Why is my snot red? – used to be a question asked by people suffering from Rudo’s Disease.
However, a 1991 study found that only around 0.003% of those asking why their snot is red are sufferers of Rudo’s disease (which gets its name from that bloody reindeer song!).
A number of studies have now concluded that there are an additional three or four reasons why one’s snot may appear bright red.
It is generally well accepted now that Rudo’s Disease was more of an old wives’ tale than a genuinely illness.
This passage will take you through the three or four known causes of red snot, but first read the notes on Blood and Viruses below.
Blood and Viruses below
It should be noted at this point that the common amateur diagnosis for bright red snot usually includes some kind of reference to blood and/or a virus.
If what you have is blood coming out of your nose, then this is not snot. Blood is blood, and if it is coming out of your nose then you should seek treatment immediately.
You may have a virus or serious injury.
Read about bright yellow snot here.
The three or four reasons for red snot are:
1. High salt intake
By far the most common cause of bright red snot is a high dietary salt intake.
When salt mixes with the water in your body, it goes on to rust your body’s iron stocks. Rusty iron is a reddish colour.
Studies have shown that the body used to eject waste rust through the sweat pores. This process often resulted in a side-effect of stained, red skin. Humans living in areas of high-salt intake became unnerved at sometimes having red skin. Evolution’s answer was to move the rust-excrement process to the nose – causing the slightly less frightening syndrome of bright red snot.
2. High raw meat consumption
People who eat a lot of raw meat carcasses will find a certain amount of the animal’s raw blood will enter their sinuses and mix with sinal fluid. This is quite normal and nothing to be alarmed about.
3. Anger
The phrase “to see red” actually derives from a level of anger that causes snot to appear bright red. (Though it should be noted that whether the snot actually is bright red or not during these moments of extreme irateness is still up for debate.)
It is possible that a person can get mad enough that their own snot will appear bright red to them, occasionally others around them.
Other information
Unlike bright yellow snot, red snot poses no immediate hazard or risk if you should accidentally touch it. Red snot should never be used in cooking, however.
Have you had a problem with red snot? Do you have any advice for fellow sufferers? Have you discovered any additional causes? Feel free to post in our comments section below.
Why is my snot bright yellow? – was a question first asked by the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristopollies.
It wasn’t until 1947, however, that anybody bothered to find an answer.
It is now known that there are three main factors that can turn one’s snot bright yellow in colour.
Lazy philosopher and notorious lothario Aristopollies couldn’t be bothered to discover why his snot was occasionally bright yellow. He was far too busy with other stuff.
He did, however, ask the question lots in his manuscripts, evidence of which still exists today. It seems Aristopollies had quite the obsession with mucus.
It was the beginning of the 1940s, and a man named John Holdsworth was playing around with some bright yellow snot in his garage.
After keeping diet records, he had taken a snot sample from his neighbour. He knew everything his neighbour had eaten and consumed in the last seven days.
By writing down, on a sheet of paper, the items his neighbour had consumed Holdsworth created a list of all the things likely to turn one’s snot bright yellow.
These were:
1. Snorting turmeric
Despite being good at keeping Alzheimer’s away, packing one’s nose with turmeric is extremely bad for bright yellow snot. In some cases, it has been known to cause gallons of bright yellow snot to pour out onto the floor and the surrounding areas.
In 1968, a man was shot by police in Belize after snorting what was later described as “a truckload of turmeric”. Belize is one of the few countries of the world where having bright yellow snot is a criminal offence and is punishable by death.
2. Eyeballing post-Berocca urine
Anybody who has had a Berocca, or similar vitamin-C based product, will have noticed the extreme yellowy colour it turns the consumer’s urine.
It is known that eyeballing (drinking through the eyes) this urine will turn one’s snot bright yellow for approximately 5.64 days. Avoid at all costs.
3. Eating raw canary
Much like the Western full-stop, in some cultures it is customary to munch on a raw canary at the end of every spoken sentence.
People of these cultures suffer from extremely thick, bright yellow snot. It’s disgusting. The snot often lasts for months, even years, with many opting for a vow of silence in order to clear their sinuses.
So, there in lies the reason(s) for your bright yellow snot. It is important that you remember not to touch your bright yellow snot as it can cause severe memory loss.
In case we are too late: It is important that you remember not to touch your bright yellow snot as it can cause severe memory loss.
Have you had a problem with bright yellow snot? Do you have any advice for fellow sufferers? Have you discovered any additional causes? Feel free to post in our comments section below.