Sputum is a type of thick mucus produced by the lungs. ... A person may cough up clear, gray, or greenish phlegm. Acute bronchitis lasts about 3 weeks and usually goes away without treatment.

Asthmatics, too, might see white phlegm when a flare-up occurs. For most people, white or light gray phlegm, especially when accompanied by nasal congestion, typically signals the onset of viral ...

Brown phlegm may also be old blood. Gray: Gray phlegm can be normal and indicate no underlying cause. It's often seen in people who smoke and people who work in industrial areas like coal mines.

Color: Cause: Clear, white, or gray: This is typical, but excess amounts of sputum may indicate lung disease. Dark yellow or green: This may signal a bacterial or viral infection, such as ...

Normal sputum is clear, white, or sometimes gray. Other colors can help your doctor diagnose what's going on in your lungs. Shades of yellow or green: ...

But hacking coughs can also bring up mucus, depending on the cause. For example, bronchitis often causes a hacking cough that brings up yellow-gray mucus. In children, ...

Phlegm, or sputum, is a slimy, slippery substance found in your throat and lungs. It helps keep your respiratory system healthy: ... Gray: Gray phlegm can be normal and indicate no underlying cause.

This can cause a hacking cough, which may also bring up clear, green, or yellow-gray mucus. It can also cause symptoms similar to a common cold, including: sore throat; runny nose; ...

If phlegm contains blood, for example, it is important to see a doctor to exclude a more serious underlying illness, such as tuberculosis or cancer. If you do spit out, do so into a tissue and ...

BRANDED CONTENT Phlegm build-up and chesty coughs: How mucolytics can help Understanding the body’s response to these ailments, and how mucolytics can offer relief, is key to navigating these ...