Maybe we’ve all had a cough and it usually only takes a few days to heal. But have you ever felt coughing up green phlegm? Maybe some of us have experienced it too. What is our attitude towards this green phlegm, can it be left alone or does it need special attention and care. Here we will explain to you about coughing up green phlegm and everything you should know about it including its causes and how to treat it.
Before we look at all the explanations about coughing up green phlegm, let’s first see what phlegm is.
What is Phlegm?
Technically phlegm and mucus are the same thing because phlegm is mucus that forms from the respiratory system, especially from the chest, when the body fights infection from the respiratory tract. Sputum varies, some are yellow, even green, red, pink, brown, gray, white and some are even black.
So, when the phlegm is removed from your airways through coughing, it is called Sputum. So why is the phlegm green and what causes your phlegm to be green?
What Causes Green Phlegm?
If you cough when you cough up green phlegm, this indicates an infection in your respiratory tract. However, to find out what respiratory infection is happening, it is not easy and not only by looking at the green phlegm.
There are several reasons why phlegm turns green, including:
- Sinusitis: This is also known as sinus inflammation. Sinusitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and airborne allergens.
- Bronchitis: This is an airway condition that starts with a dry cough, then progresses to a cough that produces white or clear phlegm and then progresses to a green color or something else as there is development of a viral infection.
- Pneumonia: There are several forms of pneumonia such as viral, fungal, and bacterial. This pneumonia develops due to a previous respiratory infection.
- Cystic fibrosis: This is a chronic respiratory condition and is characterized by a buildup of mucus in the lungs. The condition of cystic fibrosis usually produces phlegm with various colors including dark green and others.
Sometimes as long as you feel sick, you experience a change in the color of phlegm, at this time your immune system continues to fight the infection in your breath. Sometimes the phlegm can also be thicker, green and sometimes darker. Well, if you experience phlegm that thickens like this, it’s probably the result of dehydration you’re experiencing. This shows that you have to consume more water so that rapid breathing is helped.
How to Treat Green Phlegm Easily
When you experience phlegm with various causes, of course you will feel tremendous discomfort. You should focus your treatment so that the green phlegm that occurs is quickly resolved.
Here are some things you should do to speed up the healing of your cough with green phlegm.
1. Keep the body hydrated
Dehydration is an important thing that you must take care of because phlegm will not be diluted unless with an adequate supply of fluids, so keep the body hydrated. With a well-hydrated body, you can be helped with a maximum immune system and also pay attention to your food.
Healthy food is also one that you should pay attention to during the treatment of curing cough with phlegm.
2. Use a humidifier
Keep your respiratory system hydrated by using ambient humidity, this is the same as putting a lot of fluids in your body. The key is to be well hydrated so that all problems can be healed by the body itself. Remember, body fluids are the basic components of the body, and the body can work optimally, including fighting infection and inflammation in the body. So, don’t take it lightly with dehydration.
3. Heal with home remedies
Another treatment to help cure green phlegm is to use home remedies. Among you can use salt water to gargle, apply eucalyptus oil on your chest, this will usually help relieve phlegm and relieve pain in the throat.
4. Take over-the-counter medications to reduce symptoms
If you have to take over-the-counter drugs, then focus on drugs that contain expectorants, you can use Robitussin Maximum Strength 12 Hour Cough & Mucus Extended-Release Tablets, which are also equipped with guaifenesin, this will help soften phlegm and ease your cough and soothe your throat. you.
5. Get enough rest
This sounds simple, but rest is very important for the body so that the body is strong in fighting various infections. So, if you are in a tiring routine, then you should postpone it first and focus on treating your cough with phlegm.
The green phlegm you experience is a sign of an infection in your respiratory system. Some people think this should be helped with antibiotics, but you must remember that not all infections that cause you to cough up green phlegm require antibiotics. The problem is, when using antibiotics to fight infections that you shouldn’t need to use them can lead to microbial resistance.
So choose the right treatment, and consult with your primary doctor to get the right help. Sometimes you just need to relieve symptoms with your immune system, so you just need to get enough rest and drink lots of mineral water.
In fact, if you have a cough with green phlegm and you’ve previously had chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), then it’s very easy for you to get better on your own. Bacterial infections usually clear up in two weeks or less, while viral infections are more severe and can last up to three weeks.
Check out more:
- What Causes Green Poop? And How to Relief It
- 9 Best Oolong Tea Health Benefits Worth Trying
- A Powerful Recipe to Get Rid of Cough
- 6 Home Remedies for Coughs and Colds in Infants
- 10 Home Remedy for Cough and Cold
When Should You Call The Doctor?
We mentioned that coughing up green phlegm is the result of an infection in the respiratory tract and it only takes your good immunity to recover, so you should rest enough, drink enough water, and take over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. But if your case of cough with phlegm does not go away after a few weeks, then it’s time to visit a doctor. Likewise, if your condition is accompanied by any of the following.
- Cough with thick greenish yellow phlegm
- Experiencing wheezing
- Having a fever
- Experiencing shortness of breath
- Faint
- Have weight loss or experience swelling in the ankles.
However, if you and your child who is coughing up green phlegm experience any of the following conditions, seek emergency care immediately.
- Vomiting, choking
- Difficulty breathing or difficulty swallowing
- Coughing up red or pink phlegm
- Experiencing pain in the chest
After you meet with the doctor, the doctor will determine certain tests to diagnose your disease, and he will help you with making the right treatment plan.
Coughing up phlegm but not sick
Coughing up phlegm is a symptom of the flu and it’s usually not severe and common, but the common cold produces phlegm that is green or other colors. and this is a sign of a different cause or a different degree of severity. Sometimes there are also caused by serious things such as stomach acid, lung, and heart disease.
Sometimes it is also caused by ordinary things such as a mild cough or the common cold. So, coughing up phlegm that occurs is sometimes painless as in most cases.
There is also a coughing up green phlegm no fever and this is occurs when you do not have a cold, do not have a fever or we call it when you are not chronically ill. This is usually caused by a sinus infection, pneumonia, asthma, smoking, heartburn, or from taking some medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for high blood pressure. But note, if you have a cough for more than two weeks, then contact your doctor.
