Phlegm (phlegm)
Cough mucus or sputum occurs in various clinical pictures. The green-yellow bronchial mucus is usually brought to light by the so-called productive cough. Cough phlegm often occurs as part of a cold . However, smoker’s cough or diseases of the lungs or bronchi can also lead to congestion in the throat.
What is phlegm (phlegm)?
A viscous secretion that is expelled during a so-called productive cough is called sputum or cough phlegm. This can be a chronic cough or an acute coughing fit. The sputum that is coughed up is greenish to yellowish in color, sometimes whitish with mixed colors.
There is thin sputum, almost clear and almost indistinguishable from saliva, and thick, clot-like phlegm. Smaller or larger amounts of sputum are coughed up. Occasionally there is also a bloody cough mucus as sputum.
Causes
The causes of coughing up mucus in the form of sputum are very diverse. Bacteria or viruses are often the cause of the development of respiratory infections and the resulting cough mucus.Previously undiscovered diseases of the respiratory system can be the cause, as can chronic conditions such as bronchitis or an acute cold.
The range of causes of the disease ranges from sputum in the lungs and bronchial tubes in the case of harmless acute colds to the consequences of mucous congestion due to smoking, also known as smoker’s cough, to sputum and coughing up phlegm as an expression of a serious illness such as cancer.
Occasionally there is a combination of different causes of expectoration in the form of cough phlegm. Expectoration as cough phlegm can occur at any age, both infants and the elderly are affected.
Diseases
When to the doctor?
Expectoration, medically known as sputum, occurs as part of numerous respiratory diseases. It is not always necessary to see a doctor. Even as part of a banal cold, sputum occurs. This cough phlegm can either be easily loosened or very stubborn. In the case of a stuck cough phlegm that does not clear itself within one to three days, a doctor’s visit can be useful.
Furthermore, a doctor should be consulted if, in addition to the sputum, there is shortness of breath or fever. Another reason to see a doctor is a strong yellow-green color of the mucus. This indicates a bacterial infection that may need antibiotic therapy.
If none of the phenomena mentioned occur, it is advisable to wait and see. A consultation at the pharmacy followed by self-medication can also be useful in this case. In most cases, it is a flu -like infection or similar minor illnesses. However, if the symptoms last longer or one of the above (or other) symptoms occur, a doctor’s visit is necessary.diagnosis and course
Based on the color of the sputum, initial diagnostic conclusions can be drawn about the cause of the coughing mucus. Ultimately, however, a doctor should always make the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment of sputum and cough phlegm.
When making the diagnosis, the doctor treating you will take a close look at the sputum that is secreted as cough phlegm. The nature of the mucus, its thickness and its color already allow initial conclusions to be drawn about the cause of sputum and coughing up mucus. For example, light-colored, almost transparent sputum that resembles saliva indicates a different cause than thick, viscous yellow, brown, or green sputum. Bloody sputum also occurs and must be examined carefully.
The doctor will also listen carefully to the patient’s coughing sounds that accompany phlegm and examine the lungs and bronchi and other parts of the respiratory system. If a serious illness is suspected, the sputum is sent for laboratory examination.
Complications
In most cases, the sputum is an indication of another disease. These are often caused by colds or smoker’s cough. The sputum contains mucus, which is necessary for the supply of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. If the organism does not manage to produce this sufficiently, the mouth becomes dry and the swallowing process becomes more difficult. In addition, there are problems or changes in speech formation and the timbre of the voice. Expectoration is associated with a reduction in the amount of fluid in the body. Therefore, more drinks and especially water should be consumed. Otherwise there is a risk of a lack of minerals and nutrients.
Many people find the phlegm uncomfortable or disgusting. Mucus is pushed from the throat into the mouth when you cough. There is a risk of aspiration. If the mucus gets into the trachea, a reflexive cough begins. There is a risk of choking on the mucus. In addition, pneumonia can develop as a result of aspiration. In severe cases, cancer is the cause of the coughing up mucus. Further medical measures and therapies must be initiated. Surgery is often followed by chemotherapy . The complications of cancer therapy are varied and lengthy.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of cough phlegm and sputum is as varied as the causes of sputum. In the case of harmless colds, the cough phlegm is even considered positive, since the clumps and impurities in the respiratory system are coughed up in this way. If the cough is very persistent, it is loosened with appropriate means. The healing process is accelerated by coughing up the sputum.
Mild herbal remedies based on buckhorn, for example, have proven to be helpful in helping to cough up sputum and cough phlegm. Such agents are available without a prescription and are largely free of side effects. Healing teas with the appropriate herbal extracts also have a supportive effect and also reduce the feeling of irritation when coughing when sputum and cough phlegm are transported outside.
There are over-the-counter natural remedies for sputum and cough phlegm in pharmacies. Depending on the clinical picture and the severity of the coughing mucus and sputum, the doctor can prescribe prescription medication for treatment in individual cases after his diagnosis. In the case of a bacterial infection, administration of antibiotics is considered. In severe cases, mucus suction is indicated in the hospital or on an outpatient basis. It is completely wrong to suppress coughing up mucus and sputum, as this can make the clinical picture even worse. Therefore, in the case of mucus secretions such as sputum and cough phlegm, a sufficient supply of hygienic paper handkerchiefs should always be at hand.
In any case, smokers should avoid nicotine consumption in case of expectoration and coughing up mucus. This has a positive effect on the healing process and supports and promotes treatment with natural remedies or other medicines.
Outlook and prognosis
If the sputum has a light or clear structure, then from a medical point of view there is usually no worrying state of health in the affected person. This is especially true if there are no other symptoms such as a sore throat , nausea , vomiting , or wheezing . Mucus deposits are often caused by inhaled substances in the air or after prolonged talking or singing. These events are considered as one-time events and have no medical value.
However, if there are other symptoms, the light-colored sputum is usually an inflammatory process. This is often accompanied by a cold. The disease can be triggered by an infestation of bacteria or viruses . Antibiotics or other cold medicines are often given. As the disease subsides, sputum production also decreases. Complete regression and healing usually occurs within a few weeks.
Bloody, brown or viscous to thick sputum is usually based on serious illnesses. These can have a chronic course. In addition, a tumor formation threatens a life-threatening condition. If a tumor is diagnosed, a prognosis can be assessed individually according to the form of the cancer. The ejection is then to be interpreted as a warning signal that requires immediate action. In a chronic course, the sputum recurs over a longer period of time.
Prevention
Prevention can avoid numerous forms of sputum and cough phlegm, so that the clinical picture does not appear in the first place.First and foremost, this includes giving up smoking completely for adults. Children can be effectively protected from phlegm and cough phlegm by not smoking in their presence.
Passive smoking is a scientifically proven cause of sputum and coughing up mucus as an expression of a disease of the respiratory tract. Overall, a healthy lifestyle is a good preventive measure to avoid or reduce sputum production and coughing up phlegm if it is already acute.
This also includes walks in the fresh air and longer stays in an exhaust-free green nature. A regular stay in the salty and iodine-rich air by the sea is also effective against sputum and cough phlegm.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.