What is the black stuff in my phlegm?

If you ever cough up black phlegm, see a doctor as soon as possible. The discoloration may be temporary, caused by exposure to smoke or dirt in the air, or it could be due to a respiratory infection. Black phlegm could also be caused by a more serious condition, such as lung cancer.

Do smokers have black phlegm?

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 color is phlegm when you quit smoking?

Quitting Smoking. Within a week after your last cigarette, your lungs start cleaning themselves. Smoke slows down the tiny cilia that sweep mucus from your lungs. Once they can do their job right, you might start to cough up brown mucus from the tar you’ve inhaled over time.

Why do you cough up black stuff when you quit smoking?

Your cilia will gradually heal after you quit, which will help remove tar from your lungs. If you’ve been smoking for a long time, you have tar in your lungs. Tar refers to the toxic particles left behind in the lungs. Tar lines the lungs and colors them black.

What fungal infection causes black mucus?

Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is a rare but dangerous infection. It’s caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes and often affects the sinuses, lungs, skin, and brain. You can inhale the mold spores or come into contact with them in things like soil, rotting produce or bread, or compost piles.

What color phlegm is infection?

Yellow phlegm is a sign that your body is fighting off a mild infection. “White blood cells are responsible for fighting infections, and as they get picked up in the mucus, they can cause it to have a yellowish hue,” said Dr. Kreel. Green phlegm is an indication that your body is fighting off a more serious infection.

What color mucus indicates infection?

Yellow mucus This can mean a cold or infection that’s progressing. The yellowish tinge comes from white blood cells that rush to the site of the infection and then are swept away after working to fight it off. “Yellow or green snot can sometimes mean that you have an infection,” Dr. Sindwani says.

Do smokers have brown mucus?

Irritant causes Smoking: Cigarette or cigar smoke is extremely irritating to your airways. Not only does it increase your risk of developing mouth, throat, and lung cancer, it also deposits tar and other irritants in your lung. Smoking may give mucus a brown or black color.

Is brown phlegm common in smokers?

Brown phlegm is less common. Here are some reasons why you might get it. It can be a sign of old blood, chronic — ongoing — inflammation, or tar that loosens up after you’ve quit smoking.