Speaking at an important event, but coughing up phlegm suddenly destroys your charm? Don't panic right away, handle it this way.

Imagine, you are on a solemn official event. There is only the voice of the speaker and everyone is focused on paying attention. Suddenly, you cough up phlegm with a strong clearing your throat. Everyone, even the material giver, immediately turns to look cynically at you. In a situation like that, how would you feel? Of course, you will feel embarrassed and insecure, right?

Coughing up with phlegm is an annoying complaint. Even though it seems trivial, this one condition can greatly interfere with focus, and even reduce the confidence of those who experience it. Therefore, cough with phlegm cannot be allowed to continue.

What is Phlegm Cough?

Coughing is not a disease, but a symptom of many complaints and health problems. Coughing is a form of the body's response to respiratory tract irritation. When irritants - such as pollutants, dust, or smoke - enter the respiratory tract, the body responds immediately by activating a defensive reflex (coughing). Thus, these irritants can be immediately removed from the body. In addition, when you have a disease, coughing will also help clear the respiratory tract by expelling mucus or other fluids. A cough that is accompanied by a discharge or mucus is known as a cough with phlegm. You need to know, the human respiratory tract is covered with many membranes that can produce mucus. This mucus functions to moisturize the respiratory tract and protect the lungs by preventing various irritants from getting into them. When you have the flu, mucus production in your airways increases. This aims to protect the respiratory tract by trapping and removing the organisms that cause infection. Furthermore, coughing will help you to flush out the excess mucus left in the respiratory tract.

What Causes a Phlegm Cough?

Coughing up with phlegm is indeed the body's defense mechanism. Even so, this complaint can also be a sign of a disease related to your respiratory tract.

In the case of a cough with phlegm that occurs chronically (for a long time), several conditions that can be the cause are:

• Postnasal D rip

This condition is caused by mucus that falls into the throat. Several conditions, such as allergies, flu, or sinusitis, can cause this one complaint. In this case, experts believe that the mucus will fall into the vocal cords and then will stimulate a cough reflex so that the mucus does not reach the lungs.

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a condition of damage to the lungs and respiratory tract, which causes a lot of air to be trapped in the lungs. Smoking behavior is a major cause of COPD.

• Bronchiectasis

There is a collection of mucus trapped in 'small balloons' in the lungs. This mucus is very difficult to remove, so it can cause complaints of chronic cough with phlegm.

• Chronic Bronchitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes that lasts a long time. This condition is generally caused and exacerbated by smoking and air pollution.

• Pneumonia

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, which can result from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.

The existence of cough with phlegm due to these diseases can certainly be very disturbing, reduce the confidence and quality of life of sufferers. Therefore, cough with phlegm must be treated immediately in an appropriate manner.

How to treat phlegm cough?

There are ways to treat a cough with phlegm that you can do at home. The following are some of the ways this is meant:

         1. Drinking Warm Water

Drinking lots of warm water when you have a cough with phlegm can keep the body hydrated and also prevent irritation of the throat.

In addition, a study in 2008 revealed that warm water can also help relieve other symptoms that occur in cases of cough or flu.

          2. Honey

Honey is a natural ingredient that is often used as a cough medicine with phlegm. Honey has this benefit, because research has shown that bee products have antiviral and antibacterial properties.

          3. Elevate Your Head while Sleeping

If there is so much mucus in your throat that it is causing sleep disturbances, try raising your head while lying down using several pillows. This can help drain phlegm and prevent the cough reflex, so you won't be able to sleep at night.

           4. Spices and Fruits

Some types of spices that can relieve coughs are garlic, ginger, and chilies. As for fruit, one that is said to be able to help relieve cough with phlegm is lemon.

            5. Drink Cough Expectorant

If the mucus is very thick and difficult to pass, you may need help with sputum-thinning drugs, which are commonly known as expectorants. One of the expectorant drugs that you can make as your first choice for coughing up phlegm is WOODS’ Peppermint Expectorant (Blue packaging).

Each WOODS’ Peppermint Expectorant bottle contains bromhexine and guaiphenesin (a type drug formula for expectorant), which can increase the efficiency of the cough reflex so that mucus is easier to expel. With a liquid form in a bottle, WOODS’ Peppermint Expectorant is practical to carry and easy to consume anytime and anywhere when needed. The warm sensation given by WOODS’ can also make the respiratory tract comfortable, so that your self-confidence can increase again. Get WOODS’ at the nearest pharmacy. Don't forget, cough, remember WOODS’ !

Article Source:
KlikDokter.com, 28 Feb 2020