COVID epidemic: Be wary if you find mucus in your chest

This is an automatically translated article.

Every day the body will produce about 1 liter of mucus. Overproduction, especially in the lungs, can cause discomfort and be a warning sign of a health problem. According to a WHO report in February, more than 33% of people with coronavirus pneumonia have coughed up mucus.

1. Be alert when there is a lot of mucus in the chest

Your body will make natural mucus every day to protect you from infection. Therefore, detecting mucus in the chest is not always an abnormal manifestation. Mucus, also known as phlegm, is produced by the respiratory system, located in tissues such as the nose, mouth, throat, and lungs.
However, there are also a few medical conditions that present with excessive mucus in the chest, such as:
1.1. Acid Reflux If you have acid reflux, the acid in your stomach travels up your esophagus and into your throat. This condition can cause throat irritation after eating and postnasal drips, accompanied by chest congestion.
1.2. Allergies Allergies can lead to a wide range of symptoms, from itchy eyes and sneezing, to stuffy nose, chest tightness, and coughing. If you're allergic to pollen or airborne dust mites, you'll often experience a lung-related reaction.
1.3. Asthma In addition to the typical symptoms, like shortness of breath and chest tightness, asthma can also cause you to cough up phlegm. This is usually a sign that your airways are inflamed. However, a small amount of white or clear mucus is not a cause for concern.

1.4. Bacterial and viral infections Infections such as the flu, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia can cause your airways to produce a lot of mucus, causing the patient to cough. The mucus will be unusually green or yellow.
1.5. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes certain lung problems, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that make it hard to breathe. Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes and stimulates the production of more mucus, which affects lung function. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often develops after long-term exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke. However, people with asthma are also at increased risk of developing COPD.
1.6. Cystic fibrosis This is an inherited disease that causes thick mucus to grow in the lungs and other organs. Cystic fibrosis can lead to a decline in lung function as people age. Doctors usually look for signs of cystic fibrosis in infants, and 75% of people are diagnosed by age 2. Parents can inherit the gene for cystic fibrosis even if they don't show any symptoms during adulthood. According to statistics, each year in the US, about 1,000 cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed.

2. Is mucus a sign of coronavirus pneumonia?

As is widely known, typical signs of coronavirus pneumonia include: fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. However, there are still other additional symptoms that are being updated day by day. Some patients present very similar to a cold or flu, others have more unusual symptoms, or are completely asymptomatic.
According to a warning from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one or all of the symptoms can appear anytime between 2-14 days after you are unknowingly exposed to new strain of coronavirus - officially named SARS-CoV-2.
In February 2020, a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that, out of 55,924 people with Covid-19 being monitored, more than 33% of patients showed signs of coughing up sputum - a substance that Thick mucus is produced from the lungs. The cough symptom of Covid-19 is not an itchy throat that makes you clear your throat, nor is it just an irritation. A dry cough is really annoying, coming from the chest area and the inflamed bronchial tubes. The patient can feel it from deep in the chest.
In general, the novel coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 pandemic does not usually increase mucus production in the chest. But complications can include coronavirus pneumonia - a condition that is linked to chest congestion.

3. How to reduce mucus in the chest

To control or reduce mucus in the body, you can try the following home remedies:
Drink plenty of water: Everyone should drink plenty of water and other beneficial fluids. Do not abuse beverages that can cause dehydration, such as coffee and alcohol; Moisturizing: Use a nebulizer to humidify and cool the air, or use a steam bath in the bathroom to keep the airways from drying out and stay hydrated; Don't smoke or any e-cigarettes: Whether it's tobacco or marijuana, secondhand smoke is an irritant and causes your body to produce more mucus; Use honey: Although honey is not effective at removing mucus, a teaspoon of honey can provide temporary relief from a cough. Note, do not use honey for children under 1 year old; Check the air filter: Irritants in the air can increase mucus production. So make sure the filters of your home heating and cooling system are clean and regularly replaced; Use expectorants: Some cough medicines containing guaifenesin will help loosen phlegm and remove mucus from the body by stimulating the user to cough up. In general, the mucus itself is not a cause for concern. But if the mucus is accompanied by a cough that has persisted for several weeks, is yellow-green or bloody, or you also have a fever or difficulty breathing, call your doctor for further instructions. In fact, many of the symptoms of coronavirus pneumonia are very similar to those of the common cold and fatigue. You and your loved ones need to carefully monitor your body health and follow coronavirus precautions to protect yourself and your family.
If you have a need for consultation and examination at the Hospitals of the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.

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.