Coughing: A Basic Question

1st of all phlem will congest in the lungs and that is probably what you are hacking up, drink a non cola soda like 7-up it will help to break up the phlem, lemon juice will do the trick as well but I figure 7-up tastes better. acid reflux or gastritis can also be a cause of phlem buildup. phlem is secreted by cells and glands of the mucous membranes.

Cite for the first part of the above post is: A page of health facts for English Bulldogs.

neat, I actually didn't get it from there but it works on the same principals.

Whenever I get the slightest cold, it immediately turns into a chest cold followed by bronchitis. Coughing is your body's way of trying to keep your lungs healthy and clear.

One of the best indicators of the status of your body's fight with the germs is the color of your phlem. Clear is good. When it starts to turn shades of yellow and green, that's the time to go see the doctor.

Resources: WebMD. Everything you wanted to know about coughs but were too sick to ask

1 thing that link doesn't mention is that mucus is mainly formed of mucin, water, cells, and inorganic salts , it's main fuction is to moisten and protect.

My husband has rather bad asthma and is an expert on all things phlegm. He can listen to me cough and tell me if it is post-nasal drip or bronchial.

Some factors:

- When does it happen? If it is predominantly morning, that's more towards post-nasal drip.

- Is it more like clearing your throat? That's more towards post-nasal drip.

- Is it a deep, hacking cough? That's more towards bronchitis.

Have your doctor check it out, though, of course.

A lot of those nasty colds going around. I temporarily vanquished one but it's STILL not all the way gone. Have to go to the doc again. Grr.

Keep a tight hold on your dominion, there.

Thanks all, Safecracker, Craven, Butrflynet and Sozobe--

Educated misery is much more fun than ignorant misery.

All of you, Hold Your Dominions.

Noddy, I've had 2 colds in the last 1.5 weeks. I spent almost all of last weekend unable to speak. The single most important thing you can do, I think, it to take in water. Drink it, hot is better than cold. And, put your face over a bowl of boiled water with a towel over your head and breath in through mouth or nose alternatively. Sitting in a steamy bathroom works too.

Tricky thing about medicating (which I use now after years of not taking any) is what meds to use when. Your body produces phlegm for a reason and to take suppressants and decongestants might not be wise unless the phlegm turns technicolor.

I think figuring out what type of cold you have and what the best medication to take for each one is certainly the most helpful...and I have also been battling a cold for a week...almost gone now that I have that whole what type of cold it is..what will work best and not make it worse...whew...good luck to all with this years bout of colds..seems to be a beast and a half.

Oh yeah, and try to buy some saline spray for your nose to keep it hydrated.

Oh yes...thats one thing I found last year thats a great a wonderful aid to these things....saline spray....good call k

Dealing with the dry sinuses as we speak/type.

hoping it all gets better soon...for everyone

Forget about anthrax. This cold is much more effective as germ warfare than a little white powder.

no kidding eh.