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.

In addition to color, how thin or thick your mucus is can also help you uncover certain health issues. "Very thick mucus indicates dehydration or a sinus infection, while very thin and watery ...

Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. Extra mucus in your throat and chest is a common ...

But can you really tell what kind of illness you ... He recommends paying more attention to the consistency of the mucus — whether there is thick pus or not — to know if you have a sinus ...