Color of Phlegm 痰的颜色

Phlegm or respiratory system mucus is a gel like substance produced by upper and lower respiratory system organs in response to various types of irritants in the form of allergens, viruses, bacteria, environmental toxins and pollution. The purpose of the phlegm is to lubricate the respiratory organs and passages and to quickly neutralize the foreign invaders by expelling them from our bodies with coughing. Therefore, it’s very important to learn different phlegm color meaning and not simply take medicine. Take the right medication for best solution.

The color of phlegm has a tremendous meaning in diagnosing and pin-pointing different types of diseases and conditions.

White/ Clear Mucus

Coughing up clear or white mucus or sputum could just mean an onset of seasonal allergies or a mild viral infection, even healthy body also will have a small amount of white sputum. The clear mucus production usually resolves itself within 5-7 days like any viral infection.

Yellow Mucus

In case your condition does not improve and you start coughing up yellow mucus or the color of phlegm changes to a more cloudy type, it could signal a bacterial infection in the lungs or bronchi. If the color of phlegm is dark yellow or green, it indicates the presence of pus or dead white cells in the phlegm mucus, a good indication that body is currently fighting off bacteria.

Green Phlegm

Caused by a special bacteria named Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A combination of phlegm and spit, could be an indication of cystic fibrosis disease and should be discussed with your doctor.

Brown Phlegm

If you smoke you might see brown phlegm being coughed up in the morning as a response to irritation caused by cigarette smoke. Smoking causes chronic inflammation to the bronchi, lungs and other organs of the respiratory system resulting in increased bouts of cough necessary to clear out the lungs. If you suffer from acute or chronic bronchitis you can try some bronchitis natural remedies that may also alleviate excessive mucus problem.

Grey/ Black Phlegm
Excessive inhalation of dust may cause coughing up grey phlegm. Those expose to toner, coal foam, lime etc might lead to Pneumoconiosis disease.

Bloody Phlegm

Bloody Phlegm happens in several conditions.

1. Blood tinged sputum, most common in tuberculosis or bronchiectasis, also happen in throat inflammation.

2. Black bloody sputum, most common in pulmonary embolism.

3. Pink foamy sputum, most common in pulmonary edema.

Besides, long-term bloody phlegm in associated with chest pain, fatigue, weight loss symptoms, be alert to lung cancer risk.   

Color of phlegm is a very helpful way for you to know how your body is coping with an illness.

痰或呼吸系统粘液是一种由上、下呼吸系统气管所产生的凝胶以对抗各种刺激物如过敏原，病毒，细菌，环境中的毒素和污染。痰的功能就是润滑呼吸器官及管道，并迅速抵抗外来侵略，以咳嗽方式将之去除。因此，我们应学习分辨痰的颜色，不胡乱摄取药物，对症下药方是上上之策。


痰的颜色可诊断不同类型的疾病和状况。

白色或透明痰粘液

咳嗽出白色或透明的痰粘液意味着季节性过敏的发作或轻微病毒感染，健康的体质也会有少量白色痰液。这些白稀的痰液通常会在病毒感染后的５至７天内消失。　

黄色痰

如果您的情况没有好转，可能会开始出现黄色脓性痰液或沉暗阴色，就是肺部或支气管细菌感染的迹象。如果痰的颜色呈暗黄或绿色，表示痰粘液中出现死细胞化脓，也象征着身体正在对抗着细菌。

绿色痰

由一种特殊的细菌，即绿脓杆菌感染引起。痰和粘液的结合，可能是囊性纤维化病的迹象，应尽早咨询医生的意见。

铁锈样痰

如果您有抽烟的习惯，早上可能出现因烟草烟雾造成的铁锈样痰。抽烟导致与支气管、肺部和呼吸系统相关的慢性炎症，并加剧咳嗽状况。若您患上急性或慢性支气管炎，可尝试一些支气管自然疗法，可助您减轻过多的粘液问题。

灰色或黑色痰
吸入灰尘过多会咳出灰色痰，长期接触碳粉、煤沫、石灰等会导致肺尘埃沉着症。

血性痰

血性痰可分好几种情况：
第一种是痰中带鲜红血丝，多见于肺结核或支气管扩张，有时咽部有炎症也可出现这种情况;
第二种是黑色血痰，多见于肺梗塞;
第三种，粉红色泡沫样痰，见于肺水肿。
另外，如果长期痰内带血或伴有胸痛、乏力、消瘦的症状，须警惕肺癌的发生。  

痰的颜色可助您了解您的身体如何应对疾病。　


Source 资料源自：
http://www.healtharticles101.com/color-of-phlegm-what-can-it-tell-you/
http://www.hbwj120xc.com/hotconcern/201006181323.html

Flu or Cold Symptoms? 流感或伤风感冒症状

When you wake up sneezing, coughing, and have that achy, feverish, can't move a muscle feeling, how do you know whether you have cold symptoms or the flu? And if it's the flu, could it be swine flu?

It's important to know the difference between flu and cold symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks. The flu -- whether it's typical seasonal flu or the swine flu virus -- can also result in serious health problems such as pneumonia and hospitalizations.

What are common cold symptoms?

Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.

With cold symptoms, your nose teems with watery nasal secretions for the first few days. Later, these become thicker and darker. Dark mucus is natural and does not usually mean you have developed a bacterial infection, such as a sinus infection.

Several hundred different viruses may cause your cold symptoms.

What are common flu symptoms?

Whether a person has typical seasonal flu or swine flu, the symptoms seem to be quite similar. Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of swine flu or other flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu in particular is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Another common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.

Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms.

流感或伤风感冒症状


当您睡醒的时候，突然打喷嚏、咳嗽，感到疼痛或发烧，肌肉紧绷的感觉，您如何辨别那是伤风、感冒或流感呢？如果是流感，有可能是禽流感吗？


流感与伤风感冒症状之间的分别相当重要。感冒这一种呼吸系统疾病比流感温和。感冒症状可令您好几天都感到不适；流感症状则令您从几天不适到几个星期都感到不舒服。流感，无论是季节性流行性感冒或是禽流感病毒，也可能导致严重的健康问题，如肺炎和住院。


感冒症状


感冒症状通常始于咽喉痛，通常在一两天后消失。鼻部症状，流鼻涕，紧随着鼻塞，四、五天后开始咳嗽。发烧较少见于成人，也有可能出现轻微发烧的情况。孩童较常出现感冒发烧症状。


感冒症状包括最初几天，您的鼻子会装满湿漉漉的鼻腔分泌物。几天后分泌物越来越浓稠，越来越沉暗。沉暗的分泌物粘液是很自然的，并不意味着您已被细菌感染，如鼻窦感染。


数百种病菌可造成的感冒症状不一。


普通流感症状


一个人患上季节性流行性感冒或者禽流感的症状非常相似。流感的症状通常比普通感冒来得更严重，而且更快。禽流感或其他流感的症状包括咽喉痛，发烧，头疼，肌肉酸痛，充血和咳嗽。禽流感的症状通常还包括呕吐和腹泻。


大多数流感的症状会在二至五天内逐渐改善，不过也可能延续到一个星期或更长时间。一般流感的并发症包括肺炎，特别是针对患有肺或心脏疾病的青年或老年人。当您发现气短，即刻告诉医生。肺炎的另一种症状是发烧，退烧一两天后又再发烧。


流感病毒如同感冒病毒，通过您的鼻子粘膜，眼睛和嘴巴进入身体。当您的手触碰以上部位，就会被感染。勤于洗手令您的双手保持无菌状态以避免患上流感或感冒。

(Source 资料源自: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/flu-cold-symptoms)