Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesTestsColorCausesTreatmentWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Tests
Color
Causes
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Sputum may contain dead cells, foreign debris inhaled into the lung, bacteria, and white blood cells that protect the airway from infection. The quantity, texture, andcolor of sputumcan help to diagnoselung cancerand other medical conditions that affect sputum production.
This article explains what sputum is and what it looks like. It also discusses what different colors of sputum might indicate.
Sputum Types
Sputum isnotthe same as saliva, a substance secreted in the mouth to help with digestion. The terms sputum and phlegm are used interchangeably.
Sputum or phlegm is coughed up from the bronchi, bronchioles, andtrachearather than glands in the mouth and throat. It may include foreign matter from air pollution or smoking cigarettes, as well as bacteria from an infection, or blood due to cancer, airway damage, andpulmonary edema.
The term “mucus” may sometimes be used instead of sputum. However, sputum refers to that mucusspecificallysecreted in the respiratory tract, whereas mucus may also be produced in the gastrointestinal tract, urological tract, and genital tract.
What Is Mucus?
Tests to Evaluate Sputum
Sputum may be analyzed in the lab to determine its contents in order to evaluate infections or look for cancer. Tests may include:
Sputum Induction
What Is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
What Sputum Colors Mean
Sputum qualities can include many colors and different consistencies, and these can help to diagnose certain conditions. For example:
Clear Sputum
Clear sputum is usually normal, although it may be increased in some conditions, such as:
White or Gray Sputum
White or grayish-tinged sputum can also be normal but may be present in increased amounts with some lung diseases or precede other color changes associated with other conditions. Some of the conditions associated with white phlegm include:
Why Can’t I Stop Coughing, and How Do I Stop?
Dark Yellow/Green Sputum
A type of white blood cells known asneutrophilshave a green color to them. These types of white blood cells are attracted to the site of bacterial infections and may cause green sputum. Conditions associated with green sputum include:
What Is Bacterial Pneumonia?
Brown Sputum
Brown sputum often indicates that someone has been inhaling a substance such as air pollution or cigarette smoke. Brown sputum can indicate:
Sputum may also appear brown or black due to the presence of old blood. This can happen with conditions such as:
Pink Sputum
Pink sputum contains small amounts of fresh blood and usually indicates a more serious problem, such as:
Bloody Sputum
Bloody sputum, even just a trace of blood-tinged sputum, shouldalwaysbe evaluated. Bloody sputum (hemoptysis) can be a sign of:
Coughing up Blood in SputumBlood in sputum is always serious and requires immediate medical evaluation. It can be a sign of lung cancer orpulmonary embolism, a condition in which a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Even a teaspoon of coughed-up blood is considered a medical emergency. Coughing up 1/4 cup of blood is considered massive hemoptysis and carries a poor prognosis.
Coughing up Blood in Sputum
Blood in sputum is always serious and requires immediate medical evaluation. It can be a sign of lung cancer orpulmonary embolism, a condition in which a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Even a teaspoon of coughed-up blood is considered a medical emergency. Coughing up 1/4 cup of blood is considered massive hemoptysis and carries a poor prognosis.
Why Am I Coughing Up Blood?
Causes of Increased Sputum
Some conditions that result in increased production of sputum include:
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Decreasing Sputum
There are a number of ways in which to decrease sputum production, but the most important step is to diagnose and treat the underlying cause.
With air pollution and smoking, the underlying cause is the body’s attempt to rid itself of foreign matter, and overproduction of sputum is a normal response.
Tobacco smokecauses paralysis in cilia, the tiny hair-like structures that help move mucus and foreign particles out of your lungs. When the cilia can’t move sputum towards your mouth, it accumulates in the airways. Quitting smoking is the best way to combat this problem.
How Do you Flush Out Phlegm?
There are a few things you can try at home that may help you flush phlegm out of your lungs:
12 Home Remedies for a Cough
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A cough will usually clear up on its own with rest and self-care. However, you should see your healthcare provider if any of these situations apply to you:
Summary
Sputum is a mix of cells, foreign matter, and white blood cells produced in the respiratory tract. An increased amount of sputum is often the body’s attempt to protect and heal damage to the airways.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have chronic or concerning symptoms. An accurate diagnosis may lead to earlier treatment and improved outcomes.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236MedlinePlus.Sputum culture.Gershman E, Guthrie R, Swiatek K, Shojaee S.Management of hemoptysis in patients with lung cancer.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):358. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.91Davidson K, Shojaee S.Managing massive hemoptysis.Chest. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.07.012Budzinski T.Chronic bronchitis.Contemporary Clinic.Redondo M, Keyt H, Dhar R, Chalmers JD.Global impact of bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.Breathe. 2016;12(3):222-235. doi:10.1183/20734735.007516Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, et al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236MedlinePlus.Sputum culture.Gershman E, Guthrie R, Swiatek K, Shojaee S.Management of hemoptysis in patients with lung cancer.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):358. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.91Davidson K, Shojaee S.Managing massive hemoptysis.Chest. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.07.012Budzinski T.Chronic bronchitis.Contemporary Clinic.Redondo M, Keyt H, Dhar R, Chalmers JD.Global impact of bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.Breathe. 2016;12(3):222-235. doi:10.1183/20734735.007516Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, et al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236MedlinePlus.Sputum culture.Gershman E, Guthrie R, Swiatek K, Shojaee S.Management of hemoptysis in patients with lung cancer.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):358. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.91Davidson K, Shojaee S.Managing massive hemoptysis.Chest. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.07.012Budzinski T.Chronic bronchitis.Contemporary Clinic.Redondo M, Keyt H, Dhar R, Chalmers JD.Global impact of bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.Breathe. 2016;12(3):222-235. doi:10.1183/20734735.007516Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, et al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312
Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236
MedlinePlus.Sputum culture.
Gershman E, Guthrie R, Swiatek K, Shojaee S.Management of hemoptysis in patients with lung cancer.Ann Transl Med. 2019;7(15):358. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.04.91
Davidson K, Shojaee S.Managing massive hemoptysis.Chest. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.07.012
Budzinski T.Chronic bronchitis.Contemporary Clinic.
Redondo M, Keyt H, Dhar R, Chalmers JD.Global impact of bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.Breathe. 2016;12(3):222-235. doi:10.1183/20734735.007516
Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, et al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312
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