Phlegm meaning

Phlegm—also called sputum—is a slimy, slippery substance that can be found in your throat and lungs. It is a little bit thicker than the mucus that is in your nose and sinuses. Usually phlegm is clear or white and you don’t notice it.. When you get sick, a more-than-normal amount of phlegm can build up in your nose, throat, and lungs and cause discomfort and coughing. Phlegm has an important role to play in keeping your respiratory system healthy, as it helps to trap bacteria and other harmful particles so they don't enter your body. It consists mostly of water but also contains sugars, molecules, and proteins to help catch bacteria. Phlegm also acts as a lubricant to keep tissues from drying out. So while phlegm may seem gross and unpleasant tasting, it's an essential part of your body's natural defense system. • Allergens, such as dust, pollen, and animal dander • Viruses, such as the • Bacteria, which can cause illnesses such as a sinus infection, bacterial pneumonia, or • Being outside in the cold or eating spicy food (can temporarily cause increased watery nasal leakage) • Chronic respiratory illnesses, such as • Other lung-related diseases, such as cystic fibrosis What Does Phlegm Look Like? Did you know that the color of our phlegm can tell us if something may be amiss with our health? Phlegm is a health indicator that can help differentiate between a minor illness and something more serious. It is essential to clarify that phlegm is not the same thing as saliva or ...

• العربية • Aragonés • Bikol Central • Català • Español • Euskara • فارسی • Français • Galego • हिन्दी • Ido • Bahasa Indonesia • Italiano • עברית • ಕನ್ನಡ • Lietuvių • Bahasa Melayu • 閩東語 / Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄ • 日本語 • Português • Sicilianu • Simple English • Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски • Sunda • ไทย • 吴语 • 粵語 • 中文 Phlegm ( ˈ f l ɛ m/; φλέγμᾰ, phlégma, "inflammation", " Distinction between mucus and phlegm [ ] Contrary to popular misconception and misuse, mucus and phlegm are not always the same. Mucus [ ] Mucus is a normal protective layering around the airway, eye, Phlegm [ ] Phlegm is more related to disease than is mucus and can be troublesome for the individual to excrete from the body. Phlegm is a thick secretion in the airway during disease and inflammation. Phlegm usually contains mucus with virus, bacteria, other debris, and sloughed-off inflammatory cells. Once phlegm has been expectorated by a cough, it becomes Excessive phlegm creation [ ] There are multiple factors that can contribute to an excess of phlegm in the throat or • Vocal abuse: Vocal abuse is the misuse or overuse of the voice in an unhealthy fashion such as clearing the throat, yelling, screaming, talking loudly, or singing incorrectly. • • • • • Experiment on smoking correlations: In 2002, an experiment was done and published by the [ citation needed] • • • [ citation needed] Removing phlegm [ ] Excessive phlegm creation can be troublesome. There are basically two ways to get rid of excess phlegm: ...

Phlegm, sometimes called sputum, is a type of mucus that your respiratory tract produces as part of the body’s natural defense against bacteria, viruses, and allergens. The color of your phlegm can indicate an underlying condition. Typically, phlegm is clear and thin. Yet its color can vary depending on the underlying reason why your body is producing the phlegm. Several factors can affect the colors of phlegm, including an underlying medical condition, environmental factors such as the temperature and humidity levels found in certain areas, and While the color of phlegm is not an indicator of your overall health, it may provide an insight into how well your body is fighting off an infection. Color Possible cause Conditions Clear Your body is protecting itself from inflammation or allergies. Yellow or green Your body is fighting off an infection. sinusitis, White Your body is protecting itself from asthma, Red or pink This can be due to a condition that causes inflammation or the presence of blood. bronchitis, bronchiectasis, Brown This can be a sign of a chronic lung condition. Black This is a rare occurrence that can happen due to inhalation or an infection. Learn about What does yellow or green phlegm mean? Yellow or green phlegm is a sign that your body is fighting off an infection, Yellow or • • bronchitis, which is inflammation of the bronchi, or the air passages that connect your windpipe to your lungs • pneumonia, which is a lung infection that causes the accumulat...

So, while mucus might seem gross, it’s important. Mucus in your lungs can help remove bacteria that might otherwise cause infection. Mucus in your nose can help prevent viruses, bacteria, and allergens from entering the body. Vaginal mucus can help women get pregnant, or avoid pregnancy if they wish, while mucus in the gut helps our digestive system function. • In your lungs and gut, mucus makes it harder for bacteria to stick together. In turn, that can reduce your risk for infections. • In your nose, mucus drips down to clear out the nostrils, taking dirt, allergens, and other disease agents with it. • In your throat, mucus provides the lubrication that you need to swallow and speak without discomfort. • In your cervix, mucus accepts, filters, prepares, and releases sperm for successful transport to the egg and fertilization. • Breathe in steam: The water in the steam will help break up the mucus and make it easier to cough up or blow out into a tissue. • Use a humidifier: Similarly, keeping the air moist can help move your mucus around. • Use saline spray or nasal irrigation: This can push the mucus out of your nose and help clear your sinuses. • Clear mucus is a good sign. In healthy individuals, mucus is clear and thin. • Yellow mucus can indicate that you’re a bit dehydrated, especially if it’s also thicker than usual. It can also indicate a minor illness like a cold. • Green mucus that’s rich in color is cause for concern—it can indicate that you have a bacteria inf...

The Good Brigade / Getty Images What Causes Productive Cough? Mucus is a normal part of the respiratory system that plays an important role in lubricating the airways and defending us against irritants and pathogens. However, inflammation from various causes results in an increase in mucus production and a thicker consistency. This results in the familiar symptoms of runny nose, congestion, and coughing up phlegm. In bronchitis, the branches of the airways become inflamed and produce thicker mucus. In pneumonia, the lung tissue is infected. Respiratory infections can be due to viruses or bacteria. The cough is typically accompanied by other symptoms, like fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, and a general ill feeling. • Clear or white phlegm may be seen with allergies, viral infection, underlying lung disease, GERD, and heart failure. • Green phlegm may be seen with a bacterial infection. • Pink phlegm suggests fluid in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema, such as in heart failure. • Red phlegm indicates the presence of blood and may be seen with lung cancer or • Summary Phlegm is a thick mucus from the lower airways due to lung inflammation or injury. Infection is a common cause, but other conditions like allergies, lung disease, and GERD can cause a productive cough. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and includes supportive care and medications. Your healthcare provider can help determine the underlying cause and recommend a treatment plan if you ar...

green or yellow brown white black clear red or pink allergic rhinitis ✓ bronchitis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ✓ congestive heart failure ✓ ✓ cystic fibrosis ✓ ✓ fungal infection ✓ gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ✓ lung abscess ✓ ✓ ✓ lung cancer ✓ pneumonia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ pneumoconiosis ✓ ✓ pulmonary embolism ✓ sinusitis ✓ smoking ✓ tuberculosis ✓ Blood is likely the cause of any shade of red phlegm. Pink is considered another shade of red, so it may also indicate that there is blood in your phlegm, just less of it. Red or pink phlegm is commonly caused by: • pneumonia • • • • Contact your doctor if you’re producing more phlegm than normal, have intense coughing spells, or notice other symptoms like weight loss or The consistency of your phlegm can change due to many reasons. The scale ranges from mucoid (frothy) and mucopurulent to purulent (thick and sticky). Your phlegm may get thicker and darker as an infection progresses. It may also be thicker in the morning or if you are dehydrated. Clear phlegm that’s associated with allergies is generally not as thick or sticky as the green sputum you see with bacterial bronchitis or the black phlegm from a fungal infection. Moving beyond colors now: Is your phlegm frothy? Another word for this texture is “mucoid.” White and frothy phlegm may be another sign of COPD. A secondary bacterial infection may also occur, changing the phlegm to yellow or green. Is it both pink and frothy? This combination may mean...

Recent Examples on the Web Symptoms include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, chest pain, or coughing up blood or phlegm, according to the CDC. — Aria Bendix, NBC News, 2 May 2023 There is a bacterium, a distant cousin of tuberculosis, called mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which can cause coughing, shortness of breath and phlegm production. — Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 6 Apr. 2023 The theory contends that four fluids — blood, choler (yellow bile), phlegm and black bile — make up the body and must maintain balance for good health. — Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023 A few hundred years later, another Greek physician, Galen, attributed stroke to phlegm in the brain arteries, and his ideas dominated Western medicine for a millennium. — Eva Holland, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2023 Keegan half expected a sensory flashback to the choking heat and the taste of dusty phlegm and gunpowder residue. — August Cole, Wired, 5 June 2020 Technicians can ask a patient to cough up phlegm, known as sputum, but doing so substantially raises the risk of infecting health care workers. — Lydia Depillis, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2020 Haley said even her cat was coughing up phlegm and acting lethargic. — Cameron Knight, Cincinnati.com, 6 May 2020 For sputum samples, a patient coughs to produce phlegm or mucus, which is collected and analyzed, but if those samples don’t have enough material, the lab cannot run the tests. — Dennis Pillion | [email protected], al, 21 Mar. 2020 ...

Phlegm, sometimes called sputum, is a type of mucus that your respiratory tract produces as part of the body’s natural defense against bacteria, viruses, and allergens. The color of your phlegm can indicate an underlying condition. Typically, phlegm is clear and thin. Yet its color can vary depending on the underlying reason why your body is producing the phlegm. Several factors can affect the colors of phlegm, including an underlying medical condition, environmental factors such as the temperature and humidity levels found in certain areas, and While the color of phlegm is not an indicator of your overall health, it may provide an insight into how well your body is fighting off an infection. Color Possible cause Conditions Clear Your body is protecting itself from Yellow or green Your body is fighting off an infection. sinusitis, White Your body is protecting itself from allergies or an infection. asthma, COPD, sinusitis, congestive heart failure Red or pink This can be due to a condition that causes inflammation or the presence of blood. bronchitis, bronchiectasis, Brown This can be a sign of a chronic lung condition. bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, Black This is a rare occurrence that can happen due to inhalation or an infection. pneumonia, rhinocerebral mucormycosis, coal workers’ Learn about What does red or pink phlegm mean? Pink or red phlegm can signify inflammation or bleeding in the lungs. This can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, says the U.K. • br...

Phlegm—also called sputum—is a slimy, slippery substance that can be found in your throat and lungs. It is a little bit thicker than the mucus that is in your nose and sinuses. Usually phlegm is clear or white and you don’t notice it.. When you get sick, a more-than-normal amount of phlegm can build up in your nose, throat, and lungs and cause discomfort and coughing. Phlegm has an important role to play in keeping your respiratory system healthy, as it helps to trap bacteria and other harmful particles so they don't enter your body. It consists mostly of water but also contains sugars, molecules, and proteins to help catch bacteria. Phlegm also acts as a lubricant to keep tissues from drying out. So while phlegm may seem gross and unpleasant tasting, it's an essential part of your body's natural defense system. • Allergens, such as dust, pollen, and animal dander • Viruses, such as the • Bacteria, which can cause illnesses such as a sinus infection, bacterial pneumonia, or • Being outside in the cold or eating spicy food (can temporarily cause increased watery nasal leakage) • Chronic respiratory illnesses, such as • Other lung-related diseases, such as cystic fibrosis What Does Phlegm Look Like? Did you know that the color of our phlegm can tell us if something may be amiss with our health? Phlegm is a health indicator that can help differentiate between a minor illness and something more serious. It is essential to clarify that phlegm is not the same thing as saliva or ...

So, while mucus might seem gross, it’s important. Mucus in your lungs can help remove bacteria that might otherwise cause infection. Mucus in your nose can help prevent viruses, bacteria, and allergens from entering the body. Vaginal mucus can help women get pregnant, or avoid pregnancy if they wish, while mucus in the gut helps our digestive system function. • In your lungs and gut, mucus makes it harder for bacteria to stick together. In turn, that can reduce your risk for infections. • In your nose, mucus drips down to clear out the nostrils, taking dirt, allergens, and other disease agents with it. • In your throat, mucus provides the lubrication that you need to swallow and speak without discomfort. • In your cervix, mucus accepts, filters, prepares, and releases sperm for successful transport to the egg and fertilization. • Breathe in steam: The water in the steam will help break up the mucus and make it easier to cough up or blow out into a tissue. • Use a humidifier: Similarly, keeping the air moist can help move your mucus around. • Use saline spray or nasal irrigation: This can push the mucus out of your nose and help clear your sinuses. • Clear mucus is a good sign. In healthy individuals, mucus is clear and thin. • Yellow mucus can indicate that you’re a bit dehydrated, especially if it’s also thicker than usual. It can also indicate a minor illness like a cold. • Green mucus that’s rich in color is cause for concern—it can indicate that you have a bacteria inf...