Most morning cough is not a sign of serious illness, but if it persists or causes shortness of breath, the patient must see a doctor to find the underlying causes and have a thorough solution.
1. Causes of Morning Cough with Phlegm
A cough is the body's natural defense mechanism to clear out irritants from the respiratory system. A morning cough with phlegm is a common condition, often caused by several factors, including:
- Common Cold: The most frequent cause of coughing with phlegm. On average, people get 2-3 colds a year. When phlegm builds up overnight, it may cause discomfort, accompanied by symptoms like sore throat, body aches, fatigue, headaches, sneezing, and runny nose.
- Respiratory Infections: Along with flu-like symptoms, individuals may experience fever, excessive tiredness, wheezing, chest tightness, nasal congestion, and gastrointestinal discomfort. These infections may include viral or bacterial causes that affect the respiratory tract.
- Allergies: Allergic reactions to substances like dust mites, mold, pet dander, pollen, and fungal spores can trigger the immune system to release chemicals that cause inflammation in the airways. Symptoms of allergy-related coughing include a runny nose, nasal congestion, dry cough, sneezing, watery eyes, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Those allergic to dust mites often notice worsening phlegm in the morning due to the accumulation of dust in bedding and pillows.
- Post-nasal Drip: This occurs when excess mucus produced in the nose or sinuses drips down into the back of the throat, often leading to a cough. It can be triggered by allergies, colds, or spicy foods. Symptoms include throat clearing, coughing with phlegm at night or in the morning, nausea, sore throat, and foul-smelling breath.
- Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes (the airways leading to the lungs), which can be either acute (due to an infection) or chronic (often from smoking). Symptoms of bronchitis include persistent cough with phlegm, wheezing, chest tightness, and low-grade fever. People with chronic bronchitis often experience an increase in phlegm production in the mornings.
- Asthma: A chronic condition where inflammation and narrowing of the airways occur, making breathing difficult. Asthma causes symptoms like coughing with or without phlegm, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. People with asthma may also notice morning symptoms as the airways react to irritants.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A group of lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, typically caused by long-term smoking. COPD is characterized by a persistent cough with phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and frequent fatigue. The condition may cause low oxygen levels, leading to symptoms like blue lips, confusion, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing, often worsening in the mornings.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating the throat and causing symptoms like coughing with phlegm. Around 25% of people with GERD experience morning cough with phlegm. Other GERD symptoms include a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and the feeling of a lump in the throat.
2. How to manage a morning mucus cough
The key to treating a morning mucus cough is finding out the cause and treating it.
- • For a common cold or respiratory infection caused by viruses, the cough usually goes away after a few days. It's important to rest, drink plenty of water, and eat nutritious food to stay strong.
- • If the cough is due to allergies, try to avoid the things you're allergic to, take antihistamines, use nasal decongestants, and corticosteroids if needed.
- • If the cough is caused by bronchitis, the following are helpful:
- Quit smoking;
- Use medications to help open the airways if they are blocked;
- Use oxygen if you're low on oxygen;
- Take antibiotics if there’s a bacterial infection.
- If the cough is related to acid reflux (GERD), try these:
- Use antacid medications;
- Take proton pump inhibitors;
- Reduce stress;
- Avoid acidic food;
- Wait at least 3 hours after eating before lying down;
- Sleep with your head raised by 20-30 degrees.
In short, if you have a persistent mucus cough or a cough with blood, don’t ignore it. You should go to a doctor for a proper check-up and treatment. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital offers a variety of health check-up packages suited to different ages, genders, and personal needs, all at affordable prices. These packages include:
• Children’s Health Check-Up
• Standard Health Check-Up
• Special Health Check-Up
• VIP Health Check-Up
• Diamond Health Check-Up
The advantage of Vinmec’s health check-ups is that they use advanced equipment for accurate diagnostics, like PET/CT machines, MRI, CT 640, modern ultrasound systems, and internationally certified laboratories. After the check-up, if any health issues are found, you can receive treatment from other specialized departments at the hospital with high-quality care.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
