Does swallowing phlegm make your cough worse?

+1 vote
asked Jan 21, 2019 in Other- Health by JoeMusic1976 (230 points)
Does swallowing phlegm make your cough worse?

2 Answers

0 votes
answered Jan 21, 2019 by SpAzpieSweeTot (280 points)
When you need to spit up Phlegm you should always spit the Phlegm up instead of swallowing it because when you swallow Phlegm you're allowing bacteria to get back into your body which yes can make a cold worse and take longer to go away.

Some Phlegm however stays in your throat which helps to keep your throat and airways moist but don't swallow phlegm and always cough the phlegm up and spit it out to get rid of the viral infection and make the cold go away faster.

Swallowing the Phlegm can prolong the cold virus and make you feel worse longer.
0 votes
answered Feb 25, 2022 by Wendell (41,840 points)
Some ways to clear your lungs of phlegm include.

Taking some mucus medicine to help you cough up mucus.

Keeping the air moist.
Drinking plenty of fluids.
Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the face.
Keeping the head elevated.
Not suppressing a cough.
Discreetly getting rid of phlegm.
Using a saline nasal spray or rinse.
Gargling with salt water.

Phlegm should be spit up and not swallowed.

Phlegm is a type of mucus made in your chest.

You typically don't produce noticeable amounts of phlegm unless you are sick with a cold or have some other underlying medical issue.

When you cough up phlegm, it's called sputum.

You may notice different colored sputum and wonder what the colors mean.

The sinuses, throat, and nose all produce mucus that a person usually swallows unconsciously.

When mucus starts to build up or trickle down the back of the throat, this is known as postnasal drip.

Causes of postnasal drip include infections, allergies, and acid reflux.

Mucus and phlegm are similar, yet different: Mucus is a thinner secretion from your nose and sinuses.

Phlegm is thicker and is made by your throat and lungs.

Some ways to get rid of phlegm include.

Keeping the air moist.
Drinking plenty of fluids.
Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the face.
Keeping the head elevated.
Not suppressing a cough.
Discreetly getting rid of phlegm.
Using a saline nasal spray or rinse.
Gargling with salt water.

You should always spit out phlegm when you can do so.

Never swallow your phlegm because your phlegm contains bacteria that your body is wanting to get rid of and needing to get rid of.

When you swallow your phlegm that bacteria and germs gets back into your body which makes you sicker and can prolong your illness.

Always spit the phlegm out either onto the ground or into a toilet, sink etc and make sure to wash the phlegm away.

Phlegm although will not harm you if you do swallow it is not good to swallow and should always be spit out when you can do so in a sanitary and non disgusting manner.

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