Phlegm in the throat, often described as an unpleasant sensation, occurs when mucus flows down the back of the throat. This situation frequently leads to attempts to cough up the phlegm, which may or may not be effective. Many people also experience morning hoarseness after waking up, as the expectoration of phlegm tends to be most intense at this time due to the lying position during sleep. Throat issues, such as the feeling of a lump in the throat, can result in changes to the voice, reduced vocal ability, or even complete loss of voice (aphonia). Affected individuals may have a hoarse voice and a lower tone and struggle with voice loss.
Phlegm with blood from the throat should always be an alarm signal – it may indicate a possible bacterial superinfection or accompany a viral infection but it is also a potential harbinger of other more serious diseases. Regardless of the amount of blood, each hemoptysis should be carefully diagnosed. Increased mucus production occurs in smokers – overproduction of mucus is the body’s defense mechanism against harmful cigarette compounds. It is also worth mentioning that chronically ill people who use inhaled steroids are more susceptible to such hoarseness.
A wet cough allows the expectoration of secretions from the respiratory tract and is a beneficial phenomenon. The thinner, less viscous the phlegm, the easier it is to expectorate. Drugs used in wet coughs thin the phlegm, and some of them also affect better mucociliary transport, which means that they stimulate the movements of the cilia present in the respiratory tract, which move the secretion more efficiently and facilitate its removal. These drugs are called mucolytics and come in various forms, usually in both syrups and tablets.
