How to get rid phlegm in the throat

Barking out a loud cough in the middle of a big meeting or on a quiet train car is enough to make you want to be invisible. But trying to stifle your cough is way worse than dealing with any possible embarrassment — especially if you cough up a little mucus or phlegm. It turns out, you're way better off trying to hack it up than keep it down.

Table of Contents Show

What is phlegm?
Risk factors of phlegm:
Here are 7 ways to get rid of phlegm:
1. Honey ginger to reduce cough
2. Drink lots of water
3. Gargle with salt water
4. Nutritious diet to avoid infection
5. Steam with essential oil
6. Herbal teas
7. Nasal spray
Other tips to keep in mind to treat phlegm:
What causes phlegm in my throat?
What foods get rid of phlegm?

Even though it can feel gross to hurl phlegm out of your throat, you probably should, says Erich Voigt, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at NYU Langone Medical Center. "If the mucus sits and accumulates, it can become infected with bacteria" and cause secondary illnesses, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

But phlegm and mucus are actually totally normal bodily products, so there's no need to be embarrassed about your need to hock a loogie. We all make and need mucus regularly because it acts as a protective layer over our cells. It's "designed to catch and trap particles," such as dust, pollen, or bacteria, Dr. Voigt explains. Mucus also contains antibodies that help develop immunity and fight infection.

When you get sick with an upper respiratory infection, a cold, or allergies, the mucus secreted by your respiratory tract becomes thicker and denser, Dr. Voigt says. At that point, it's called phlegm, and it's harder to clear out of your airways — your nose, sinuses, and lungs — because it's so much thicker. But that phlegm is one of your body's ways of collecting and getting rid of bacteria.

"[Phlegm] may drip down from the nose and sinuses, or get coughed up from the lower airway," Dr. Voigt says. But, sometimes, it accumulates in your throat. In that case, you usually end up swallowing it or coughing it up. That's why you sometimes cough up boogers (sorry).

Now let's say you cough, but the phlegm gets stuck halfway between your mouth and your throat. Do you swallow? Dr. Voigt says that spitting it up is ideal, actually. But if you can't get to a tissue (or are completely disgusted by the prospect), swallowing isn't the end of the world. In that case, the mucus will "flow to your stomach and be burned by stomach acid," Dr. Voigt says. Delicious.

So how do you actually make it go away? Well, duh, you cough! Coughing is your body's natural mechanism for clearing mucus and phlegm out of the lungs and throat, Dr. Voigt says. However, dry, thick phlegm is harder to clear, he says, and all that extra coughing and throat clearing can make your throat sore.

If you want to speed up the process, make sure to stay hydrated to keep your mucus as thin as possible. You can also try taking a hot shower or inhaling steam, both of which will make the mucus thinner. And, if you can get someone to pat your back, that can loosen the phlegm's attachment to the bronchial walls, which "allows it to be coughed out more easily," Dr. Voigt says.

If you want to move your mucus along a bit, you can try taking OTC expectorant medicines, such as Mucinex or Robitussin. These drugs "pull water into the phlegm, making it easier to cough out," Dr. Voigt says. But any time you're concerned about how much phlegm you're making or how long you've been coughing that stuff up, you should see a doctor so they can figure out exactly what's causing it. In some cases, your doc might prescribe a steroid inhaler, nebulizer, or nasal spray (such as Flonase) to make it easier to breathe while clearing out your mucus.

At the end of the day, you know when you've gotta cough, and you really should just go for it (maybe step out of the big, important meeting first, though). And if a little phlegm comes out too, it's not necessarily a big deal — it's just a sign that your body's doing its thing to make you feel better.

Published on: 4 September 2022, 10:30 am IST

Even though a regular cold and cough is not harmful, if left untreated, they can develop into more serious issues, such as phlegm. You should not allow phlegm and mucus to accumulate since they frequently indicate an infection. So, how to get rid of phlegm? Well, some simple home remedies work well!

What is phlegm?

Phlegm is caused by any infection in the lower respiratory tract that is trachea and lungs. It is caused due to any lower respiratory tract infection that could be viral, bacterial, fungal.

Risk factors of phlegm:

Diseases like pneumonia, mild infection, tuberculosis, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, and bronchitis can cause phlegm. It is also due to airway disease like copd-chronic bronchitis, asthma and copd exacerbation.

HealthShots got in touch with Dr Pritha Nayyar, Consultant, Respiratory specialist Asian hospital, to talk about the best home remedies to treat phlegm.

Dr Nayyar says, “The best way to reduce phlegm is by getting rid of it and completely removing it by correct treatment and knowing etiology. However, it can also be managed and treated at home. To decrease the amount of phlegm, one should do steam, drink lukewarm water, and use expectorants. So that excessive phlegm comes out and you can get rid of accumulation in lungs.”

Try the power of home remdies to treat your cough. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Here are 7 ways to get rid of phlegm:

1. Honey ginger to reduce cough

Combine a tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice. Take the syrup right away, and make sure you swallow it slowly. Take as needed to relieve a sore throat and a dry cough, up to three times daily. Ginger lessens the swelling that is brought on by a sore throat, while honey aids in calming it and controlling the coughing fits.

2. Drink lots of water

By not staying hydrated you can make it easier for excess phlegm to build up in your airways. In fact, if you’re dehydrated, your mucus will also be, which will make it thicker and more difficult to expel. Drink plenty of water because it helps to thin out any mucus in your throat so it will be simpler to cough up and expel from your airways. Warm water is much better to drink.

3. Gargle with salt water

Gargling with salt water helps to clear your throat and reduce mucus. Add 2-3 tablespoons of salt to a warm glass of water. Take a sip of salt water, keep it on your throat with your head tilted back rather than swallowing it, and gargle for a few seconds. Spit out the water afterward, and repeat. Every two to three hours during the day, you can repeat this procedure as necessary. Even the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections may be aided by this home treatment.

Gargle with salt water to get rid of mucus! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

4. Nutritious diet to avoid infection

It is crucial that you pay attention to your diet while dealing with phlegm problems. To get rid of excess phlegm, add more cardamom, onion, pineapple, ginger, garlic, and peppers. Spicy foods and high chili doses function as natural decongestants, which will cause the mucus to thin and start running, making it easier to remove phlegm. In addition, make an effort to eat healthily.

5. Steam with essential oil

Inhale steam from a bowl of hot water to loosen and thin the phlegm. To feel better, you can do it once or twice daily as necessary. Inhaling steam is a method that can help to clear mucus buildup in your respiratory tract, but adding a few drops of medicinal essential oils to the water may make it much more effective. You could even use a humidifier or take a warm shower.

6. Herbal teas

Phlegm is best treated with peppermint tea. It has anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antimicrobial, and antioxidant qualities. These properties are proven to clear respiratory airways of mucus or phlegm while boosting your body’s immunity against illness. Always give it a shot for immediate relief.

Stay warm by drinking herbal tea. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

7. Nasal spray

To reduce mucus buildup and restore normal breathing, you can also try nasal spray or drops. Typically, nasal spray contains saltwater, which helps to thin and loosen the mucus. When you have phlegm, ask your doctor how long you should use it for.

Other tips to keep in mind to treat phlegm:

Avoid smoking and secondhand smoking
Coughing to clear away excess phlegm
Limit caffeine
Gently blow your nose regularly
Do not drink alcohol
Take a hot shower for some relief
Keep the head elevated
Use a saline nasal spray or rinse
Avoid dairy products
Practice breathing exercises
Keep a check on your allergies and get proper treatment

What causes phlegm in my throat?

Possible causes of excess mucus can be food allergies, an acid reflux from the stomach, or an infection. The consistency of mucus in the throat also varies depending on what is going on in your body. Common causes of too much mucus in the throat include a cold or flu, acute bronchitis, sinusitis or pneumonia.