Weekend Plus Desk :
It’s that time of the year again when your nose feels stuffed most of the times and you are blowing wads of snot into countless tissues. But before you throw the next tissue in the bin, take a look at it. We know it sounds gross, but the colour of your booger can tell a lot about your cold.
Here is what different colours mean:
Transparent
A transparent fluid means a healthy mucus, which has water, proteins, antibodies and infection-fighting substances. The purpose of this fluid is to irrigate your nasal passage and trap the dust, pollutants, allergens and dust. Your body produces almost a litre of it every day.
White
Mucus that stays around in the clogged nasal passage thickens and becomes white and cloudy as it loses moisture. White mucus is also a sign of dehydration. You can use an over-the-counter saline spray to thin the secretions.
Yellow
This colour indicates you might have a virus infection. The infection-fighting white blood cells get mixed with your mucus. When these die, it gives your mucus a yellow or brownish colour. If your mucus is yellow, it is also a sign that your cold might last for seven to ten days.
Green
Green colour booger doesn’t always mean that you have a bacterial infection, contrary to what most people believe. If the green colour lasts for more than two weeks along with facial pressure and congestion, you need to see your doctor.
Pink or red
If you have been blowing your nose too hard or your nose is too dry, the blood vessels close to the surface of your nose can rupture. If your nose is too dry, use a humidifier at night and wrap a scarf around your face when you go out.
Brown
Brown booger can mean dried blood or some dirt that has gone and stayed inside for a while.
It’s that time of the year again when your nose feels stuffed most of the times and you are blowing wads of snot into countless tissues. But before you throw the next tissue in the bin, take a look at it. We know it sounds gross, but the colour of your booger can tell a lot about your cold.
Here is what different colours mean:
Transparent
A transparent fluid means a healthy mucus, which has water, proteins, antibodies and infection-fighting substances. The purpose of this fluid is to irrigate your nasal passage and trap the dust, pollutants, allergens and dust. Your body produces almost a litre of it every day.
White
Mucus that stays around in the clogged nasal passage thickens and becomes white and cloudy as it loses moisture. White mucus is also a sign of dehydration. You can use an over-the-counter saline spray to thin the secretions.
Yellow
This colour indicates you might have a virus infection. The infection-fighting white blood cells get mixed with your mucus. When these die, it gives your mucus a yellow or brownish colour. If your mucus is yellow, it is also a sign that your cold might last for seven to ten days.
Green
Green colour booger doesn’t always mean that you have a bacterial infection, contrary to what most people believe. If the green colour lasts for more than two weeks along with facial pressure and congestion, you need to see your doctor.
Pink or red
If you have been blowing your nose too hard or your nose is too dry, the blood vessels close to the surface of your nose can rupture. If your nose is too dry, use a humidifier at night and wrap a scarf around your face when you go out.
Brown
Brown booger can mean dried blood or some dirt that has gone and stayed inside for a while.
