Discoloured snot could signal health issue - what to look out for
Keeping your fingers out of your nostrils is considered polite by many, but health experts have suggested that the colour of your bogies could signal an underlying health problem.
Boogers are little bits of dried nasal mucus, also known as snot, that form in your nose to protect your body from harm. The purpose of snot is to prevent tiny particles in the air from entering your lungs and protecting you from infections and irritation.
Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Raj Sindwani, MD, told Cleveland Clinic: “The inside of your nose, as well as your upper air digestive tract in the head and neck area, are very moist environments. Mucus serves a major role in trying to protect the lining and keep it moist.”
The expert added: “It traps particles and organisms, so the bacteria or debris that we breathe in doesn’t go directly into our lungs.” Dr Sindwani says changing snot colour is a bigger indicator that something could be wrong.
He said: “It’s the idea that you were doing fine, nothing was bothering you and then something changed. You’ll want to look more holistically at what else might have changed. Are you feeling unwell? Did you get a new pet or other significant change in your environment?”
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The colour of your snot can reveal a lot about the state of your health - it can indicate if you’re unwell and shed light on other hidden conditions. From yellow to black, here’s everything you need to know about the colour of your nasal mucus.
Yellow
Pharmacist Rita Ghelani explained that yellow bogies or snot edging towards a yellow tinge could suggest that your body is fighting an infection. She said: "The yellow colour is a result of your infection-fighting white blood cells being expelled with your mucus. You’re probably feeling rough and very blocked up."
The yellow shade comes from white blood cells that rush to the site of the infection and then are swept away after working to fight it off, writes Cleveland Clinic.Dr. Sindwani said: “But remember that there are other things that go along with that colour, of course — including how you’re feeling overall or if you have a fever.”
Black
People who live in areas with high congestion and pollution are more likely to experience black bogies, compared to those who are in the countryside.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dark nasal mucus could also be a tell-tale sign of a serious fungal infection, which often strikes those with compromised immune systems. These infections include allergic fungal sinusitis, chronic indolent sinusitis, mycetoma fungal sinusitis and fulminant sinusitis.
“Not to be overly alarmist, but there are some fungal infections that can show black snot that can be very, very serious,” Dr. Sindwani says. “But luckily they’re exceedingly rare.” It is also common for drug takers and smokers to also have black nasal discharge.
Clear
Clear coloured snot is considered healthy and normal, although allergies can also present like this. The NHS explains that the body produces around 1.7 litres of this discharge every day, but most of it flows down the back of your throat to be dissolved in the stomach.
The Cleveland Clinic adds that straight mucus is mostly made from water, with proteins, antibodies and dissolved salts.
Residents who live in areas with high congestion are more likely to have black bogies (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Green
If your snot is green, this means your immune system is fighting back an infection and your mucus is thick with dead white blood cells. Rita said: "You might have a temperature and be feeling feverish – if that’s the case it might be wise to consult your doctor or pharmacist."
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People with this symptom could be suffering from sinusitis, a bacterial infection that is treated with a round of antibiotics. Dr Sindwani added that you could also have chronic sinusitis, which is a longer-term inflammatory illness, where you’ll have some symptoms of a sinus infection for months.
He said: “This isn’t just discolored mucus. It can be post-nasal drip. It could be facial pain, pressure, congestion or difficulty breathing, or a change to your sense of smell, and feeling unwell.”
Red or brown
When your bogies turn red or brown, this could suggest that your nasal tissue has become broken, resulting in blood. This can occur through irritation or if you have experienced some kind of impact.
Dr Sindwani said: "Full-on red could be a nosebleed related most likely to trauma, or possibly infection,” adding: "A few specks of blood or a pinkish hue mucus may not be a big deal. That could be just damage or irritation of the lining."
The expert said this usually happens when you're sick by blowing or rubbing your nose frequently. However, Rita said brown snot can signal old blood in your mucus. "It can also by a sign of bacterial pneumonia, or something more serious and definitely should be checked with your GP," she explained.
White
White mucus could suggest that you are suffering from a nasal infection or a cold, but this colour snot is "nothing to worry about".
When you’re congested, you will most likely have swollen, inflamed tissues in your nose that are slowing the flow of mucus, causing it to lose moisture and become thick and cloudy, explains Dr. Sindwani.
The expert also notes that the consistency of your snot could also reveal more about your health. He said: “If it’s thicker, that could represent your hydration status, such as being behind in your fluid intake, or having too much dehydrating coffee or sodas.”
The amount of snot can also be telling, he added: “That can reflect hydration and for some people, that may reflect an exposure to something that was irritating, like perfume or cigarette smoke. Or it could even represent allergies or an allergic exposure.”
When to visit a doctor
Coloured snot will most likely be the result of a harmless cold, but if you’re worried about your symptoms you can call 111 or visit a pharmacist. In the event on an emergency, always call 999 or visit your nearest A&E department.
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