What does the color of your snot say about your body?

It’s not the most fun topic to talk about, but it’s very important: your snot! The color of your snot says a lot about your body. A certain color can mean that you are dealing with a virus, infection or other complaints that you should have checked by a doctor. So it’s not crazy to take a look in your handkerchief every now and then!

What is snot?

Snot (also called mucus) consists for the most part of water. It also contains antibodies and enzymes to repel invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Did you know that a person produces more than a liter of snot per day? Snot is actually nothing but phlegm, but we call it snot because it is mucus that drips from your nose.

The colors of your snot

A person can have different colors of snot: clear, white, yellow, green and red. Below is an explanation of what the colors can mean.

clear snot
If your snot is clear in color, you are probably a healthy person and that is good news! Snot and mucus are produced by the body to keep the throat and nose moist. If not, you’ll become dehydrated and that’s painful! But why is clear snot so good? Well, if it’s clear in color, it means there’s not much or no bacteria in it. Do you have clear snot, but it keeps running out of your nose? Then you probably have a mild cold.

white snot
White mucus or mucus often feels sticky and thick. The color is white because your body produces more snot. That may indicate the first signs of a cold. So you can use some extra vitamins with white snot! It can also mean that you eat or drink too many dairy products. It is then easy to solve by simply eating less dairy.

yellow snot
If you’re dealing with snot that is yellow in color, it often indicates a minor infection or bacteria in the sinus of the nose. This often results in a cold. The yellowish color means your body is fighting that infection. White blood cells are working hard to get the bacteria out. The funny thing is that when white blood cells leave the body, they are not white, but are yellow or green!

green snot
Green mucus in your nose is a sign of an infection from a moderate bacteria or fungus. This color is caused by a type of white blood cell called leukocytes. Just like with yellow snot, they are working hard to defend the body against the bacteria. Often the green color of the snot is light green for the first few days and will slowly change to a darker color. Does the green color last longer than two weeks? Then it is wise to make an appointment with your doctor.

red snot
Is your snot red in color? Then there is a good chance that there is blood in your mucus. The color does not have to be bright red, but can also be light pink or dark brown in color. If your snot is only slightly red in color, then there shouldn’t be a problem. For example, it may be that a small inflammation has developed in the sinuses. A sore spot in your nose can also be a cause.
It is a problem if the red color lasts longer than a week, you suffer from a fever or if you have to cough up blood or red mucus. Then it is wise to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

What color are you?
As you can read above, snot is not as common as it seems. Have you ever had to deal with a different color of mucus or snot? And do you know what caused that? Leave your experiences in the comments!

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