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There are several health conditions — ranging from mild to severe — that can result in coughing up phlegm, including: Infections. Allergies. Asthma. GERD (chronic acid reflux). Lung diseases, such as COPD. Certain environmental and lifestyle factors can contribute to coughing up phlegm, too, including: Smoking.
This article looks at the possible causes of coughing up phlegm, treatment, what different colors of phlegm might indicate, and when a person might consider contacting a doctor. Causes of...
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. These tubes carry air to and from your lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be discolored. Bronchitis may start suddenly and be short term (acute) or start gradually and become long term (chronic).
A chronic cough is a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children. A chronic cough is more than just annoying. It can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling very tired. Severe cases of chronic cough can cause vomiting and lightheadedness, and even break a rib.
Phlegm is a type of mucus that you usually cough up from your lower respiratory tract. It’s typically thicker than normal mucus because it’s helping fight an infection. Should you swallow phlegm or spit it out? If you cough up phlegm into your mouth, it won’t hurt you to swallow it.
Chronic bronchitis is defined by how long a person has a cough with daily phlegm production. It involves a frequent cough that persists for more than two years and, for at least three continuous months, produces phlegm. This is an important definition since the term chronic bronchitis implies a specific medical diagnosis.
Coughing up mucus is often a sign of a respiratory infection, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or an environmental irritant like smoke or pollution. In some instances, it can be related to a more serious medical condition, including cancer.
Common causes for chronic cough include asthma, postnasal drip and acid reflux. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If you’re an adult with a cough that’s lasted more than two months or if your child’s cough lasts more than four weeks, you should contact a healthcare provider to find out why. What is chronic cough?
Prolonged, vigorous coughing can irritate the lungs and cause even more coughing. It is also exhausting and can cause sleeplessness, dizziness or fainting, headaches, urinary incontinence, vomiting, and even broken ribs. While an occasional cough is normal, a cough that persists may be a sign of a medical problem.
Having phlegm or mucus doesn’t necessarily mean you have something serious. It’s how your body removes irritants in your throat and nasal passages. However, if you cough it out and it doesn’t...