Sit on a chair with your shoulders relaxed and feet on the floor. Placing the palms of your hands, with fingers interlocked, tight against your stomach, inhale deeply through your nose. As you exhale, lean forward and push your hands gently into your tummy, and cough 2 or 3 times with your mouth slightly open.
Inhaling steam helps to loosen the mucus in your system so you can get rid of it easier. The easiest way to inhale steam is to turn on your shower to fill your bathroom with steam, but you can alternatively breathe in the steam emitting from a boiling pot of water.
Physical activity can be one of the best ways to help clear sputum out of your lungs. Physical activity that makes you breathe more deeply and quickly which will loosen the sputum and move it through your lungs, towards your mouth. It is important to be active and use an Airway Clearance Technique.
If your cough is frequent or productive (you're coughing up phlegm) and interferes with your ability to breathe properly when your heart rate is up, you should consider resting until the cough has improved.
Mucus in the lungs is known as phlegm or sputum. It is a common symptom in chronic lung diseases such as COPD (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, NTM lung disease or asthma.
Don't exercise if your signs and symptoms are "below the neck," such as chest congestion, a hacking cough or upset stomach.
Yes. While the presence of mucus may indicate an underlying issue, coughing up phlegm is a good thing because it helps clear irritants, allergens and infections out of your system.
"Many say they feel better after working out and notice improvement in symptoms such as congestion. However, make sure you are well hydrated. If you are dehydrated, symptoms could intensify when working out."
What Foods Can Increase Mucus? It might not surprise you to learn that most processed foods contain artificial sweeteners, sodium, and thickening agents—all of which can increase mucus production [4]. Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, or ice cream can do the same.
Common Symptoms of Mucus Buildup in the Lungs:
Difficulty Sleeping. Sore Throat. Chest Congestion. Cough that Produces Phlegm.
So, to answer your questions: The phlegm itself isn't toxic or harmful to swallow. Once swallowed, it's digested and absorbed. It isn't recycled intact; your body makes more in the lungs, nose and sinuses. It doesn't prolong your illness or lead to infection or complications in other parts of your body.
So here's the big question: Should you spit or swallow your phlegm? Even though it might taste nasty, “there's nothing wrong with swallowing it,” Dr. Comer says. In fact, that's probably what your body expects you to do, which is why phlegm naturally drains down into the back of your throat.
An infection can make mucus thicker and stickier. Infections also lead to inflammation in the mucous membranes that line the nose and the rest of your airway. This can cause certain airway glands to make more mucus. That mucus can get thick with bacteria and cells that arrive to fight the infection.
Drinking ginger tea for a few times in a day can help in eliminating excess mucus. Excessive cough and mucus can be eliminated with the help of cayenne pepper. Capscaicin is a compound in cayenne pepper which helps in thinning of mucus.
Warm and Spicy. Heat helps to thin and expel mucus. Warm vegetable based soups made with immune boosting bone broth (recipe here) is a must. Using warming herbs and spices in your meals like cumin, ginger, cayenne, chilli, turmeric, oregano, thyme, sage and cinnamon is a great idea.
Savor some pineapple.
Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples known for its ability to help break up excess sinus mucus and reduce the production of mucus often caused by allergies. Drink pineapple juice, grill the rings for a nice side dish or enjoy the fruit alone or in salads to help relieve allergy congestion.
Lean forward over the back of a chair at an angle of 30 degrees. Extend your legs back to support your body. Rest your elbows on the bed and fold in your arms. Hold this posture for around five minutes to aid in mucus drainage from the posterior segment of the lungs.