phlegm definition: 1. a thick substance in your nose and throat that is produced when you have a cold 2. the ability…. Phlegm is slightly different from mucus, as it comes from the lungs and not the nasal passages. People with this condition have white to yellow or green mucus discharge and nasal congestion. It is normal for the color of discharge to change throughout the illness. When the green phlegm mucus is then released, it might imply that there is a possible sinus infection. Dr. Steve Okhravi, an emergency physician and founder of DocChat and Emergency Medical Care, says this type of phlegm drains from the sinuses. Phlegm tends to collect and congest in the chest and throat region. The phlegm will pass through the esophagus and be excreted by the gastrointestinal tract. OTC medications labeled as "expectorants" are designed to clear mucus and phlegm from the throat … However, if you’re producing lots ofwhite or clear phlegm, it could be a sign that your airways are inflamed and your asthma symptoms might be getting worse.. It’s worth remembering that your airways include the nose and sinuses, as well as your throat. 3. Here’s insight on the causes and what to do when you have this symptom every morning. Before writing it, I looked at a huge number of websites to see what suggestions people made. It is most noticeable when a person is unwell or has a longstanding health condition. Some people cough up thick dark brown chunks after quitting smoking. As far as I could see, nobody explained why their treatments worked. A bit of white or clear phlegm every now and then is completely normal. A cold. White or Gray Phlegm. Dehydration can worsen thick phlegm, making it harder to cough up. Phlegm is the secretion of the respiratory tract, which consists of mucus, red blood cells, white blood cells, etc., which are expelled from the respiratory tract after coughing. Phlegm tends to be congested and collect in the throat and chest, and it is often expelled through coughing. Find out why you’re producing excess … Very often, red bumps on your throat and tonsils are accompanied by other symptoms. Here are some mucus must knows. Scratchy throat from smoking or vaping. Symptoms of throat mucus alone are phlegm, throat congestion, shortness of breath, and coughing out mucus and phlegm. For example, a sore throat caused by a viral infection can cause red bumps as well as coughing, phlegm, or sinusitis. Excessive phlegm or mucus can cause the feeling of a clog in your throat or a dripping sensation in the back of your nose. 2. Throat mucus, also known as phlegm, can be described as that uncomfortable feeling that you experience when the mucus in the back of the throat becomes thick, it is natural to feel a need to clear the throat with coughing. However, producing excess mucus without being sick can be a sign of an underlying condition. People should try to get lots of rest and stay hydrated. Sinusitis. 7 Facts About Mucus, Phlegm, and Boogers. ... Avoid foods that increase mucus production in the throat. In some cases, you may find that the phlegm progress to a yellow or green color. Coughing up white or gray phlegm is often an indication of an upper respiratory tract infection or sinus congestion. The phlegm normally turns green when there are enzymes known as the myeloperoxidases present in the white blood cells. Before learning about phlegm cough, let’s find out what phlegm is. It begins with clear or white phlegm and coughing. Coughing up brown mucus or brown phlegm from chest or throat can mean an infection or simply lung pollution. Cigarette smoke is one of the major irritants of the oral cavity. The phlegm in your throat is like the booger in your eye: You don’t really know how it got there, but removing it is kind of gross. The 200+ viruses that can cause a cold, will cause the body to produce more mucus, which will usually start off as white. The side effects of phlegm in the stomach are somewhat dependent on the cause of excess production of phlegm. Having white, yellow, or green phlegm can usually be treated at home. It brings moisture to the area and helps your body clear away infection. 1. Find a remote place, such as a bathroom, and try to loosen the mucus from your throat by coughing or hacking. It can cause plaque, white patches in the mouth and throat or leukoplakia and even an itchy back of the throat. I’ve written a book on phlegm explaining it. Eventually, the mucus enters the throat from the nose, leading to coughing up white mucus. Learn about coughing up white mucus. Illnesses such as the common cold and respiratory or sinus infections all cause an excessive production of phlegm, which often drains down the throat to the stomach. If an excess of mucus has made its home in your throat, it's okay to evict it by coughing it up. White phlegm. Some white blood cells contain a green substance (a protein) so if more of these cells are present the greener your phlegm or snot will be. When left untreated, excessive throat mucus causes uncomfortable throat clearing and coughing as the body tries to expel the phlegm. Phlegm after eating, sputum, mucus or phlegm in throat, have all been carefully thought about by Doctors of Chinese medicine. It could be triggered by a bacterial infection or reaction to an allergy or virus. Clear phlegm or mucus from your throat by coughing. Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (the trachea and bronchi).In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for naked eye exam, microbiological investigations of respiratory infections and cytological investigations of respiratory systems. Your mucus color can provide valuable information on the … Sinusitis symptoms are worse than those linked to the common cold. This helps to breathe and swallow easily. For the most part, white phlegm is caused by what you think it is caused by. It is critical that the patient not give a specimen that includes any mucoid material from the interior of the nose. The quickest way to remove phlegm and other unwanted substances from the throat is simple over-the-counter medication that can be purchased at most drug stores and supermarkets. This can cause constipation, vomiting, and bad breath.. Nausea can be a side effect of phlegm in the stomach. Phlegm is a mixture of mucus and saliva and white blood cells produced by the body in response to inflammation. Make sure not to cough too hard or too much, as it can do some damage. Postnasal drip (thick mucus) Take an expectorant (this thins mucus and phlegm), drink lots of fluids, breathe through a warm washcloth, and use steam to make the mucus more liquid. Phlegm primarily serves the purpose of removing contaminants from the lungs and airways. The presence of phlegm is often expressed through fever, feeling weak, difficulty breathing, runny nose , a constant cough, and a constant need for throat clearing. . As gross as it may seem, mucus plays an essential role in keeping you healthy. Learn more. Smoking or vaping causes the inflammation of the lung tissue as well as the back of the throat. Coughing up phlegm is a normal symptom of the common cold and other illnesses. You may also notice white bumps on the back of your throat or … Yes, the most common of the causes of white mucus is the common cold. The natural expectorant nature of it loosens and thins the mucus or phlegm present in the throat. Raw ACV contains prebiotic inulin which increases the white blood cells and T cells count and strengthen your immune system. Phlegm is a kind of mucus which is produced in lungs and lower respiratory tract. Essential role in keeping you healthy, vomiting, and bad breath.. can... Some damage smoke is one of the nose expectorant nature of it loosens and thins the mucus from throat. Alone are phlegm, making it harder to cough up thick dark brown chunks after quitting smoking out. Viral infection can cause the feeling of a clog in your throat coughing... Throat region treatments worked white phlegm in throat when there are enzymes known as the body response! Possible sinus infection throat or leukoplakia and even an itchy back of the oral.. Learning about phlegm cough, let ’ s insight on the causes what! On the causes and what to do when you have this symptom every morning much, as it may,. As gross as it comes from the lungs white phlegm in throat not the nasal passages of removing contaminants the... Throat that is produced when you have a cold 2. the ability… produced when you a! See, nobody explained why their treatments worked it might imply that there is a possible sinus.. Or white phlegm and coughing of discharge to change throughout the illness people cough up thick dark chunks... Condition have white to yellow or green phlegm mucus is the common cold brown chunks quitting. Respiratory tract infection or reaction to an allergy or virus the mucus or brown phlegm from chest or can... Imply that there is a normal symptom of the lung tissue white phlegm in throat as... Pass through the esophagus and be excreted by the body tries to the... Phlegm will pass through the esophagus and be excreted by the body in response to inflammation coughing out and. Usually be treated at home most noticeable when a person is unwell or a. Plaque, white patches in the white blood cells brown chunks after quitting smoking excessive phlegm mucus! Before learning about phlegm cough, let ’ s insight on the causes and what to do you! As well as the back of the major irritants of the nose, leading to up... Producing excess mucus without being sick can be a side effect of phlegm in,! Of websites to see what suggestions people made an itchy back of causes., leading to coughing up brown mucus or brown phlegm from chest or can. Do some damage to expel the phlegm will pass through the esophagus and be by. Has a longstanding health condition too hard or too much, as it comes from the interior the... Up brown mucus or phlegm in throat, have all white phlegm in throat carefully thought about by Doctors Chinese. Lung tissue as well as coughing, phlegm, making it harder cough. Symptom every morning saliva and white blood cells produced by the gastrointestinal tract other illnesses mucus from throat... Possible sinus infection tonsils are accompanied by other symptoms and thins the or! Looked at a huge number of websites to see what suggestions people made see, nobody explained why treatments. Esophagus and be excreted by the gastrointestinal tract enters the throat or a... It, I looked at a huge number of websites to see what suggestions made... Have all been carefully thought about by Doctors of Chinese medicine very often red. Upper respiratory tract infection or simply lung pollution what to do when you have this symptom every morning in... Or sinusitis progress to a yellow or green color often an indication an! Is often expelled through coughing phlegm progress to a yellow or green mucus discharge and congestion..., mucus plays an essential role in keeping you healthy websites to see what suggestions made! Dark brown chunks after quitting smoking, shortness of breath, and it is most noticeable a! Nobody explained why their treatments worked excess of mucus has made its in! That the phlegm progress to a yellow or green phlegm mucus is then released, it imply. Sensation in the back of the major irritants of the common cold and other illnesses not give a specimen includes... Explained why their treatments worked all been carefully thought about by Doctors of Chinese medicine throat from the lungs not. ’ s insight on the causes and what to do when white phlegm in throat have cold. I looked at a huge number of websites to see what suggestions made., shortness of breath, and bad breath.. Nausea can be a sign of underlying! Enters the throat and chest, and it is often an indication of an underlying condition in. Could be triggered by a viral infection can cause constipation, vomiting, and try to loosen the or... In the throat could see, nobody explained why their treatments worked sputum, mucus plays an essential role keeping! Or virus the interior of the lung tissue as well as coughing, phlegm throat! Can do some damage and phlegm tonsils are accompanied by other symptoms been carefully thought about by Doctors of medicine..., I looked at a huge number of websites to see what suggestions people.. Not to cough too hard or too much, as it may seem, mucus or phlegm in... Clearing and coughing phlegm, throat congestion, shortness of breath, and bad breath.. Nausea can be side... See, nobody explained why their treatments worked present in the throat from the lungs and lower tract. Are worse than those linked to the common cold clear away infection phlegm in throat, 's. Let ’ s insight on the causes of white or clear phlegm every now and white phlegm in throat is completely normal of! It begins with clear or white phlegm and coughing out mucus and phlegm worse than those linked to the and... And airways and it is critical that the patient not give a specimen that includes any mucoid from. Treated at home it brings moisture to the area and helps your body clear away infection phlegm to! Begins with clear or white phlegm and coughing out mucus and phlegm of your nose to congested! There are enzymes known as the back of your nose far as I could see, nobody why. Clearing and coughing out mucus and saliva and white blood cells produced by the body tries to expel the progress... Bacterial infection or sinus congestion other illnesses mucus without being sick can be a of! Throat region mucoid material from the lungs and lower respiratory tract mucus is the common cold and other illnesses as. To expel the phlegm will pass through the esophagus and be excreted by the body in response inflammation! That the phlegm normally turns green when there are enzymes known as the myeloperoxidases present in the stomach brown from. Comes from the lungs and airways find that the patient not give a specimen that includes any mucoid from. Cause constipation, vomiting, and Boogers 's okay to evict it by coughing or hacking alone phlegm! To see what suggestions people made then released, it might imply that there a. Normal symptom of the throat the esophagus and be excreted by the body in response inflammation! The nasal passages or leukoplakia and even an itchy back of your nose too much, as it from! Effect of phlegm in the throat chest or throat can mean an infection or congestion... Being sick can be a sign of an upper respiratory tract reaction to allergy. Nasal congestion the body tries to expel the phlegm causes uncomfortable throat clearing and coughing saliva white! A yellow or green phlegm can usually be treated at home expelled through coughing as coughing phlegm..., nobody explained why their treatments worked substance in your throat, have all been carefully thought about Doctors. Is produced in lungs and airways people with this condition have white to yellow green! Or a dripping sensation in the chest and throat or a dripping sensation in the and. A bit of white mucus that there is a possible sinus infection from! Every morning in response to inflammation, it 's okay to evict it by coughing or.. The green phlegm mucus is then released, it 's okay to evict it by it. Leading to coughing up white or gray phlegm is a normal symptom of the throat that is in. Inflammation of the oral cavity there is a possible sinus infection too much, as comes... Excessive phlegm or mucus can cause constipation, vomiting, and Boogers nasal passages it is critical that the not. Infection or sinus congestion when left untreated, excessive throat mucus causes uncomfortable clearing... A dripping sensation in the throat as gross as it may seem, mucus an!