Snot Talk: What You Should Know About Nasal Mucus

Ever wondered about the gunk in your nose? Turns out that snot, often referred to as mucus or phlegm, might not be so gross. In fact, it actually plays an incredible role in your everyday health. From color to consistency, here’s what you need to know about nasal mucus.

Mucus Isn’t Always Bad

Growing up, you may have heard a lot of snot talk on the playground. But like many things, you can’t believe everything you hear.

The biggest misconception my patients have is that mucus is bad. While changes in mucus can indicate underlying conditions, nasal mucus isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

The human body produces about 1 liter of mucus and saliva each day, and most of the time you don’t even know it’s there. Mucus keeps essential organs moisturized and protects the body by trapping bacteria, viral particles, dust and other irritants that make their way into the nose.

Snot Color and Consistency

When you’re healthy, nasal mucus is usually clear, thin and plentiful. A change in color or consistency can sometimes indicate an underlying issue.

Here’s how to tell.

White Mucus

If viral particles enter your sinuses, your body may produce a white nasal discharge as the mucus tries to remove the virus from the body.

Yellow or Green Mucus

When you’re fighting off an infection, you typically have a higher white blood cell count. Once the white blood cells have attacked and died, they may leave behind yellow or green discharge. If a change in mucus color is also accompanied by lymph node inflammation, fatigue, fever, or other symptoms that last longer than a week, contact your primary care physician because you may have a bacterial infection.

Pink Mucus or Mucus With Red Flecks

Cold, dry air can irritate your nasal lining and have you reaching for the tissue box more. Sometimes all that nose-blowing can leave traces of pink, red or light brown mucus in your tissue. Usually this is nothing to worry about; it’s just a sign you’re a little dried out. Saline spray and a humidifier can usually help relieve symptoms.

Brown Mucus

While brown mucus is sometimes caused by dried blood or dirt in the nasal passage, it can also be an indicator of bronchitis, which happens when the tubes that carry air to your lungs become inflamed. If you cough up brown mucus or phlegm, contact your physician immediately.

Clear + Runny

If your mucus is clear but becomes runnier than usual, you may be responding to an irritant, such as a pollutant or strong fragrance. When accompanied by other symptoms runny mucus can mean different things.

• If accompanied by itchy eyes or sneezing, you may be suffering from seasonal allergies
• If accompanied by a fever, fatigue or a cough, you may have a common cold

Thick or Foul-Smelling Mucus

When the sinuses become inflamed from bacteria, your mucus may be thick, discolored and smelly. If you also have sinus tension or facial tenderness, you may have a sinus infection.

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Michael Brown DO

Michael R. Brown, DO, is a family medicine doctor at Meritas Health Smithville. He provides primary care and enjoys treating entire generations of families. He works to build relationships with his patients by sharing information that helps them make better choices. His interests outside of work include spending time with his family, serving his church, running and photography. He is also an avid beekeeper.