Phlegm has been the bane of my life since early childhood. However, it is not only a symptom of asthma, so this guide originally written for Asthma + Lung UK will probably be helpful to others.
What is phlegm?
Phlegm is the specific name for mucus that you cough up from your lungs. Your doctor might call it ‘sputum’. And mucus is a jelly-like liquid found all over the body that protects you from infection.
Coughing up lots of phlegm doesn't mean you have asthma, although some people with asthma do find they cough up lots of phlegm. [...]
If you feel unwell and you’re worried because your phlegm’s a different colour or thickness than usual, speak to your doctor. They might look at or test a sample of your phlegm to find out more.
Everyone’s phlegm looks different and it isn’t a completely accurate guide to what’s going on in your body. But here's a general guide to what different colours of phlegm mean:
If you feel unwell and you’re worried because your phlegm’s a different colour or thickness than usual, speak to your doctor. They might look at or test a sample of your phlegm to find out more.
Everyone’s phlegm looks different and it isn’t a completely accurate guide to what’s going on in your body. But here's a general guide to what different colours of phlegm mean:
White phlegm
A bit of white or clear phlegm every now and then is completely normal.
However, if you’re producing lots ofwhite or clear phlegm, it could be a sign that your airways are inflamed and your asthma symptoms might be getting worse.
It’s worth remembering that your airways include the nose and sinuses, as well as your throat. It may be that the mucus you’re coughing up has moved from your nose or sinuses to the back of your throat or chest. If you get symptoms in your nose and sinuses – such as mucus, sneezing or an itchy or blocked nose – speak to your GP or pharmacist about how you can treat this. Treating your nose and sinuses can improve your asthma symptoms too.
Your preventer inhaler is the number one way to deal with this, as long as you’re taking it as prescribed by your doctor or nurse.
If you’ve been taking your preventer but nothing’s improving, see your doctor or asthma nurse. They might need to change your medication or help you manage your triggers or allergies, like hay fever.
A bit of white or clear phlegm every now and then is completely normal.
However, if you’re producing lots ofwhite or clear phlegm, it could be a sign that your airways are inflamed and your asthma symptoms might be getting worse.
It’s worth remembering that your airways include the nose and sinuses, as well as your throat. It may be that the mucus you’re coughing up has moved from your nose or sinuses to the back of your throat or chest. If you get symptoms in your nose and sinuses – such as mucus, sneezing or an itchy or blocked nose – speak to your GP or pharmacist about how you can treat this. Treating your nose and sinuses can improve your asthma symptoms too.
Your preventer inhaler is the number one way to deal with this, as long as you’re taking it as prescribed by your doctor or nurse.
If you’ve been taking your preventer but nothing’s improving, see your doctor or asthma nurse. They might need to change your medication or help you manage your triggers or allergies, like hay fever.
Yellow or green phlegm
This might be a sign of an infection, like a cold, the flu or a chest infection.
Infections often make asthma symptoms worse. This is why it’s really important to keep taking your preventer inhaler every day, as this helps to control your asthma.
Find out how to reduce your risk of catching a cold or the flu if you have asthma.
This might be a sign of an infection, like a cold, the flu or a chest infection.
Infections often make asthma symptoms worse. This is why it’s really important to keep taking your preventer inhaler every day, as this helps to control your asthma.
Find out how to reduce your risk of catching a cold or the flu if you have asthma.
Streaked red phlegm
If you cough up blood, call your GP surgery as soon as possible, even if it's just a tiny bit of blood.
Coughing up blood can be alarming, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a serious problem. If you cough up blood, it is usually because you have been coughing a lot or you have a chest infection.
Read about the common causes of coughing up blood, as well as some less common ones.
If you cough up blood, call your GP surgery as soon as possible, even if it's just a tiny bit of blood.
Coughing up blood can be alarming, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a serious problem. If you cough up blood, it is usually because you have been coughing a lot or you have a chest infection.
Read about the common causes of coughing up blood, as well as some less common ones.
Brown or black phlegm
There are a few reasons you might get brown or black phlegm and one of these is smoking.
It’s very important that you quit smoking, as it can make your asthma worse in the long term and trigger asthma symptoms in the short term.
Just three days after you’ve stopped smoking, your breathing will become easier and you'll have more energy. Get help to quit smoking.
Coughing up brown phlegm can also be a symptom of pneumonia. If you’re coughing up brown or black phlegm, it's really important that you book an appointment with your GP.
Last updated November 2020
Next review due November 2023
There are a few reasons you might get brown or black phlegm and one of these is smoking.
It’s very important that you quit smoking, as it can make your asthma worse in the long term and trigger asthma symptoms in the short term.
Just three days after you’ve stopped smoking, your breathing will become easier and you'll have more energy. Get help to quit smoking.
Coughing up brown phlegm can also be a symptom of pneumonia. If you’re coughing up brown or black phlegm, it's really important that you book an appointment with your GP.
Last updated November 2020
Next review due November 2023
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