I've coughed up black phlem at times. During a bad cold I don't cough it up it's every now and again. I did get a chest x-ray and my lungs are fine. Any suggestions? I don't smoke anything, however I had in the past smoked something illegal and not mariguanna. I am around sencond hand smoke.
2007-01-29 06:54:46 · 7 answers · asked by Sherrie K 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
Seeing black phlegm (and I mean "black", not dark-brown) is most commonly observed in people who have smoked crack. Like most inhaled particulates, the material takes time to clear (between 6 months to 3 years). This is not the drug, but is the "soot" from smoking which has been taken in by cells within the airspaces known as pulmonary macrophages.
2007-01-29 09:37:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
are you sure the phlem is black... or is a dark shade of green... if so that could mean an infection. Do you live or work around a industrial area... if so you could be inhaling all kinds of things... from diesel and gasoline exhaust.... to the exhaust that comes from some factory's. If it is black then that would indicated blood... not good... I would see another doctor for another cxr.
2007-01-29 15:23:34 · answer #2 · answered by sherrelu36 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd get away from the secondhand smoke. The black phlegm is probably from old blood. Maybe you broke a capillary by coughing too hard.
Drink lots of water, use lozenges to help avoid coughing.
Good luck!!!
2007-01-29 15:01:20 · answer #3 · answered by diannegoodwin@sbcglobal.net 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Coalminers have black phlem
Odds yours is a reddish brown which is blood
Get-r-checked
Second hand smoke is a killer
2007-01-29 17:31:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like tar in your lungs. If you are around smokers, then ask them to smoke outside or leave the room. Tar will not show up on an X-ray. If you are not having any stomach pain then I would say it's definitely tar.
2007-01-29 15:07:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
mdgcats is correct, it sounds like old blood from all the coughing you have done and the straining. Now if it turns bright red, you head to the Emergency Room, ASAP..
2007-01-29 15:08:52 · answer #6 · answered by donna_honeycutt47 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sometimes when you encounter fine dust particles it is possible to develop black phlegm. this can happen in dusty areas or areas of high pollution.
2007-01-29 20:40:36 · answer #7 · answered by Each1Teach1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋