Coughing is a symptom that appears before an alteration in the respiratory tract and is usually very annoying due to its persistence. It can be accompanied by a mucous discharge, popularly known as phlegm or mucus, which sometimes becomes a real health problem due to the time it takes to disappear.
Coughing is a reflex that appears as a defense mechanism of the respiratory tract against exposure to an irritant. This can be seen in people who smoke or suffer from lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or gastroesophageal reflux.
A cough with mucus can be treated in different ways with the use of medications or through natural treatments that are at hand. In this FastlyHealarticle, we explain how to get rid of a cough with mucus in the shortest time possible and without side effects for your body.
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Characteristics of a cough with mucus
A wet or productive cough , as the cough with mucus is also known, presents a mucous discharge from the lower respiratory tract. What is expelled is known as sputum, which is formed by increased bronchial secretions.
Coughing up mucus helps to clear the airways and this type of cough can be seen in chronic bronchitis or in bacterial infectious processes.
In the following article, we explain in detail what the difference is between a dry cough and a productive cough .
Types of cough with mucus
Cough with mucus can appear both in childhood and in adulthood and varies according to the cause that produces it and the time it lasts. Because of this, it can present itself in various ways:
Sharp
This cough is often caused by an infection in the upper or lower respiratory tract and occurs in cases of:
- Gripe.
- Colds of viral origin.
This type of cough disappears after about three weeks.
Chronicle
When the cough lasts for a period of more than 3 weeks , it is called chronic and is generally caused by:
- Smoking
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pulmonary emphysema .
Cough with mucus can be greenish or yellowish in color, indicating the presence of an infectious process. This mucus can be stained with blood and is an indication that you should see your doctor immediately.
What to take for a cough with mucus
In the consultation, the doctor will listen to your chest and will show the type of cough you have and will indicate the treatment to follow. Cough with mucus should be treated with medications called expectorants , used to facilitate the elimination of mucus located in the bronchi and prevent airway obstruction.
These medications to clear a cough with mucus include:
- Bromexina.
- Ambroxol.
- Acetylcysteine.
- Guaifenesina.
All these medications are used in pediatric and adult doses according to the needs of each patient, for this, it will be necessary to follow the medical indications to comply with the dose and treatment time.
Remedies for cough with mucus
To remove a cough with mucus, some natural remedies are used because their properties allow you to breathe better and easily expel excess mucus. Next, you will know some of them:
Onion
It is one of the foods that is not lacking in the pantry, it has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties , which is why it is used on many occasions in the treatment of cough with phlegm. The preparation of an infusion with a small onion in a cup of boiled water sweetened with honey is an excellent option. This natural remedy should be taken until the cough with mucus subsides.
Pepper tea with honey
It is one of the most used in the treatment of cough with mucus, since it facilitates the flow of phlegm and relieves the cough. To prepare it, you will need:
- 1 cup of boiling water.
- Black peppercorns.
- 1 tablespoon of honey.
Add the black peppercorns and the tablespoon of honey to a cup of boiling water. Later, you let it rest for about 15 minutes and then you can drink it.
Honey juice with lemon
Honey acts as a natural antibiotic and lemon has excellent properties such as expectorant.
For its preparation, you will only need 1 tablespoon of honey and the juice of a lemon dissolved in a cup of hot water. You can take it 3 times a day until the cough with mucus disappears.
Guaco juice with carrot
This juice is used as a bronchodilator and expectorant, as it allows you to eliminate excess mucus and you can breathe better.
If you want to make it, you will need:
- 1 carrot
- 1 tablespoon of honey.
- 5 guaco leaves.
- 2 sprigs of peppermint.
- ½ glass of water.
Place all these ingredients in the blender until you get a juice that you must strain, then take 20 ml several times a day.
Honey syrup with watercress
This is a natural remedy that facilitates the expectoration and elimination of mucus in the bronchial tubes.
This syrup can be prepared with these ingredients:
- 250 ml of watercress juice.
- 5 drops of propolis extract.
- 1 cup of honey.
First, mix 250 ml of watercress juice with the cup of honey in the blender. This preparation is heated over low heat until it has a syrupy consistency. Then, it is allowed to cool and once it has room temperature add the 5 drops of propolis.
You can take 1 tablespoon of this syrup 3 times a day until the cough with mucus disappears.
In the following article, you can see more home remedies for a cough with phlegm .
Other recommendations to remove a cough with mucus
In addition to home remedies, there are some recommendations that you should keep in mind if you want to expel mucus from your lungs:
- Inhale steam of boiled water : to this you can add a tablespoon of coarse salt or some eucalyptus leaves, this will help you to thin the secretion so that you can eliminate it faster.
- Drink a minimum of two liters of water a day : this promotes a better expulsion of phlegm.
- Make gargling with salt water : this remedy is very useful in the treatment of cough with mucus. In cases of a sore throat, this combination decreases the phlegm in the back of the throat and will also calm the cough.
- Avoid being in contact with substances or irritants such as chemicals, perfumes and pollutants that can irritate the nose, throat and even the lower respiratory tract, causing the body to produce more mucus.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to get rid of a cough with mucus , we recommend that you enter our Lung and respiratory tract category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.