Causes of phlegm cough in the morning

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Posted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Vinh Toan - Interdisciplinary Department - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
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 cough with phlegm in the morning

Coughing is the body's way of eliminating and clearing irritants out of the respiratory system. Coughing up phlegm every morning is a common medical condition, caused by many causes, specifically:
Cold is the most common cause of cough with phlegm. On average, each person will have a cold 2-3 times per year, sometimes too much phlegm due to stagnation in the night will make the patient feel uncomfortable, accompanied by the following symptoms: sore throat, pain fatigue, fatigue, headache, sneezing, runny nose. Respiratory tract infection: In addition to flu-like symptoms, the patient may also have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, wheezing, chest tightness, stuffy nose, stomach syndrome. intestine. Allergies: An immune response to allergens such as dust, mold, feathers, pollen, and microbial waste. Symptoms include: Runny nose, stuffy nose, dry cough, headache, watery eyes, stork sound, difficulty breathing. Because dust mites tend to live in blankets, pillows, and mattresses, people who are allergic to dust mites often have symptoms of a cough that gets worse in the morning. Postnasal drip: A condition in which the body increases mucus secretion and stagnation in the nasopharynx, then drips down the throat. The cause may be cold, allergies, spicy foods. Symptoms include: Always clear throat, snort to clean the throat area; Cough with phlegm at night and in the morning; Nausea; Sore throat; Bad breath. Bronchitis: An inflammation of the airways that carry air to the lungs, which can be acute or chronic. Acute conditions are usually caused by bacterial or viral infections of the respiratory tract. The chronic condition is often caused by smoking. Symptoms of bronchitis include: Cough with phlegm, wheezing feeling in the chest, heaviness in the chest, low-grade fever or chills. People with bronchitis often have a lot of phlegm every morning. Asthma: An allergic reaction that causes chronic inflammation, leading to narrowing of the bronchi, resulting in mild to life-threatening shortness of breath. Asthma symptoms include: Cough with sputum or dry cough, stork sound, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Chronic bronchitis or alveolar dilation, usually caused by smoking for many years. The main symptoms are cough with phlegm and difficulty breathing, the accompanying symptoms are the sound of storks, chest tightness, fatigue often, the disease recurs many times. In addition, hypoxia in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also leads to purple lips, gray fingernails, confusion, shortness of breath and speech, and rapid heart rate. Symptoms can appear at any time of day but are worse and are more common in the morning Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): About 25% of people with GERD have a cough with phlegm. in the morning. This condition occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and affects throat symptoms. Symptoms of GERD include: Chronic cough, burning sensation in the chest or after eating, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, feeling of a lump in the throat.

2. How to overcome cough with phlegm in the morning

The most important way to treat cough in the morning is to find the cause and treat the cause.
In the case of a cold, a respiratory infection, which is usually caused by a virus, usually goes away on its own after a few days. Patients need to rest, drink plenty of water, supplement vitamins, and have good nutrition. With the cause of cough sputum due to allergies, it is necessary to avoid contact with allergens, take antihistamines, anti-congestive drugs, corticosteroids can be used when necessary. For obstructive bronchial disease, it is necessary to: Quit smoking; Take bronchodilators when there is airway obstruction; Use oxygen when there is hypoxia; Use antibiotics when there is a bacterial superinfection. When the cause of the cough is related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), then: Antacids; Proton pump inhibitors; Avoid stress; Limit the intake of acidic foods; Only go to bed 3 hours after eating; Sleep with your head up 20-30 degrees. In short, if you experience a prolonged cough with sputum or even a cough with bloody sputum, people should not be subjective but need to go to the hospital to be examined by a specialist and have an appropriate treatment regimen. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is implementing a lot of general health checkup packages suitable for each age, gender and individual needs of customers with a very favorable price policy, including:
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