Categories Respiratory system

What is phlegm

What is phlegm

Sputum

Phlegm is known as a dense, sticky substance that excretes from mucus membranes that cover different parts of the respiratory system such as the mouth, nose, throat, sinuses, And lungs, to provide support and protection, and begins to feel in the back of the throat when the increase of secretion of the normal limit due to the incidence of colds or other health problems. Sputum is mucus, but it is excreted from the lower parts of the respiratory tract in response to inflammation. Sputum is called when it is released by coughing in sputum.

Color, signs and causes of phlegm

Green or yellow

This color is produced by the white blood cells. This indicates the presence of an infection in the body, starting with yellow and gradually turning green as the infection intensifies and lasts longer. The reasons for the emergence of these two colors:

  • bronchitis: Bronchitis usually starts with a dry cough and, over time, is accompanied by a white or colorless pigment, which can last up to 90 days. As the infection shifts from viral to bacterial, the phlegm becomes yellow or green.
  • Pneumonia: Pneumonia occurs as a complication of some respiratory problems. The patient suffers from a cough accompanied by a yellow, green, or blood-stained muzzle. Pneumonia symptoms depend on its type, but Cough, Fever, and Chills are common symptoms in all types of pneumonia.
  • Sinusitis: Sinusitis may occur in cases of allergies, bacterial infections, or viral infections. However, yellow or green sputum occurs in bacterial infections of the sinuses, and may be accompanied by Nasal Congestion, Postnasal Drip, and a feeling of pressure in the sinus cavities.
  • Cystic fibrosis: Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic lung disease that often affects young people and young people. Cystic fibrosis suffers from the accumulation of mucus in the lungs, causing sputum to appear in different colors such as yellow, green and brown.

Brown or rust-like

This color indicates the presence of an old blood, and can become phlegm brown color after it was a red or pink. Among the reasons for his appearance:

  • Bacterial pneumonia: Bacterial pneumonia (Bacterial pneumonia) causes the appearance of a green pigment that tends to brown, or a rust-colored pigment.
  • Bacterial or chronic bronchitis: Brown sputum is characterized by the development of bacterial bronchitis, which may also occur in cases of chronic bronchitis, and is more likely to occur in smokers who are exposed to vapors and irritants.
  • Cystic fibrosis.
  • Pneumonia: Pneumoconiosis occurs, which can cause the presence of a colored pigment caused by the inhalation of various types of dust such as coal, asbestos or some diseases such as silicosis.
  • Lung abscess: Lung Abscess (Lung Abscess) is defined as a pus-filled cavity surrounded by inflamed tissue inside the lung, resulting in brownish brownness, foul odor with coughing, loss of appetite and night sweating Night Sweats.

White color

Several conditions may cause white phlegm, including:

  • Viral bronchitis: White sputum begins to appear in cases of viral bronchitis and may turn green or yellow if inflammation becomes bacteria.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a health condition that can cause a white and thick sputum.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes narrowing of the respiratory tracts, increased mucus discharge from the lungs (Lungs), and therefore the difficulty of the body getting the necessary oxygen, which causes the release of a white sputum.
  • Congestive heart failure: Congestive Heart Failure is the inability of the heart to pump blood and supply it to the body effectively, leading to the accumulation of fluid in the body and the occurrence of ascites or so called Edema, and the accumulation of fluid in the lungs leads to increased secretion And the formation of white sputum, and may cause congestive heart failure shortness of breath (shortness of breath), and this requires medical intervention once it occurs.

Black Color

Causes of melanoptysis include:

  • Smoking: Smoking cigarettes and other species can lead to black sputum.
  • Pneumonia: Black lung disease in particular, one of the cases of pneumonia, can lead to a black sputum, which may be accompanied by shortness of breath. Coal workers and other people exposed to coal dust are often affected.
  • Fungal infection: Fungal Infection is an uncommon occurrence caused by a type of black yeast known as Exophiala dermatitidis, which usually afflicts people with cystic fibrosis.

Color Red or Pink

The presence of sputum in red is evidence of blood, and pink indicates a small amount of blood. Sputum may appear in any of these two colors due to several reasons, including:

  • Pneumonia: Phlegm may appear red when Pneumonia is worse and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain, fever, chills, etc.
  • Tuberculosis (Tuberculosis): One of the most important symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis is the emergence of blood and red phlegm with cough, which lasts for more than three weeks, in addition to high temperature, night sweats. It is worth mentioning that these bacterial infections are spread among people as the distances between them.
  • Congestive heart failure: Congestive Heart Failure may be accompanied by a red or pinkish spleen and other symptoms of the disease.
  • Pulmonary embolism: Pulmonary embolism, which is accompanied by a bloody blood clot caused by pulmonary embolism, occurs in a blood clot that moves from another place, such as the foot.
  • Lung Cancer: Lung Cancer (Lung Cancer) causes blood to break out when a cough or a blood-sponging muzzle is added, along with other respiratory symptoms.

Sputum treatment

Although the importance of phlegm of the respiratory system, but the presence above the natural limit is causing discomfort to the person, which requires treatment, and the methods of treatment include:

  • Moisturizing atmosphere: Moisturizing the surrounding atmosphere helps to soften the phlegm. Moisturizing the atmosphere is preferred by using a cool mist humidifier, taking into account the change in water used daily. Steam is not recommended because there is insufficient evidence of its effectiveness and the risk of burns.
  • Maintain body moisture: The intake of fluids, especially the warm ones, contributes to phlegm and thus relieves congestion (Congestion).
  • Treatment of respiratory health: There is some evidence that eating lemon, ginger or garlic helps treat colds, coughs and excess mucus, and hot foods that contain Capsaicin help clean and purify the sinuses. In addition, there is scientific evidence of the ability of some foods and supplements to treat or prevent viral respiratory diseases, for example: licorice, ginseng, some berries, echinacea, pomegranate, tea Guava.
  • Gargle with water and salt: It helps to eliminate phlegm in the back of the throat, sterilize the germs, and relieve the pain of sore throat. Gargle is made by mixing half or three quarters of a teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water.
  • Use of eucalyptus oil: Eucalyptus oil softens the sputum and facilitates its release with coughing, and helps relieve the incidence of annoying coughs.
  • Use of non-prescription drugs: Such as expectorants that soften sputum and thus facilitate its release from the body.
  • Use of prescription drugs: Where doctors prescribe these drugs to treat the root cause of the sputum, for example: Dornase-Alfa (English: Dornase-Alfa), which is used in the cases of cystic fibrosis.

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