Is it better to cough up phlegm or suppress it?

0 votes
asked Feb 1, 2020 in Other- Health by Aidianroach (300 points)
Is it better to cough up phlegm or suppress it?

2 Answers

0 votes
answered Feb 1, 2020 by Lilly21 (57,780 points)
When you have phlegm in your lungs and throat and your body is coughing up the phlegm it means that it wants you to get rid of the phlegm.

Your phlegm contains germs and bacteria that your body is trying to get rid of so it's best to cough up the phlegm and spit out the phlegm so that you feel better and get rid of the bacteria and germs.

If you suppress the phlegm or swallow the phlegm it can take longer for you to get feeling better and you may make your illness worse.

So always cough up and spit out the phlegm so that you get rid of those germs and bacteria.

If you have a cold or flu virus and are coughing up phlegm then it's a good sign that your flu or cold virus is about over and the phlegm needs to come out of your lungs so that eventually the virus will be fully out of your body.

Then eventually you should have no more phlegm in your body to cough up.
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.

98,443 questions

94,817 answers

1,270 comments

6,992,805 users

...