Yellow mucus is a sign of infection or an allergic reaction. It can be caused by sinus infections, colds, flu, bronchitis, dryness, or nasal polyps. Different colors of mucus indicate different health issues. Drinking water, over-the-counter medication, and home remedies can help, but excessive mucus may require medical attention. Phlegm is different from mucus and coughing it up may indicate a serious problem.
Generally, when a person starts experiencing yellow mucus, it’s because their body is trying to fight off some type of infection or virus. Some of the more common causes are sinus infections, colds, flu and bronchitis. This mucus color can also be the result of an allergic reaction to something in a person’s environment. Dryness in the air or nasal polyps can also cause yellow mucus to develop in some people. Sometimes, candida albicans can cause this substance to develop in the nasal passages.
There are different colors of mucus that a person can experience throughout their life and each one will indicate that something is going on inside the body. These changes in mucus can show that the body is healthy and able to get rid of an infection easily, or they can indicate the presence of common viruses or bacteria, such as those that cause colds or sinus problems. Many times, a person will experience clear, yellow, green, white, and brown mucus at some point in their life. Green generally indicates the same thing as yellow, but it can also indicate an upper respiratory infection.
The sinuses produce mucus all the time. It is something that is used to fight infections within the body and to moisten the air a person inhales. The yellow mucus in the sinus cavity is also used to cleanse the breathed-in air and, in turn, keep the sinuses healthy. A certain amount of mucus is needed to trap dust or bacteria that threaten to cause problems in the sinus cavity.
Colds, the flu, and dry air can cause yellowish mucus to develop. Many times, drinking more water can help a person get rid of excess water caused by these problems. Some over-the-counter medications can also be used to clear congestion. Home or herbal remedies, such as steam inhalation, can help reduce the amount of yellow mucus a person develops. Excessive amounts of mucus that last for more than a week may require a doctor’s attention.
Phlegm is sometimes confused with mucus, but the two are very different. Mucus is produced in the nasal passages, sinuses, lining of the bronchi, lining of the windpipe, and lining of the bronchioles. Phlegm, however, is only produced in a person’s lungs. Coughing up phlegm can indicate a serious problem within the body.
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