Irritation of the airways by infections, inflammation, inherited disorders or structural abnormalities can cause increased mucus production and coughing up phlegm. Hair-like projections on the cells, lining the airways, move mucus up and out of...
Coughing up phlegm, also known as mucus or sputum, is the result of many conditions affecting the lungs. After the nose or mouth, air is inhaled into the trachea, or windpipe, which extends from the back of the throat through the neck and into the...
Bronchitis refers to inflammation of the air passages that lead to the lungs, including the distal part of the trachea and the bronchi. While physicians usually consider bronchitis to be due to an infection, allergens and environmental irritants...
A sinus polyp headache shows the same symptoms as a sinus headache caused by bacteria or viruses. Only a doctor can determine the exact precipitating factor. If you do have nasal polyps or other obstructions to your breathing, they will engender...
There are two major forms of tuberculosis: latent, in which the infection is inactive and can't be spread to other people, and active, in which the infection is contagious. Of these, active tuberculosis is the more severe form. Patients who...
Nasal congestion is common to several health conditions. Chronic rhinitis, or stuffy and drippy nose, is diagnosed by first ruling out a transitory virus. An upper respiratory infection such as a cold or flu will pass within a week or two....
If you have a cough and want to use a natural expectorant, a substance that helps thin the mucus in your airways so you can cough up phlegm, you have a wide variety of herbs to choose from. Although there's little scientific research on most of...
Children cough up phlegm when suffering from colds, coughs and other respiratory infections. On average, children suffer from six to 12 infections per year. Green- and yellow-based phlegm is a natural part of the healing process. Phlegm is often...
Tuberculosis is an infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has fueled the resurgence of the disease and the widespread occurrence of drug resistance. The most common presentation is an infection of the lungs, called...
Cancer of the lungs occurs when cancerous cells begin to grow within the delicate lung tissue or along the airway passages. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, accounting for the deaths of nearly...
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by exposure to a type of bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are two forms of TB: latent TB and active TB. Patients with latent TB do not experience symptoms and are not contagious,...
A healthy respiratory system uses breathing and circulation to extract oxygen from air, feed it growing cells and rid the body of carbon dioxide, or CO2 waste on a continual basis. Smoking cigarettes upsets this natural rhythm and balance, forcing...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. It is resistant to several antibiotics usually used to treat Staphylococcus--or staph--infections. MRSA infections increased from 2 percent of...
When your toddler has a cold, a congested chest makes sleeping and breathing uncomfortable -- but safe, natural remedies might help. Chest congestion occurs when mucus builds up in the lungs, causing wheezing and coughing. In some cases, a...
Cloves are a pungent spice used in baking as well as some ethnic dishes and beverages. Besides adding a spicy flavor to foods, cloves also offer some health benefits. You may purchase cloves, clove oil or clove supplements at most natural foods...
Breathing, the inspiration and expiration of air from the lungs, involves a number of tissues. Breath is inhaled through the nose or mouth, travels down the larynx and into the tubes of the lungs, which are called the bronchi and bronchioles. Air...
If you purchase an over-the-counter expectorant, the active ingredient is almost certain to be guaifenesin. Guaifenesin thins secretions in the lungs and nasal passages, makes it easier to cough up phlegm and eases lung congestion. Guaifenesin has...
Coughing with constant phlegm is typically caused by an infection present somewhere in the respiratory tract. According to MayoClinic.com, coughing with phlegm can be caused by the common cold. People who suffer from tuberculosis or bronchitis can...
Differentiating a sinus infection from a cold or the flu is the best way to "do the right thing" in getting well. Acute sinusitis comes on rapidly, as opposed to chronic or milder respiratory conditions. If you notice that you feel warm at the...
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects more than 30,000 infants, toddlers, children and adults throughout the United States, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This inherited condition is the result of a gene mutation that...
According to the online medical library Merck Manuals, heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump a sufficient amount of blood to meet the body's nutrition and oxygen needs. Merck Manuals also reports that heart failure...
Clove is an aromatic herb that is native to tropical regions of Asia and South America. The dry flower bud of the clove plant is used as a spice in several cuisines for its taste and flavor. The oil extracted from the leaves, flower buds and stems...
While individuals with congestive heart failure, or CHF, may take precautions with their cardiovascular health, they may be unaware of the need to guard against mold exposure. Among the features of CHF, breathing disturbances combine with heart...
Asbestos refers to naturally occurring minerals that were frequently used in building materials due to their fire-resistant properties. When asbestos is cut it can release a fine dust made up of tiny asbestos fibers. Extensive exposure to asbestos...
Morphine sulfate ER is a controlled substance available in oral tablet and capsule forms. It is an extended-release formulation of morphine sulfate, a strong pain medication. This medicine is given when more than a few days of moderate to severe...
Nilgiri oil, also known as eucalyptus oil, is an ingredient often used in over-the-counter cold remedies and cough syrups. Many people use eucalyptus as a treatment for relieving congestion due to colds, flu, sinusitis and bronchitis. Cold...
There are many reasons for coughing, ranging from colds and flu to allergies, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and choking on a piece of food. Many coughs develop into tight congestion in the chest with little or no expectoration. It is often...
Got a cold? The pesky symptoms of a cold are always a major discomfort and inconvenience, but it's even worse during pregnancy. And, the University of Michigan Health System says that a cold is even tougher to get rid of during pregnancy because...
Your child may have a productive cough, which is one that brings up phlegm. Your child's cough may be particularly acute after a bacterial respiratory infection, a bout with the flu or another virus. Other causes of a particularly severe cough...
