Phlegm in the Throat: What It Means and How to Treat It

What is phlegm accumulation in the throat?

Phlegm is a type of liquid and sticky substance formed in the body, which is produced by the lungs and lower respiratory system. When a person falls ill or has a health problem for a long time, more phlegm starts forming in his body, which can also accumulate in the throat.

If phlegm or phlegm is being formed in more than the normal amount, then it can be a sign of some disease. A person may also have difficulty in removing more than normal phlegm accumulated in the throat. Phlegm accumulated in the throat may contain viruses, bacteria, other waste and dead cells.

(Read more - Wet Cough: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment)

What are the symptoms of phlegm accumulation in the throat?
The phlegm accumulated in the throat makes you feel as if something is stuck in your throat. Also, coughing starts due to the phlegm in the throat, which usually increases a lot at night. Not only this, phlegm in the throat is one of the main causes of cough.

• Apart from coughing and feeling of something stuck in the throat, there are some symptoms that develop when phlegm accumulates in the throat.
• Pain in the throat
• Feeling itchy in the throat
• Nausea
• Habit of clearing the throat frequently
• Habit of spitting or mucus coming out frequently
• Bad breath
• Cough getting worse at night

When To See A Doctor?
If a person is coughing up brown, black or any other coloured phlegm, then in such a situation they should seek help from a doctor. Phlegm formation in the throat can also be a sign of a serious disease, so it is very important to get it examined and treated immediately.

(Read more - Home remedies for dry cough)

Why does phlegm form in the throat?
There are some types of infections like cold and flu, due to which phlegm starts forming in the throat in large amounts or comes out with a cough. There are also some types of allergic reactions, which increase the amount of phlegm in the throat.

Generally, a healthy person needs a normal amount of phlegm, but if it is in large amounts, it causes trouble. The following can be the reasons for excessive phlegm accumulation in the throat:

• Infection
• Allergy
• Any kind of irritation, itching or other problem in the nose, throat or lungs
• Digestive problems like GERD
• Smoking cigarettes or consuming other tobacco products
• Lung related diseases like pneumonia, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis and COPD etc.

(Read more - What is Kapha Dosha?)

There are some home remedies with the help of which the phlegm accumulated in the throat can be removed or reduced. These include the following:

Drinking enough water:
Drinking enough water and other liquids, especially hot beverages, helps in removing the mucus deposited in the throat. Water and other liquid beverages dilute the thick phlegm, due to which it starts coming out of the throat. You can also drink any fruit juice or chicken soup.

Gargle with salt water:
Add a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and gargle several times a day. By doing this, the phlegm deposited in the throat starts coming out and the irritation and problems in the throat also get cured.

Eucalyptus oil:
Eucalyptus oil can also be used to remove the phlegm deposited in the throat. It loosens the phlegm deposited in the throat, due to which it comes out easily with cough. Eucalyptus oil can be added to water and its steam can be inhaled.

Do not smoke:
If you smoke, quit it as soon as possible, because smoking cigarettes etc. causes excessive mucus to accumulate in the throat and chest. You should also stay away from people who smoke.

Do not drink caffeinated beverages and alcohol:
If you drink excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages (such as tea-coffee etc.) or alcohol, it causes dehydration in the body. If mucus forms in your throat, do not drink caffeinated beverages at all and drink plenty of other liquids.

Take care of allergies:
There are also some seasonal allergies, which can cause phlegm to accumulate in the throat. Seasonal allergies cause excessive mucus to form, as well as symptoms like runny nose or blocked nose.

Stay away from allergic substances:
Some types of chemicals, aromatic substances and pollution etc. can cause allergies in the throat as well as the nose and respiratory system. In such a situation, excessive amounts of phlegm start forming.

(Read more - Dry Cough)

How to treat phlegm in the throat?
If the cause of phlegm in the throat is any type of infection or any other health related disease, then the doctor can prescribe some medicines to treat this condition. The doctor can also give some special types of medicines. Which thins the phlegm, so that it comes out easily with cough.

There are also some OTC (available from medical stores without a doctor's prescription) medicines, with the help of which the phlegm deposited in the throat can be thinned and easily removed, such as Guaifenesin. Phlegm in the throat can also be treated with the help of expectorants. This medicine is available for both children and adults and is available from general medical stores.

Note: Before taking any type of medicine, one should consult a doctor about it.

(Read more - Home remedies for cough)

Phlegm accumulation in the throat is a common problem, which is usually caused by cold, allergy, or infection. Phlegm can cause throat irritation, soreness, and coughing, which can cause trouble in breathing and speaking. To reduce it, drinking hot water, taking steam, and consuming honey-lemon are beneficial. Gargling with lukewarm salt water clears the throat and provides relief from phlegm. If phlegm persists for a long time or there is difficulty in breathing, then a doctor should be consulted.