![]() ![]() This causes the mucus to stagnate and dry out, leading to a white discharge. However, dairy can make it thicker, and therefore more troublesome for the body to drain. You might have heard consuming dairy products can cause white mucus to develop. “Normally, your sinus doesn't drip, but when there's inflammation, either viral or bacterial, it can cause a drip from your sinus into your throat,” he told Medical Daily in an email. Steve Okhravi, an emergency physician and founder of DocChat and Emergency Medical Care, says this type of phlegm drains from the sinuses. So, now that we’ve gotten clear phlegm out of the way, what do other colors of phlegm mean for our health? White or Gray PhlegmĬoughing up white or gray phlegm is often an indication of an upper respiratory tract infection or sinus congestion. In turn, this coughing speeds up the rate for which the infection affects a person. This occurs as a result of the respiratory tract becoming inflamed, which also leads to coughing. While coughing up only a little clear phlegm is considered normal, larger amounts of phlegm may indicate a developing infection. Read More: Coughing Up Blood: 5 Possible Causes, And What To Do “If you are coughing up significant amounts of phlegm you could have an infection or allergies.” Matthew Exline, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Medical Daily in an email. “In health, phlegm/mucus is mostly clear and minimal,” Dr. The body is a mucus-making machine, producing about 1 to 1.5 liters of phlegm every day, even when you’re healthy. ![]() While you may think nothing of it, simply associating it with your sickness, the color of the mucus can tell you some things about the pathogens invading your body. It’s not uncommon when you develop a hacking cough from deep down in your lungs to cough up a gel-like substance known as phlegm, or sputum. ![]()
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