It goes by many names: snot, booger, phlegm, mucus. Call it what you will, but we need to at least acknowledge the importance of what that gooey substance lining your mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and gastrointestinal tract does for your health.
The trend becomes unmistakable once fat intake increases for a population.
The Cleveland Clinic has done just that, with a helpful infographic about what the shade of your nasal mucus may mean for your health. Of course, if you are concerned about the color of your snot, it is always best to consult a doctor.
GREEN indicates that your immune system is fighting a bacterial infection.
RED is blood in the mucus, possibly from broken tissue in the nose.
BROWN could be blood or an inhaled contaminant.
BLACK, unless you’re a smoker, could mean a fungal infection.
The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities that are lined with mucus-making cells. The mucus serves to keep the nose from drying out and to trap contaminants before they reach the lungs.
Mucus (”snot”) is made of water, proteins, antibodies and salts. Its color is an indicator of health:
CLEAR indicates healthy.
WHITE is thick mucus indicating sinus congestion.
YELLOW means that infection-fighting cells are battling a cold.
Source:
my.clevelandclinic.org
