Common Questions

Question 1

Clear Sputum

Answer 1

Clear mucus is healthy

Question 2

White Sputum

Answer 2

White mucus could indicate an allergy or sinus infection
Another cause could be a cold temperature or low humidity climates
These condition can cause mucus to thicken and turn cloudy/white in appearance

Question 3

Yellow Sputum

Answer 3

Sign that the body may be starting to fight off some sort of infection

Question 4

Green Sputum

Answer 4

Viral or bacterial infection

Question 5

Pink Sputum

Answer 5

When a patient has pink frothy secretions it is a sign of pulmonary edema
The pink color comes from fluid in the lungs

Question 6

Red or Brown Sputum

Answer 6

This means that there is bleed mixed with the mucus
Can be normal in case of breathing dry air or irritation to the mucus membrane
If the patient is cough up blood this is something that the physician should be notified about immediately

Question 7

Black Sputum

Answer 7

Indicates that the patient is a smoker or has been breathing polluted air

Question 8

Paradoxical pulse

Answer 8

Paradoxical pulse (aka pulsus paradoxus) is when the pulse or blood pressure varies or changes with inhalation and exhalation. It is most often seen with tension pneumothorax or cardia tamponade and when the patient has a flail chest

Question 9

Cardiac Tamponade

Answer 9

Cardiac tamponade is an accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac. One of the most common side effects of cardiac tamponade is a paradoxical pulse.