Coughing Up Phlegm

Coughing is a reflex response occurring due to stimulation of the sensory nerves in the inner lining of the respiratory passages. It usually occurs due to blockage in the respiratory passages by inhaling dust particles in the air or when a piece of food goes down into the wrong passage. Phlegm or mucus is a thick jelly like fluid of different colors coughed up from the throat. The word phlegm comes from the Greek word phlegma, which stands for coughing out the mucus, that has accumulated in the throat region. However, mucus is a part of our body's natural immune response that helps in eliminating invaders from our body. When mucus is expelled from the body through coughing or sneezing, quite often the invader also gets ejected with it.

In its original color phlegm is white. Clear or yellow mucus appears during the initial stages of illness or if it is a minor condition, when the body tries to wash away the invader. Yellow mucus is seen in case of a bacterial infection, lower respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, cold, or flu. Coughing up green phlegm is a sign of a serious condition in most cases, as it points to pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. But coughing up phlegm with blood indicates that there is severe congestion in the respiratory passages or minor damage to the tissue of the sinus and nasal cavities, hence, the patient needs immediate medical attention. The mucus with blood is red or pink in color.

Causes of Coughing up Mucus and Phlegm

This condition can be due to various causes which are as follows:

• Common cold, a frequent cause of acute coughing up phlegm in the morning and phlegm in throat.
• Allergies due to irritants, like, dust, pet dander, chemical fumes, etc.
• Severe illnesses, like, pneumonia, asthma, acute heart failure, or pulmonary embolism (a clot in the blood vessels of the lung) may lead to coughing up phlegm for 3 weeks.
• Smoking causes coughing up phlegm that is green rusty brown yellow blood-stained or foul-smelling.
• Gastro-esophageal reflux or bacterial or viral infections in the lungs, like, acute bronchitis, whooping cough, croup in children.

Treatment for Coughing Mucus and Phlegm

Treatment for coughing mucus mainly depends on the symptoms diagnosed by the doctor during physical examinations or tests like a chest x-ray, blood tests, sputum examination, ECG, and CT exam. Expectorants and mucolytics are usually prescribed as they help in breaking up mucus or phlegm, hence, making it easier to cough up. Homeopathic treatments, like, Kali mur, Kali sulph and Kali bich helps to control mucus production, soothes a blocked chest, and relieves coughing without any risk of side effects. They are highly effective, suit people of all ages, and encourage the body's healing response quickly. Natural remedies for coughing mucus have been used for centuries, some of which are as follows:

• Inhaling steam from a tub of boiling water or having a hot shower helps in loosening the mucus in the throat and sinus congestion.
• Drinking lots of water or at least seven or eight glasses of water everyday loosens phlegm. As far as possible, it is best to consume hot/warm water for faster relief from phlegm.
• Dairy products, meat or fried foods increase mucus production in the body and hence, should be avoided.
• Using a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer at night especially in winters loosens the phlegm in the throat. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a vaporizer also helps in relieving chest congestion.
• Restricted exposure to allergens like dust, household cleaners, paint fumes, chemicals, certain perfumes, etc.
• Quit smoking as it worsens the respiratory conditions. After quitting smoking, the patient may observe tremendous reduction in phlegm production and respiratory congestion.
• Gargling with salt water with or without turmeric will help in soothing the air passages as well as the throat.

Coughing up phlegm can also be treated by having lemon green tea or chicken soup as it helps in thinning the mucus and relieving respiratory congestion. Though mucus can be extremely irritating, one should be careful about not drying it too much as it is an essential part of the body's immune system. As far as possible, it is not recommended that one uses over-the-counter cough suppressants, as it may not be the right thing to treat your condition. If you have been coughing up mucus for a few days with no signs of the condition healing itself, it is best to consult a health care professional for the right treatment measures.