It's important to pay attention to the mucus on your tissues.
So your nose is a little stuffy or runny. You reach for the Kleenex, only to discover that the snot on the tissue is green when you blow into it. Hmm. What does it indicate when you're seeing green now instead of white or a little yellow?
What does green snot mean?
According to Cory Fisher, DO, a family care specialist at Cleveland Clinic, "green snot often suggests your immune system is trying to fight off an infectious pathogen." Dr. Fisher believes the infectious agent is most likely a virus, but it might also be bacteria.
What causes the mucus in your nose to turn a foul color? Body compounds that fight contagious organisms are to fault. "Neutrophils are white blood cells that help the body fight illness," says Philip Chen, MD, an associate professor of otolaryngology and rhinology at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. "In order to fight infection, these cells secrete substances that can be colored, resulting in colorful mucus."
What color should snot be?
"While some faint coloration is not often caused for alarm," Dr. Chen notes, "generally, snot is clear." In other words, the color of your nasal mucus does not reveal anything specific about your health. Even brown snot is OK. He continues, "Brownish mucus can also occur when the air is dry and there are minute amounts of blood in the mucus."
When you've got a cold or another infection, does your snot change color?
It can, but it isn't usually the case. "Occasionally, there will be a white tint," Dr. Chen says. "It can be yellow, green, or a combination of these hues at times. None of these symptoms indicate the type of infection you have." While the color of your snot may not alter if you have a cold or flu, other aspects of your snot may. "Mucus from a normal cold is typically clear—no color or tint—but stickier and thicker than usual," he says.
When should you see a doctor about your snot?
Patients who are concerned about the color of their snot are usually concerned about a variety of other symptoms as well. "Color alone does not normally induce a doctor's appointment," Dr. Chen explains.
If you're seeing green snot but otherwise feel well, you can probably avoid going to the doctor. However, if your nasal mucus is green and your nose is stuffed or runny, you have head or body aches, and you're feeling feverish, you're probably sick. Consult your doctor if any of the accompanying symptoms are severe enough.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, green mucous isn't an indication of COVID-19 (CDC). However, according to the CDC, a runny nose or congestion can be. So, if you're constantly blowing your nose or feeling stuffy, and you have other COVID symptoms like a sore throat, cough, or shortness of breath, and COVID is a possibility, see your doctor.