Is coughing up brown mucus bad?

Brown phlegm can also be a warning sign because it signals prior bleeding. As the blood ages, it turns brown. If you notice brown phlegm, you should see your doctor. Black phlegm is cause for alarm—it likely signals a fungal infection, especially for people with compromised immune systems.

Do smokers cough up black stuff?

Smoke can also cause the phlegm in the lungs to thicken. In addition, smoke can damage the hair-like cilia, which help clear the lungs of phlegm. As a result, a person will cough up more dark-colored phlegm.

What infections cause brown mucus?

The color brown often means old blood. You may see this color after your phlegm appears red or pink. Brown phlegm is commonly caused by: Bacterial pneumonia:This form of pneumonia can produce phlegm that is green-brown or rust-colored.

Why do I cough up brown mucus after quitting smoking?

Coughing up brown mucus or brown phlegm from chest or throat can mean an infection or simply lung pollution. Some people cough up thick dark brown chunks after quitting smoking. Here’s insight on the causes and what to do when you have this symptom every morning.

How can you tell if a smoker has a cough?

The cough may be dry, or it may produce sputum (phlegm, mucus), depending upon how long a person has smoked. The color of the mucus may range from clear to yellow to green to brown. The cough may be worse in the morning and improve as the day progresses.

How to tell if you have bronchitis with brown mucus?

If you have it, you’ll first notice a cough. It could be dry or bring up phlegm. The mucus can range from clear to cloudy, brown, yellow, or green. Your chest might feel tight or tender. Other signs are a fever, tiredness, shortness of breath, a sore throat, and a stuffy nose. Bronchitis usually goes away on its own.

What kind of cough is yellow with brown mucus?

If your symptoms don’t go away and your doctor strongly suspects a bacterial infection, they may prescribe an antibiotic. A dry cough that brings up thick phlegm is one of the main symptoms of pneumonia. The mucus might be yellow, green, red, brown, or rust-colored.