Coughing Up White Mucus: Causes and Treatments - Verywell Health

If you are coughing up white mucus, it could be a sign of a respiratory condition such as bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The color of your mucus can suggest what is causing it, but not always.

Your healthcare provider might ask you about the color of your mucus, but they usually can't diagnose you based on mucus color alone. They will also want to know about the consistency (thickness) and other characteristics of the mucus that you are coughing up.

This article explores some of the causes of white mucus, what some of its other characteristics could tell you, and how these kinds of respiratory conditions are usually treated.

Verywell / Michela Buttignol

What Does It Mean When You're Coughing Up White Mucus?

If you have white mucus, it means there are white blood cells in it. The cause could be a virus or other pathogen. White mucus could also indicate a condition like pneumonia, COPD, or asthma.

White mucus may suggest certain conditions, but the color of your mucus alone is not a good diagnostic tool. Your healthcare provider may ask about color, but they may also take a sample of your mucus for a gram stain. This is a test that can help identify bacteria in your sputum. Sputum is the mucus that specifically comes from the respiratory tract.

Studies have shown that sputum infected with bacteria tends to be green, yellow, or another color; it's rarely cream-colored, white, or clear.

The function of mucus is to lubricate and protect delicate structures. It can trap small particles (such as germs and dust), making it easier for them to be safely removed from the body.

Some of the potential causes of white mucus include:

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways in the lungs. The swelling contributes to increased production of mucus. Bronchitis may be caused by a viral infection or by exposure to pollutants, such as cigarette smoke.

If you have bronchitis, you may have other symptoms such as:

• Fever
• A feeling of discomfort in the chest
• A persistent sore throat

Bronchitis usually resolves on its own with rest and good hydration. Try using a humidifier to help relieve your symptoms. 

Viral Respiratory Infection

The development of a cough with white mucus could indicate that you are coming down with a cold or other viral respiratory infection.

This type of infection usually affects the upper respiratory tract, including your lungs, throat, and sinuses. Influenza and COVID-19 are examples of viruses that cause this type of infection. Other symptoms may include:

• Sneezing and runny nose
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue

Unlike illnesses that are caused by bacteria, viral respiratory infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. Instead, treatment is focused on helping your immune system fight the infection.

Things you can do to help your body fight a viral infection that is causing a cough include getting plenty of rest, nourishing your body, and increasing your fluid intake.

Using a cool-mist humidifier and saline nasal sprays can help thin the mucus and make it easier to clear. Lozenges (cough drops) can also help relieve symptoms.

Is Cough Medicine Effective?

There is no research-based evidence that OTC cough medicines are effective, and they may come with side effects. Cough and cold medicines should never be given to children ages four or under. Do not give cough or cold medicines to children ages four to six unless their healthcare provider tells you to.

Asthma

When you have asthma, your body may produce excess mucus, and swollen, inflamed tissues can slow its ability to flow through the respiratory passageways.

Other symptoms of asthma include:

• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• A sensation of not getting enough air

Asthma can't be cured, but it can be managed with medication and the right treatment plan. Avoiding your triggers can also help you keep your asthma under control.

Can Allergies Cause White Phlegm?

Allergies can cause white phlegm or phlegm that has no color to it. Treatment options for allergies including taking an antihistamine, using a nasal steroid, or consulting with an allergy specialist.

Dehydration

Thick, white mucus can occur from dehydration. Increasing your fluid intake and using a cool-mist humidifier next to your bed at night can help thin out your mucus and make it easier to clear.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

White mucus can also appear foamy or frothy if there are large amounts of air bubbles in it. A small amount of foamy white mucus is not usually a concern; however, coughing up a larger amount of foamy mucus can indicate a serious illness such as COPD.

Other symptoms of COPD include:

• Feeling short of breath
• Wheezing

COPD can be managed with short- or long-acting bronchodilator inhalers. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a steroid inhaler if first-line treatments aren't working. Certain oral medications can also help.  

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

People with GERD may also cough up foamy, white mucus. This usually occurs along with other symptoms such as:

• Heartburn and acid reflux
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Trouble swallowing

If your cough is caused by GERD, medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be helpful.

Also, try elevating your upper body while lying down (to prevent reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus).

Losing weight and changing your diet can also offer relief. Severe cases of GERD might require surgical intervention.

Pulmonary Edema

Pulmonary edema causes fluid to build up in the lungs. This can make you cough up white or pink foamy mucus. Other symptoms of pulmonary edema include:

• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• A tight feeling in the chest

Pulmonary edema is considered a medical emergency. If you have any of these symptoms, seek emergency care right away.

Pulmonary edema is treated in the hospital with oxygen and medication.

Heart Problems

Sometimes, coughing can be a sign of heart failure. If you have a cardiac cough, you may cough up white mucus or mucus that is pink or blood-tinged. This type of cough doesn't resolve with time.

Heart failure can't be reversed, but it can be treated with lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. Following your healthcare provider's instructions can help improve your symptoms.

Managing Symptoms

Depending on the underlying cause of your white mucus, you may be able to self-treat the excess mucus with home remedies. Otherwise, an OTC or prescription medication may be useful for your symptoms.

If your mucus is caused by an infection or chronic condition, it's important to discuss your treatment options with a healthcare provider. Do not attempt to self-treat infections or other serious conditions with home remedies or OTC medications.

Home Remedies

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially warm, clear fluids like water, tea, and broth to loosen up mucus so that it is easier to cough up and leave your system.
• Avoid triggers and other irritants: If you know what allergen or irritant is triggering mucus, do your best to avoid it. This also means staying away from people who are sick, and staying indoors when environmental allergens are high.
• Apply a wet, warm washcloth to your face: You may also find that applying a warm compress, such as a wet, warm washcloth to your face, relieves sinus pressure and loosens up mucus.
• Keep your head elevated: Use extra pillows at bedtime to elevate your head and chest. This will prevent phlegm from pooling in your throat and assist with drainage.
• Gargle with salt water: Swish some salt water around in your mouth two to three times per day to loosen thickened mucus. Salt water is a natural disinfectant that can also rid bacteria and other irritants from your throat.
• Use eucalyptus: Add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a vaporizer or neti pot that you can use for steam inhalation. Combined with steam, the eucalyptus will help thin mucus and flush out your sinuses.
• Take a hot shower: Similar to other forms of steam inhalation, taking a hot shower will thin mucus so that it is easier for your body to expel.

Medications

If home remedies are not enough to relieve congestion and clear your sinuses, consider OTC medications.

Expectorants are medications that thin and loosen mucus in your lungs and lubricate your airways so that it is easier for your body to expel the mucus through coughing.

The drug guaifenesin is the only FDA-approved expectorant available in the United States, and it is available over-the-counter under the brand name Mucinex.

Some OTC congestion medications, like Sudafed Triple Action and Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion, are formulated with a combination of guaifenesin, acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, or other active ingredients.

Make sure to read drug labels carefully and never take more than one medication containing acetaminophen or another active ingredient at the same time.

If the mucus is caused by an infection, such as pneumonia, or a chronic condition, such as asthma or COPD, your healthcare provider may prescribe a medication to relieve your symptoms.

For example, if you have mucus with asthma or COPD, your provider may prescribe a bronchodilator such as Albuterol. Although Albuterol does not break up mucus itself, it does open the airways to help you cough and expel mucus more productively.

Viral pneumonia isn't typically treated as it usually goes away on its own. However, bacterial pneumonia may be treated with antibiotics. Again, antibiotics don't treat mucus, but the mucus should dissipate once the bacterial infection resolves.

When to Call a Healthcare Provider

Most conditions that cause a cough with white mucus will go away with rest and self-care. If you have certain symptoms or your symptoms persist, however, call your healthcare provider. For example:

• Your cough lasts for more than a few weeks.
  
• Your cough is severe.
• You are wheezing.
• The color of your mucus changes.
• Your mucus appears blood-tinged.
• You seem to be coughing up a lot of mucus.

If you cannot tell how much mucus you are coughing up, try spitting into a cup that you can measure and report this information to your healthcare provider.

You might be able to have your healthcare provider assess your mucus production at an office visit. However, in some cases, they might want you to go to the emergency room for more urgent care.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency care right away:

• You are having trouble breathing
• You have blue or white colored lips or nails.
• You've lost consciousness.
• You feel confused.

Other Colors of Mucus

The color and consistency of mucus can give your healthcare provider clues as to what is causing your cough. Besides white mucus, you may also have mucus that is:

Clear

Normal, healthy sputum is clear because it contains mostly water. Some respiratory conditions can produce clear sputum with changes in the consistency or amount, especially early in the course of the illness.

Yellow or Green

Yellow or green sputum is called "purulent" because it contains pus. The color is created by a type of white blood cell called neutrophils, which have a green hue.

Yellow sputum typically contains small amounts of neutrophils, while green sputum has higher amounts of these immune cells.

While a healthcare provider cannot diagnose a bacterial infection based on the color of mucus alone, studies have found that green or yellow sputum is more likely than other colors of mucus to be caused by bacterial infections.

Brown

Mucus may appear brown if it contains old blood or if you have inhaled a significant amount of dirt (for example, if you were caught in a dust storm).

If the old blood came from the lungs, it can be a sign of hemoptysis. Hemoptysis can be a serious condition. It is generally caused by lung cancer, bronchitis, or pneumonia. In rare cases, it can be caused by tuberculosis.

You might occasionally see brown mucus if you have had a bloody nose recently, in which case the mucus actually originated in your nasal passageways.

Red

Mucus may appear red if there is fresh blood in it. While fresh blood in your mucus can be a sign of cancer, it can also be a sign that you have been coughing too hard and your nasal tissues are irritated.

With that being said, if you are a smoker and coughing up blood, you should be seen by a healthcare provider right away.

Black

Black sputum can be caused by inhaling something black, such as coal dust. It can also be caused by an infection (typically those that are caused by a fungus or tuberculosis) or death of lung tissue (ischemic necrosis).

Summary

Coughing up white mucus has several possible causes. Your healthcare provider won't be able to figure out what is causing the mucus just by looking at it. In some cases, they might need to test a sample of the mucus to see if there are specific pathogens in it.

If you are concerned about your coughing or mucus production, call your healthcare provider. While occasional white mucus is likely not a reason to worry, coughing up a lot of white mucus, mucus that has blood in it, or coughing up mucus when you also have other symptoms can be signs of a more serious condition.

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