I've been trying to get over my cold and nasty cough. I noticed now that when I cough, mucus or whatever keeps on trying to come out but I just can't seem to spit it out. Is it boogers/mucus? I know it sounds gross but since I can't spit it out, I just end up swallowing it. Does it go down to my stomach and get filtered out or does it go to my lungs and gets tangled up in there? Also, is there any way to not have all these mucus/boogers wanting to come out whenever I have a bad cough again? Any information will help.
Thanks in advance!
2007-10-04 04:45:16 · 8 answers · asked by pangfvlx 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
its normal that mucus doesnt come out always when u try to expel it.
and its normal again to swallow it unless u have dreaded disease like tuberculosis.
the mucus u swallow goes into ur stomach and not ur lungs. no need to worry. t will go into stomach, stomach acid will act on it, it will get digested or else come out with faeces.
well there are medications to reduce the mucus viscosity known as mucolytics. ask ur doc to prescribe u one.
antihistaminics like cetrizine will help you to feel better during ur colds and coughs.
2007-10-04 04:51:26 · answer #1 · answered by tom_under_scanner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could be suffering from bronchitis. You are coughing up mucus or phlegm and need to spit it out because if you don't, it could end up staying in your lungs and lead to pneumonia. Usually people want to bring up the mucus to get it out of their lungs but if the cough keeps you up at night, then you could try a cough suppressant which allows the mucus to settle in your lungs.
2007-10-04 12:01:07 · answer #2 · answered by Kind Counselor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recently had a similar-sounding long-term cough. After 4 weeks i finally went to the doctor's and was told that i had pneumonia. It was a kind that they call 'walking pneumonia', where you feel pretty much ok except for the mucous.
i was given antibiotics which didn't seem to help the cough. i was then given an inhaler (advair), and that finally cleared it up.
As for the swallowing, it doesn't go back into your lungs. It's largely safe to swallow. At most, it may make your stomach uncomfortable.
2007-10-04 12:01:43 · answer #3 · answered by drjekyl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could use an expectorant which will make your cough appear to get worse because it'll be more productive. By that I mean you'll be getting the mucus up and out, which is better for you.
2007-10-04 11:48:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's phlegm.
It signifies an infection of some sort.
It's essentially mucous.
There are some measures you can take to
get rid of it faster.
Expectorant is one of them...Over the counter
go to the section with cough syrups look for one
with EXPECTORANT ...it will get rid of it faster
but you'll still have to ride it out for days!
There are also natural expectorants...like
rosemary tinctures,eucalyptus etc...check
homeopathic/ayurvedic treatments
2007-10-04 11:49:06 · answer #5 · answered by S.Noone 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have two suggestions.
One is to drink a lot of water to make that stuff loosen up and come out. Another is to use an expectorant, for the same thing.
Feel better.
2007-10-04 12:05:00 · answer #6 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there's no way you can cough and not spit up mucus thats also kinda gross!
2007-10-04 11:48:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
take expectorant to help you get rid of the phlegm inside your system.
2007-10-04 11:56:08 · answer #8 · answered by beachbummer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋