Why do keep coughing up flem

Coughing Up White Mucus. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Mucus Other colors of mucus Treatment Takeaway Share on Pinterest We include products we think are useful for our readers. Coughing up white mucus. What other colors of mucus indicate. What to do about mucus. The takeaway. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, MD. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.

Acute Respiratory Infection. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medically reviewed by Raj Dasgupta, MD. How to Clear a Stuffy Nose. With this condition, you may experience white sputum. Fluids build up in different areas leading to edema. Fluid collects in the lungs and may lead to an increase in white sputum. You may also experience shortness of breath. Black sputum is also called melanoptysis.

Seeing black phlegm may mean you have inhaled a high amount of something black, like coal dust. It may also mean you have a fungal infection that needs medical attention.

Smoking : Smoking cigarettes, crack , or other drugs may lead to black sputum. Pneumoconiosis : One type in particular, black lung disease, may cause black sputum. It mostly affects coal workers or anyone else who has frequent exposure to coal dust. Coughing up black sputum may also be accompanied by shortness of breath. Fungal infection : A black yeast called Exophiala dermatitidis causes this infection.

This is an uncommon condition that can cause black phlegm. It more often affects people who have cystic fibrosis. Your body produces clear mucus and phlegm on a daily basis. It is mostly filled with water, protein, antibodies, and some dissolved salts to help lubricate and moisturize your respiratory system. An increase in clear phlegm may mean that your body is trying to flush out an irritant, like pollen , or some type of virus. Allergic rhinitis : This is also called nasal allergy or sometimes hay fever.

It makes your body produce more nasal mucus after exposure to allergens like pollen, grasses, and weeds. This mucus creates postnasal drip and may make you cough up clear phlegm. Viral bronchitis : This is an inflammation in the bronchial tubes in your lungs. It begins with clear or white phlegm and coughing. In some cases, you may find that the phlegm progress to a yellow or green color. Viral pneumonia : This form of pneumonia is caused by an infection in your lungs.

Early symptoms include fever, dry cough, muscle pain, and other flu-like symptoms. You may also see an increase in clear phlegm. 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.

Pneumonia : This lung infection may cause red phlegm as it progresses. It may also cause chills, fever, cough, and chest pain. Tuberculosis : This bacterial infection can be spread from one person to another in close quarters. Major symptoms include coughing for more than three weeks , coughing up blood and red phlegm, fever, and night sweats.

In addition to pink or red-tinged sputum, you may also experience shortness of breath. Pulmonary embolism : This happens when the pulmonary artery in your lungs becomes blocked.

This blockage is often from a blood clot that travels from somewhere else in the body, like your leg. It often causes bloody or blood-streaked sputum. Lung cancer : This condition causes many respiratory symptoms, including coughing up red-tinged phlegm or even blood.

The consistency of your phlegm can change due to many of reasons. The scale ranges from mucoid frothy to mucopurulent to purulent thick and sticky. Your phlegm may get thicker and darker as an infection progresses. While occasional white mucus is likely not a reason to worry, coughing up a lot of white mucus, coughing up mucus that has blood in it, or coughing up mucus when you also have other symptoms can be signs of a more serious condition.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. American Lung Association. Learn About Cough. Encyclopedia Brittanica. Mucus Secretion. Sputum Culture. Cedars Sinai. Cleveland Clinic. Coughing Up Blood Hemoptysis. Nationwide Children's. Upper Respiratory Infections Colds. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Why Do We Cough? What Is Mucus? Coughing Up White Mucus.

Other Colors of Mucus. Treating Wet Coughs. What Does Phlegm Do? What Causes Excess Mucus and Coughing? When to Call a Doctor If you are coughing up mucus that appears blood-tinged, call your doctor. What Are Mucolytics?

How to Treat Increased Mucus in the Lungs. Avoid a hacking cough or merely clearing the throat. A deep cough is less tiring and more effective in clearing mucus out of the lungs.

Huff Coughing: Huff coughing, or huffing, is an alternative to deep coughing if you have trouble clearing your mucus. Take a breath that is slightly deeper than normal.

Use your stomach muscles to make a series of three rapid exhalations with the airway open, making a "ha, ha, ha" sound. Follow this by controlled diaphragmatic breathing and a deep cough if you feel mucus moving. Other Techniques: If you produce a large amount of mucus, your health care provider may recommend other techniques to help clear the mucus.

Each technique can be ordered and demonstrated by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider if this may be helpful for you. Infants and children with some lung conditions bronchiectasis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis and other conditions often produce a large amount of mucus.

If the mucus is allowed to collect in the airways, breathing may become difficult, and infection may occur. Airway clearance measures, including chest physiotherapy, help clear the mucus. Chest percussion with huff or deep coughing can help clear the mucus in the lungs. Huff and deep coughing are described in more detail below. The best technique for your child will be prescribed by your health care provider. Correct technique is very important.

A member of your health care team will show you how to use these techniques. The team member will also observe your technique.