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Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (the trachea and bronchi).In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for a naked eye examination, microbiological investigation of respiratory infections and cytological investigations of respiratory systems.
Phlegm is more related to disease than mucus, and can be troublesome for the individual to excrete from the body. Phlegm is a thick secretion in the airway during disease and inflammation. Phlegm usually contains mucus with virus, bacteria, other debris, and sloughed-off inflammatory cells.
Thickening of mucus as a "rebound" effect following overuse of decongestants may produce nasal or sinus drainage problems and circumstances that promote infection. During cold, dry seasons, the mucus lining nasal passages tends to dry out, meaning that mucous membranes must work harder, producing more mucus to keep the cavity lined.
Also known as phlegm, mucus is made up of mostly water, but it also contains "remnants of skin-lining cells (epithelial cells), antimicrobial enzymes, proteins and inorganic salts," explains Nasseri.
Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically as a persistent cough that produces sputum (phlegm) and mucus, for at least three months in two consecutive years. Chronic bronchitis is often the cause of "smoker's cough". The tobacco smoke causes inflammation, secretion of mucus into the airway, and difficulty clearing that mucus out of the airways.
Excess mucus can narrow the airways, thereby limiting airflow and accelerating the decline in lung function, and result in COPD. [35] [40] Excess mucus shows itself as a chronic productive cough and its severity and volume of sputum can fluctuate in periods of acute exacerbations. [35]
Both oncologists say that other signs of lung cancer include coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (mucus), hoarseness in your voice, feeling weak or tired, recurrent lung infections like ...
The term loogie is typically used to refer to sputum, a mixture of phlegm and nasal mucus expectorated from the throat by coughing.It may also refer to: Hocking a loogie, inhaling hard to force nasal mucus to collect at the back of the throat, then spitting it out, typically resulting in a loud throat-clearing sound.