What Does The Colour Of My Phlegm Mean
The colour of your phlegm can change when youre ill.
If you feel unwell and youre worried because your phlegms a different colour or thickness than usual, speak to your doctor. They might look at or test a sample of your phlegm to find out more.
Everyones phlegm looks different and it isnt a completely accurate guide to whats going on in your body. But here’s a general guide to what different colours of phlegm mean:
White phlegm
A bit of white or clear phlegm every now and then is completely normal.
However, if youre producing lots ofwhite or clear phlegm, it could be a sign that your airways are inflamed and your asthma symptoms might be getting worse.
Its worth remembering that your airways include the nose and sinuses, as well as your throat. It may be that the mucus youre coughing up has moved from your nose or sinuses to the back of your throat or chest. If you get symptoms in your nose and sinuses such as mucus, sneezing or an itchy or blocked nose speak to your GP or pharmacist about how you can treat this. Treating your nose and sinuses can improve your asthma symptoms too.
Your preventer inhaler is the number one way to deal with this, as long as youre taking it as prescribed by your doctor or nurse.
If youve been taking your preventer but nothings improving, see your doctor or asthma nurse. They might need to change your medication or help you manage your triggers or allergies, like hay fever.
Yellow or green phlegm
Streaked red phlegm
How To Sleep With A Cough Or Cold
Although you may not succeed in entirely eliminating your symptoms overnight, there are some habits that may help you enjoy more restorative sleep as you recover. If your cough is made worse by asthma, seasonal allergies, or other conditions, you may also need to treat these conditions to help relieve your cough.
Clean Sheets + A Clean Body = A Good Night’s Sleep
If you are coughing at night and you are not sick, it may be time to do some detective work. Take a good look at your room and see if you need to vacuum, wash your sheets, or shower before bed if you have allergies.
Some people may also have problems if they have acid reflux, and that can trigger their asthma when they lay down at night to sleep.5
Talk to your doctor and see if they can help you find out what’s going on.
Let’s all get a good night’s sleep. I don’t know about you, but I am a much nicer person when I get a good night’s sleep!
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Can Throat Clearing Be Caused By Gerd
Yes, excessive throat clearing can be a symptom of GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition where acid and food particles from the stomach re-enter the esophagus. Although GERD is usually associated with heartburn, for some people, other symptoms due to irritation of the larynx are more prominent. Laryngeal symptoms include throat clearing, hoarseness, and coughing.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Asthma Without An Inhaler
First of all, always keep your inhaler with yourselves and still in any case you are without an inhaler then please do not panic. Handle the condition calmly and there are few things that can help you get rid of asthma without an inhaler .
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What Triggers An Asthma Attack
People with asthma have different triggers. Some people are triggered due to exposure of allergens like dust mites or grass. Other people can be triggered by irritants in the air like chemicals or strong odors. Carrillo notes that respiratory illnesses with mucus drainage like sinus infections or colds increase the likelihood of an asthma attack. Exercise and changes in the weather also trigger attacks as well. Some people may find that more than one thing increases their chances of having an attack, and any type of asthma can get worse at night.
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Don’t have written asthma action plan from your doctor
- Use an inhaler, but don’t have a spacer
- Miss more than 1 day of school per month for asthma
- Asthma limits exercise or sports
- Asthma attacks wake child up from sleep
- Use more than 1 inhaler per month
- No asthma check-up in more than 1 year
- You have other questions or concerns
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References
2- Watson S. The Truth About Mucus. WebMD. Apr 10, 2014. Accessed Apr 27, 2021. https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/the-truth-about-mucus#:~:text=Even%20when%20you%27re%20healthy%2C%20your%20body%20is%20a,of%20it%2C%20but%20because%20its%20consistency%20has%20changed.
3- Martinucci I, de Bortoli N, Savarino E, et al. Optimal treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2013 4:287-301. doi:10.1177/2040622313503485
4- Mayo Clinic Staff. Asthma. Mayo Clinic. Aug 11, 2020. Accessed Apr 27, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369660
5- Leonie JT, Balter JA, Aldred S, Drayson MT, Jet JCS, van Zanten V, Higgs S, Raymond JE, Mazaheri A. Selective effects of acute low-grade inflammation on human visual attention,
NeuroImage, Volume 202, 2019, 116098, ISSN 1053-8119, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116098.
Ways To Get Relief From Night
- Proper treatment of asthma or cough-variant asthma: Take proper controller medications regularly even when the symptoms appear to be well controlled. Change in medications should only be done in consultation with a pulmonologist.
- Sleeping in a propped up position: Sleeping in this position prevents post nasal drip and acid reflux to some extent.
- Treating acid reflux: Patients should avoid foods that increase acidity. Do not lie down for at least 90 minutes after meals and take medications if required.
- Drinking tea with honey: This soothes the throat, relieves some of the congestion in the throat, loosens the mucus and gives symptomatic relief from cough.
- Humidification of room: 50% humidity with the help of humidifier can help control irritable cough by soothing the airways.
- Use saline or decongestant nasal spray: It helps clear the nasal passages of the allergens, irritants and the mucus. This may also decrease postnasal drip.
Although nighttime cough is commonly seen in asthma, it can be seen in many other diseases as well.
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What To Do When Asthma Stops You Sleeping
- If you have asthma symptoms, sit up and take your reliever inhaler as prescribed.
- Always make sure your inhaler is beside your bed before you go to sleep, so you dont have to search for it in the middle of the night.
- Give yourself a bit of time to check your reliever medicine has dealt with your symptoms before you go back to sleep, says Dr Andy Whittamore. This is better than falling asleep straight away only to wake up soon after with asthma symptoms because your reliever didnt help enough.
- Some people find propping themselves up with extra pillows helps as it keeps the airways open.
Signs Of Asthma Absolutely Everyone Should Know
You might think you know the signs of asthma because hey, it seems like one of those health conditions that is absolutely unmistakable. Its kind of obvious if you justcant really breathe, right? Sure, but asthma symptoms can present with a lot more complexity and subtlety than that. Many people do not realize they have asthma and deal with daily symptoms, Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network, tells SELF. Because of that, you should be aware of the signs of asthma so you dont write them off for months or even years without realizing you have this persistentand ultimately treatablehealth condition.
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The Importance Of Medication Adherence
One of the most important things to prevent asthma attacks is medication adherence, said Carrillo. Often, people find their medication reduces the occurrence of their symptoms, so they think they do not need their medication anymore. This is not true, because asthma has no curethe prescribed medication only controls your asthma symptoms.
Health care providers usually prescribe two key medications: a long-term control inhaler and a rescue inhaler. Since asthma triggers are highly specific to the individual, people should speak with their health care provider to find an asthma care plan that works for them. Many health care providers prescribe both types of inhalers.
The first medication is a long-term asthma control inhaler like a corticosteroid. People with asthma should regularly take this medication to control their chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. If people stop their medication, then their risk of an asthma attacks increases.
The second medication is a rescue inhaler. This inhaler will provide a quick relief of symptoms during an asthma attack. The medication relaxes the airway muscles, which opens the lungs and allows unconstructed airflow.
What Causes Asthma Symptoms
One or more things can trigger your asthma. Some of the most common things that bring on asthma symptoms are:
AllergensAbout 7 out of 10 people with asthma have allergies. An allergy is a reaction to something you touch, eat or breathe in that makes you sneeze, get a rash or have trouble breathing.
Allergens are things that cause you to have allergy symptoms. Many also cause asthma symptoms. Common allergens are pollens, molds, animal dander , dust mites and cockroaches. Limit your contact with allergens. If you still have asthma symptoms, talk to your health care provider.Your provider may recommend that you take an allergy medicine. If youre already getting allergy shots, you can keep taking them during pregnancy. But if you arent getting allergy shots, dont start taking them when youre pregnant because you could have a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
IrritantsIrritants are things in your environment that may hurt your lungs and trigger asthma symptoms, including air pollution, cigarette smoke and smoke from wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, cold air and strong smells, like paint or perfumes.
InfectionsInfections like a cold, the flu or viral pneumonia, can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
ExerciseExercise can cause asthma symptoms in some people. If your asthma is under control, you probably can exercise without any problems. But if exercising during pregnancy sets off your asthma, talk to your health care provider.
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Control Of Polymeric Mucin Production
The induction of Muc5ac in allergically inflamed mice is dependent upon two important signaling pathways: the IL-13/IL-4 receptor-α complex and the epidermal growth factor receptor . The functional dominance of these signaling pathways, however, does not translate into a simple intracellular pathway for Muc5ac gene activation. The principal signaling molecule activated by IL-13 is signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 . STAT6 signaling in mouse airway Clara cells is necessary and sufficient for Muc5ac induction and airway hyperreactivity in response to IL-13 . STAT6 binds to a canonical motif, 5â²-TTCN4GAA-3â², but this motif is not present in the conserved promoter regions of any mammalian MUC5AC orthologs . One indirect mechanism that may explain IL-13-mediated Muc5ac promoter activation is STAT6-dependent downregulation of forkhead box a2 . Foxa2 is a critical negative regulator of Muc5ac expression, and genetic deletion of Foxa2 in mice leads to constitutive Muc5ac overproduction resembling mucous metaplasia .
Transcriptional control of Muc5ac production gr2
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Video: Phlegm And Asthma
Phlegm and asthma
0:07 Gross as it looksphlegm and mucus protect your body from infection.
0:11 A little bit of phlegm is totally normal but if your phlegm
0:18 changes in colour thickness or amount it could be a sign that you’re ill and your
0:20 asthma may be affected
0:23 if you find you’ve been coughing up more phlegm than
0:28 usual this could be a sign that your airways are inflamed this can cause
0:34 asthma symptoms like coughing wheezing shortness of breath or a tight chest
0:38 You should take your daily preventer inhaler as prescribed and it should help stop
0:42 these symptoms because it reduces the inflammation in your airways over time
0:47 if you’re doing this and still getting a lot of mucus on your chest you should
0:51 book an appointment with your doctor or ask the nurse
1:00 if you have yellow or green phlegm this might be a sign of an infection like a cold flu or a chest
1:04 infection these can often make asthma symptoms worse so it’s really important
1:09 to keep taking your preventer inhaler every day
1:15 if your phlegm is streaked with blood this is usually down to the pressure put on the blood vessels if
1:19 you’re coughing a lot the best thing you can do in this case is to see your
1:24 doctor to make sure it’s nothing to worry about if you have brown or black
1:28 tinged phlegm it usually occurs in smokers or if you have COPD chronic
1:34 obstructive lung disease as well as asthma when you stop smoking even just
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What Is An Asthma Attack
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, asthma attacks occur when an inflammation or obstruction of the bronchial tubes exists. Since these tubes allow air to enter and leave the lungs, asthma happens when air movement in and out of the lungs is restricted.
Asthma attacks are most commonly recognized by severe wheezing, consistent coughing and rapid breathing. However, people experiencing asthma attacks may also notice tightness in their chest and neck. If not enough oxygen reaches their lungs, then they may turn pale and their lips and fingernails could turn blue.
Asthma symptoms vary from person to person, but you can control them with a proper prevention routine. If your asthma is under control, then the likelihood of you experiencing an asthma attack decreases, Carrillo said.
Signs You Actually Have Severe Asthma
Breathing is just one of those things you take for granted until it feels like every inhale or exhale is a struggle. Unfortunately, people with severe asthma have to deal with breathing issues way more often than anyone should, and it can be completely terrifying.
Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects the airways that extend from your nose and mouth to your lungs, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute . When youre exposed to triggers like animal fur, pollen, mold, exercise, and respiratory infections, these airways can narrow, restricting your airflow. This can then make the muscles surrounding your airways constrict, making it even harder to breathe, and cause your airways to produce more mucus than normal, further compounding the problem. All together, this can lead to asthma symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing , and chest tightness or pain, according to the NHLBI.
Like most health conditions, asthma severity runs along a spectrum, Emily Pennington, M.D., a pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF. Some people have cases where they experience minor symptoms here and there . Others can have asthma that is basically an ever-present problem and might result in scary asthma attacks, which is when symptoms ramp up in severity and can even become life-threatening.
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Why Do Asthma Cough At Night
In many cases, you would experience asthma symptoms at an increased rate during your sleep. Night time cough, wheezing and forceful breathing are most common symptoms and even dangerous for ones health. Sleep may cause changes in the bronchial functioning, the outside temperatures and hormone secretions may be deduced as the reason for the asthmatics to cough at night time.
As per few studies, seventy percent of deaths and eighty percent of respiratory arrests caused by asthma occur during nocturnal hours. Its mostly seen that many people understand that severe symptoms are most commonly associated with the increased risk of death.
The airways tend to get narrow during sleep that may cause increased blood flow resistance. This can be a main trigger to night time coughing that can further cause tightened airways.
There Are Few Other Techniques Discussed Below And Can Help You Against Asthma:
- Belly breathing technique
Carefully concentrate on your breathing. Its must that you should breathe slowly through your nose. This technique of belly breathing can maximize the air distribution inside your lungs. You can lie down or sit straight. When you inhale your abdomen should go out as opposed to your chest. Exhale slowly with your abdomen pushing inward. Ideally exhalation should be twice as long as inhalation.
- Buteyko breathing exercise
This buteyko breathing technique perfectly aims at consciously reducing either breathing rate or breathing volume. The method involves sitting upright with a belly and chest muscles when you are breathing. Breathe through your nose gently with a closed mouth. Breathe slow and shallow. Try to exhale slowly till the time it seems that here is no air left in the lungs. Hold your breath as long as possible and then again revert to a gentle breathing.
- Pursed lip breathing technique
One of the most helpful techniques during an asthma attack. As air is trapped in your lungs during an attack so this helps get more air out and make breathing easier. It involves inhaling slowly through the nose and then exhaling through pursed lips, or exhaling slowly.
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