Cough mucus – also sputum, expectoration or mucus discharge – is the term used to describe the coughed-up secretion of the respiratory mucosa and admixed cells. These cells, when diagnosed, can be further differentiated into white blood cells, and in the case of bronchial carcinoma, as malignant cells. In addition, cough mucus may also contain saliva, food debris, dust, smoke particles, pathogens, pus, and in the case of hemoptysis, blood. The sputum can be used to investigate diseases such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis or to diagnose tuberculosis, as well as tumor formations of the lower respiratory tract.
What is sputum or sputum?
Cough sputum is a concomitant of coughing. For example, during a viral infection, the bronchial mucosa produces increased secretion that lodges in the throat and often forces the affected person to cough. Coughing mucus is a side effect of coughing. During a viral infection, for example, the bronchial mucosa increasingly produces a secretion that lodges in the throat and often forces the affected person to cough. The mucus is usually yellowish-green in color, but may also show traces of blood. In the latter case, greater caution is required. However, this may not be noticed until the coughing mucus is released to the outside:
The body wants to rid itself of the excessively formed cough mucus – if this succeeds, doctors speak of sputum or sputum. This can also be referred to as a productive cough. This occurs not only during an illness, but also, for example, in smokers.
Causes
Coughing mucus that occurs in the context of a cough during a cold is normal. The purpose of coughing mucus here is that the bronchial tubes are cleaned. If an unnatural amount of cough mucus or sputum is formed and its colors are unusual, this can also be a sign of respiratory disease. The most common causes are acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chronic lung disease, allergies, tuberculosis and lung cancer (bronchial carcinoma). Conclusions about possible causes can be drawn from the color of the sputum:
- Yellow-green: it is a purulent, acute bacterial infection, such as bronchial asthma, pneumonia (pneumonia) and cystic fibrosis.
- White-glazed: the infection is more likely to be viral, for example, in chronic bronchitis, coughing up in the morning.
- White-foamy: indication of pulmonary congestion to edema.
- Grayish: bacterial infection in healing, often in pneumonia.
- Brownish-black: most likely old blood. Can be harmless, but does not have to, clarification required, usually in heavy smokers.
- Friable: lung diseases such as actinomycosis and tuberculosis.
- Bloody: coughing up blood (hemoptysis), may be a sign of a serious infection (such as pneumonia) or malignant tumor (for example, lung cancer)
In severe coughing, the bronchial mucosa takes damage, it is then normal that some small threads of blood are mixed in the sputum.
Diseases with this symptom
- Whooping cough
- Allergy
- Common cold
- Bronchial asthma
- Actinomycosis
- Lung cancer
- Tuberculosis
- COPD
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Flu
Diagnosis and course
Cough mucus or its sputum can be diagnosed by the affected person himself – but what is behind it must be clarified by a doctor. This is done with a combination of questions about the patient’s history and other complaints and intensive examinations of the mouth and throat. Optionally, the heart and lungs are listened to with the aid of a stethoscope. Blood tests may be added if a specific disease is suspected. The appearance of cough mucus can be associated with cough. It forms very often during a cold. As the throat tries to separate from it, very often there is also sputum. If this is bloody, further investigation (for example, for lung cancer) should take place.
Complications
Cough mucus is associated with respiratory diseases. In addition to a normal cold, bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, or even lung cancer may be the cause of coughing mucus.Accordingly, there are also a wide variety of complications. A cold usually heals without further complications in the immune healthy person. However, some serious consequences can occur. If, for example, the affected person exercises despite the illness, the most serious case can be heart muscle inflammation (myocarditis). This can lead to heart failure (cardiac insufficiency), which can quickly lead to death. Other consequences can be a spread of the cold into the lungs, which then leads to pneumonia. The infection can also spread to the middle ear, which can also affect the meninges and the inner ear from there. The complications of acute bronchitis are similar. In asthma, the most feared complication is status asthmaticus, a prolonged asthma attack that constitutes a medical emergency. The affected person becomes ventilator dependent. In rare cases, the asthma can cause emphysema, which is eventually a strain on the right heart, which can lead to insufficiency. Complications of tuberculosis include severe respiratory failure as well as spitting out large amounts of blood. Destruction of lung tissue and an increase in the risk of developing lung cancer is also increased.
When should you see a doctor?
The formation of cough mucus can occur even with non-flu colds. If it is obvious that mucus secretions during coughing are due to a less dramatic form of cold, which in addition responds well to home remedies, a visit to the doctor can be dispensed with if the recovery process begins soon. Otherwise, however, the family doctor should be consulted if coughing mucus occurs. If necessary, he or she will refer the patient to a pulmonologist, lung specialist or oncologist. Cough mucus, also known as sputum and sputum, consists of secretions from the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and various body cells such as the white blood cells that are active in the body’s defense against infection. A medical examination of the components of cough mucus may reveal other revealing findings. For example, among the cells found in the mucus may be so-called malignant cells, typical of lung cancer. Components such as infectious agents, blood, pus, dust, smoke particles or food residues also provide the attending physician with important information. In this way, the cough mucus can be used to diagnose other diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis or tumors. Similarly, allergies and asthma often trigger the formation of cough mucus. What already strikes medical laypersons – the wide range of possible colorations of cough mucus from white to yellow, green, brown to black and the consistency between viscous and friable – provides the examining physician with valuable diagnostic criteria.
Treatment and therapy
Cough mucus occurs as a harmless symptom in the context of an allergy or a cold. The sputum is accompanied by a strong or weak cough. If the cough and its coughing mucus occur for a longer period of time or if it is completely or partially streaked with blood, the cause should be investigated by a physician. Nevertheless, lung cancer should not be immediately thought of. To identify the cause, the doctor asks questions about the symptoms or the sputum itself. Furthermore, he asks important accompanying symptoms such as colds, headaches, hoarseness, etc.. Allergies, intolerances and previous illnesses are also important to mention. Even medications can have an influence on the cough mucus. Finally, it should be determined whether the affected person is a heavy smoker or lives or works in air-polluted environments. This is followed by a holistic examination of the throat, neck and chest. The lungs and heart are listened to with a stethoscope and blood is drawn for further investigation of potential inflammation and pathogens. Similarly, cough mucus is examined in the laboratory to detect germs and pathogens (e.g., tuberculosis). In addition, the cells contained in the sputum are also examined. If there is still uncertainty about the cause of the cough or if the doctor wants to examine the results in more detail, further examinations are useful. Possible further measures could be: Tissue examination (biopsy), mirror examination of the larynx, mirror examination of the bronchi, flushing of the bronchi, computer tomography, and others. The therapy itself is primarily directed against the causative agent of the cough mucus.Most often, these are colds, bronchial asthma or lung cancer. These diseases should therefore be treated. Antibiotics may have to be used for bacterial infections. Furthermore, smoking should be stopped if possible. Dusty and dry air should also be avoided. Natural alternatives are sufficient drinks in the form of water and teas (chamomile tea, fennel tea, anise tea and sage tea). Depending on the final cause, the cough mucus or the disease that leads to sputum is treated. For the harmless cough mucus of a cold, the well-known cough tablets (lozenges) or cough syrup are the classics. Of these medicines, there are both over-the-counter remedies in pharmacies and prescription drugs. The cough medicines are themselves divided into cough expectorants and cough suppressants.
Outlook and prognosis
In many cases, the cough phlegm occurs during a flu or a cold and is a harmless symptom. This disappears again once the underlying illness has been overcome. However, cough mucus may also occur in bronchitis or pneumonia. In this case, the underlying disease must be specifically combated to prevent a life-threatening condition from developing. The affected person should in any case avoid sports or physical activities, as this can cause inflammation of the heart muscle to develop. Heart failure, in turn, can lead to death. Bed rest is also necessary in the case of pneumonia in order to successfully combat the disease. There are relatively many self-help remedies available to the patient for coughing phlegm. However, if the condition persists for a long time, a doctor should be consulted to prevent secondary damage and inflammation. Likewise, the affected person may more easily develop respiratory problems. Treatment is usually with the help of medication.
Prevention
Cough mucus, which are not pathological, can be well prevented by a healthy life with plenty of exercise, fresh air, a healthy diet and the renunciation of smoking. Furthermore, if possible, one should not work or live in air-polluted rooms or areas. A mouth guard can be preventive in the short term, if necessary.
Home remedies and herbs against cough mucus and sputum.
- Aniseed helps against flatulence, cough mucus, asthma and white discharge, and provides a good night’s sleep.
- Prepare cough tea as follows: 5 grams each of ribwort, lungwort, coltsfoot, woolly flower, anise seeds, licorice, hibiscus roots and 10 grams of Icelandic moss.
- Another cough tea they make from half a tablespoon of licorice, half a tablespoon of violet roots, a tablespoon of marshmallow roots, half a tablespoon of coltsfoot leaves, half a tablespoon of woolly flowers and as much anise seeds. From this mixture, they then make a cup of tea from a teaspoon. It is best to sweeten with honey.
- Nettle tea has a blood cleansing and expectorant effect.
- Used as a bath additive, eucalyptus oil dissolves mucus, opens the respiratory system and takes away the irritation of cough. Therefore, this bath is particularly appropriate for colds.
- Spruce needle honey is a good expectorant cough remedy. The flowers of the spruce are prepared for this purpose with sugar.
- Coltsfoot has an appetizing effect and helps with coughs, phlegm and hoarseness.
What you can do yourself
If the patient smokes, then smoking must be abandoned in any case to loosen the cough mucus. In general, a healthy diet and lifestyle also has a positive effect on the symptom and can prevent it as well. The patient should not stay in rooms where the air is polluted. When traveling to countries with highly polluted air, a respiratory mask is suitable. Aniseed helps against the cough mucus. This can be taken in the form of tablets to suck or as a tea. In general, various teas that warm the throat and thus loosen the mucus help here. Nettle tea also has a positive effect on the throat and pharynx and can thus loosen cough mucus. The symptom should generally be treated with heat. This includes sauna sessions, although those affected must assess for themselves whether a visit to the sauna would further strain the probably weakened circulation. If this is the case, sauna sessions should be avoided. However, inhalations with hot water and salt also help with cough mucus and protect the circulation.Bathing with the use of bath additives and essential oils is also advisable to keep the respiratory tract moist. Before going to bed, ointments can be applied to the chest to warm it. Honey has an equally positive effect on cough mucus and can loosen it.
