Phlegm goes with common cold and other upper respiratory infections. The presence of phlegm is not a serious health problem, but if not treated properly, it can clog and cause irritation of the bronchial tubes and trigger secondary upper respiratory infections.
When there is phlegm, it is usually indicated by a constant need for clearing the throat, constant cough and runny nose, weakness, and difficulty in breathing, and sometimes fever. Phlegm accumulates and congests in the chest and throat and eliminated by coughing.
Phlegm has bacteria, virus or inflammatory cells that are produced by a reaction to an infection. When it comes to common cold, flu and bronchitis, the phlegm is caused by an allergic reaction to irritants such as hay fever, injured vocal cords, asthma and excessive smoking.
Treatment and home remedies of phlegm in the throat
- Inhalation of steam helps with eliminating the phlegm. Take a steam shower at least twice every day. Set the shower to full heat and stay in a closed bathroom for 10 minutes to help in loosening the mucus and after taking a bath moisturize the body since warm water takes away the the essential oils and moisture from the skin.
- Prepare a warm lemon solution by mixing two teaspoons of lemon juice with a glass of warm water. The acidity of the lemon juice helps in breaking the mucus. You can also add a tablespoon of honey to the mixture to relieve the throat.
- Eat spicy foods such as horseradish or pepper since these works as decongestants and helps to loosen phlegm.
- Drink warm liquids such as chicken soup or tea to help nourish the body and even help loosen up some mucus that is trapped in the throat.
- Mix ½ teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water and gargle the solution with the head tilted back.
- Eating toast is helpful in loosening the phlegm and carries it to the stomach. It also scrapes the throat gently and eliminates some of the phlegm that is ingested.
- Drink plenty of liquids in order to help loosen up the phlegm.
- Drink a teaspoon of cider vinegar and then wait for 5-10 seconds. In case the taste is still in the mouth, drink water.
- Take a hot shower and inhale the steam, hum a song since the humming vibration helps in breaking up the phlegm found in the throat.
- Use a vaporizer if available in order to maintain a balance of moisture inside the room as well as helps in relaxing the throat.
Tips in preventing phlegm
- Quit smoking. Smoking causes drying of the vocal chords and the body will produce more phlegm in an effort to refill lost moisture.
- Avoid consumption of dairy or other dairy products since it makes the phlegm thicker.
- Avoid excessive exposure to chemicals and fumes like cleaners, fumes of paints and other chemicals it can damage the respiratory function of the body.
- Avoid swallowing coughed up phlegm.