Mucus color
Don’t rush to call the doctor for antibiotics the next time you blow your nose and see greenish mucus. Color and consistency of mucus alone is not even a good indicator of an infection. It may be your seasonal allergies which can cause yellow, green or clear mucus that have a thick or thin consistency.
Why does mucus change color? Mucus is found in the tissues that come into contact with the elements in the environment. These tissues include the lining of the nose, sinuses and mouth.
The white blood cells in the tissue lining produce enzymes to fight off irritants or infectious organisms. These enzymes contain iron, which can give nasal discharge a greenish color. The mucus may appear darker yellow if it remains in place or becomes concentrated.
It makes little sense to use antibiotics every time the mucus becomes thick or greenish. Allergies will not improve with antibiotics and even most sinus infections are viral which do not respond to antibiotics. Only bacterial infections respond to antibiotics.
An overuse of antibiotics has caused an epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our environment. Antibiotics can be beneficial which used judiciously but they will do nothing for allergies or a viral infection. All they will cause is side effects and increase the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In fact, the bacteria that cause the most common infections (pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sexually-transmitted diseases) have developed resistance to antibiotics. The World Health Organization has warned that gonorrhea may soon become untreatable.
Studies show that doctors prescribe antibiotics for sinusitis, regardless of type, about 90 percent of the time. More than one in five antibiotics prescribed to adults are for sinusitis.
Sinusitis and allergies seem to go together. About one-third of people with acute sinusitis have allergies, and some 40-60 percent of those with chronic sinusitis have them. Some believe that sinusitis increases during allergy season but there is no hard evidence.
Sinusitis treatment options
•Nasal irrigation with either a neti pot or electronic nasal irrigation system.
•Reduced intake of foods high in sugars and carbohydrates.
•Use of saline nasal sprays.
Probiotic supplementation to improve gut flora
Why does mucus change color? Mucus is found in the tissues that come into contact with the elements in the environment. These tissues include the lining of the nose, sinuses and mouth.
The white blood cells in the tissue lining produce enzymes to fight off irritants or infectious organisms. These enzymes contain iron, which can give nasal discharge a greenish color. The mucus may appear darker yellow if it remains in place or becomes concentrated.
It makes little sense to use antibiotics every time the mucus becomes thick or greenish. Allergies will not improve with antibiotics and even most sinus infections are viral which do not respond to antibiotics. Only bacterial infections respond to antibiotics.
An overuse of antibiotics has caused an epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our environment. Antibiotics can be beneficial which used judiciously but they will do nothing for allergies or a viral infection. All they will cause is side effects and increase the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In fact, the bacteria that cause the most common infections (pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sexually-transmitted diseases) have developed resistance to antibiotics. The World Health Organization has warned that gonorrhea may soon become untreatable.
Studies show that doctors prescribe antibiotics for sinusitis, regardless of type, about 90 percent of the time. More than one in five antibiotics prescribed to adults are for sinusitis.
Sinusitis and allergies seem to go together. About one-third of people with acute sinusitis have allergies, and some 40-60 percent of those with chronic sinusitis have them. Some believe that sinusitis increases during allergy season but there is no hard evidence.
Sinusitis treatment options
•Nasal irrigation with either a neti pot or electronic nasal irrigation system.
•Reduced intake of foods high in sugars and carbohydrates.
•Use of saline nasal sprays.
Probiotic supplementation to improve gut flora
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