Why do I still have phlegm after months?
Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion’s share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure.
When should I be concerned about a productive cough?
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child’s cough) doesn’t go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.
Can a viral cough last for months?
Post-viral coughs often clear up on their own over time, usually within two months. But in the meantime, prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications can offer some relief. These include: prescription inhaled ipratropium (Atrovent), which opens up your airways and prevents mucus accumulation.
What does it mean when you cough up phlegm all the time?
The airways of the throat and lungs also produce mucus. And the body makes even more mucus when we’re reacting to an allergy or have a cold or infection. If you’re coughing up mucus, it’s an indication that you have an irritation or possible infection in your respiratory tract.
Does a productive cough mean you are getting better?
Most coughs caused by cold or flu will go away after a few days. But if a cough is productive, lasts more than a few weeks, and involves fever, greenish-yellow phlegm, and shortness of breath, it may be due to a lung infection of some sort.
What should I know about chronic productive cough?
This review is intended to briefly summarise the epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology and treatment of a number of conditions which are often associated with chronic productive cough to aid decision making when encountering a patient with this often distressing symptom.
Are there any home remedies for a productive cough?
Honey is a much known home remedy for cough. Taking two teaspoons of honey directly or with hot water can be work as a nice home remedy for productive cough. Be sure not to give honey to children below one year. Inhaling the vapors of essential oil like the eucalyptus can aid in calming the productive cough.
Why do I cough so much when I have a cold?
There are ways to treat the things that cause productive coughs. Viruses cause colds. You cough because your body is trying to get rid of mucus that’s full of germs. You’re more likely to get a cold in cooler months. But you can get one at any time of year.
How can you tell if you have a chronic cough?
The condition usually presents as a chronic productive cough [6], with daily sputum production [7]. Other factors that suggest the diagnosis include haemoptysis, systemic features of weight loss and fatigue and multiple positive sputum cultures [7], [8]. 2.1.3. Pathology
What does it mean when you have a productive cough?
A cough is your body’s way of protecting your lungs. Sometimes when you cough, you can bring up mucus, also called phlegm or sputum. When that happens, doctors call it a “wet” or “productive” cough.
Honey is a much known home remedy for cough. Taking two teaspoons of honey directly or with hot water can be work as a nice home remedy for productive cough. Be sure not to give honey to children below one year. Inhaling the vapors of essential oil like the eucalyptus can aid in calming the productive cough.
When to seek medical attention for a nonproductive cough?
A nonproductive cough is a cough that does not bring up any phlegm or mucus. In most cases, coughing is an automatic reflex that helps clear the airways of mucus or irritants. Most coughs clear up within 3 weeks and do not require medical attention. However, certain conditions will require medical treatment and management.
Do you need a prescription for productive cough?
A productive cough is not generally treated with suppression because it is there to clear your airways. Instead, an expectorant is used to help break up mucus, making it easier to move. These medications can often be bought over-the-counter and do not require prescription.
