What is the reason for coughing and spitting black phlegm

Coughing is a common occurrence. Most of the time it is just a simple cough, but sometimes coughing up phlegm, which is usually caused by throat inflammation. Generally, the sputum coughed up due to sore throat is green. Sometimes people find that the sputum they cough up is black, which is very scary. Let me tell you the reasons why you cough up black phlegm. If you want to know more, you can read the following content.

1. Smoking causes black sputum

Smoking is one of the most common causes of black phlegm. Interestingly, this is often blamed on the tar in cigarettes. However, professional literature explains that while the word "tar" is most often associated with the stuff we pave roads with, its use in tobacco products is actually a "total aerosol residue." Marijuana smokers are also prone to producing black mucus, and the mechanisms of the two substances that produce black sputum when coughing are quite similar.

Black sputum caused by working environment

Non-smokers are not completely immune to coughing up black phlegm. For example, those working in the coal industry may suffer from a condition called black phlegm. Also, blood can be another common cause of black phlegm. While sometimes blood in sputum will retain its red color, other times it may not be noticeable. For example, coughing up brown mucus may actually be old or dried blood, which can be caused by a loss of hemoglobin. Most of the time, when blood is present in sputum, it will appear native or brown. Sometimes, however, blood in the sputum can cause the black appearance.

2. Lung Disease

A very serious cause of black phlegm could be lung cancer. Unfortunately coughing up black mucus can be a sign of this very serious illness. Lung cancer is primarily a disease of smokers; however, it can occur in non-smokers as well. Other symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough and severe chest pain.

Another serious cause of black phlegm is tuberculosis, which may cause mucus to be red, brown, or black. Tuberculosis can affect anyone, smoker or non-smoker. It is an infection caused by bacteria and is a contagious disease. In addition to alarmingly large amounts of thick sputum, symptoms of tuberculosis include fever, weight loss, and a chronic cough.

Both smokers and non-smokers are prone to spitting out black phlegm. However, in a smoker's lungs, which are constantly under a consistent onslaught of toxins and pollutants from regularly inhaled smoke, the chances of spitting out black phlegm are much higher. Unfortunately, black phlegm is common in some smokers, but it is not necessarily a sign of an underlying problem (although it can be). On the contrary, there are also non-smokers who cough up black phlegm due to their lifestyle factors. However, for both smokers and non-smokers, black sputum should be a quick indicator that a healthcare provider should be contacted. Even if the cause is not of a bad nature, the symptoms themselves can signal very serious health problems. It can be dangerous if not treated promptly. So if you have black phlegm, see your doctor.