing out germs.

• Why does mucus color change when you're sick?

  When germs invade, the body creates mucus to try to flush them out. It is usually clear. A few days later, immune cells join the fight, which can turn mucus white or yellow. Mucus can turn green if bacteria is present and mixes in.

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