The primary reasons for coughing up mucus (phlegm) include:
- Respiratory infections such as colds, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other upper and lower respiratory tract infections. These infections cause the body to produce mucus full of germs that the cough tries to clear out.
- Allergies like hay fever can trigger coughing due to mucus production from airborne allergens.
- Asthma can cause inflamed airways and coughing up of clear or white phlegm.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to persistent mucus-producing cough due to lung inflammation and damage.
- Postnasal drip, where excess mucus from the nose or sinuses drips down the throat causing irritation and cough.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where acid reflux irritates the throat and triggers coughing.
- Other chronic lung conditions like bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis, medications (like ACE inhibitors), and sometimes more serious issues such as lung cancer or heart failure.
Coughing is the body's way to clear mucus and irritants from the airways. If coughing with mucus persists longer than a few weeks, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, or chest pain, it's important to seek medical evaluation to identify the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
