This cold and flu season, you may be looking for clues you're getting better anywhere you can find them, even in the color of your snot.

If your mucus is gray or black... …you likely inhaled dark-colored particles, like smoke from a fire or heavy exhaust.

But before you go into full panic mode, it's important to understand that mucus has a purpose-it's helping protect your respiratory system. Now, let's dive into what you can do to clear it out and ...

When a white blood cell finds a germ, it latches onto it. Then it changes its shape to surround the germ. You can imagine the ...

A signal that you have allergies is when your mucus is clear as opposed to yellow or green, Valdez said. The mucus also tends to be a little bit runnier. Changes in weather can bring on allergies ...

Most doctors agree that this is the case. “You should spit it out to clear out the thicker mucus and open up the drainage pathways of your nose and sinuses,” Ramsadeen said. Chandra also ...

Discover 7 natural remedies to relieve chest congestion, improve breathing, and soothe respiratory discomfort without relying ...

which can change the color or consistency of your mucus, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Initially, during an infection, the mucus will be clear, but it usually changes to yellow within a few days.