Why do I get a thick phlegm every morning?
Have you ever woken up in the morning and found out that you have a lot of phlegm inside your throat? If you do, then you might suffer from some health conditions that make excessive mucus production. Mucus is very important in our life. In fact, they act as the first line of defense, helping to filter out any unwanted particles from getting inside your body. They will trap the particles with their sticky nature, then initiating a cough reflex in order to remove the particles outside of your throat. This is a defense mechanism that can help us from getting sick such as sore throat, some infection and also cough. If this mechanism is not working properly, then the barrier can be easily breached. One condition that can make it worse is the excess production of mucus. Excessive production is not good for our health because it can cause blockage to the airway. Too many sticky substances inside the throat can block your airway and as a result, it is getting difficult for you to breath. Some people with this condition even develop a serious complication in the future. So, if you think that you are suffering from the same condition, then feel free to ask a doctor about it. In this article, we will talk about some of the main conditions that can cause excessive mucus or thick phlegm when you wake up in the morning.
- Asthma
Asthma is a common health condition worldwide. There are two types of asthma, Type 1 and also Type 2 asthma. The difference between those two is the age of onset, but the conditions are mainly the same. People with asthma will likely have symptoms such as a productive cough and difficulty breathing. So, in order to overcome this, doctors usually will provide them with certain medications. One important medication is called the salbutamol inhaler. This inhaler is very important in order to reduce asthma attacks and also clear the airway. So, by using the inhaler, you can also reduce the chance of getting a thick phlegm in the morning.
- Infection
Infection such as the one that attacks the lung can also cause a lot of mucus production. If this mucus is not taken out from your throat, it will then stay there and it can maybe trap some virus particles as well, which in turn can cause further infection. Infection such as the common cold can be the main culprit. It can surely cause a runny nose and productive cough and make your condition worse. The only way to get rid of this infection is through medication such as antibiotics. Besides, you can also get yourself protected by taking the Influenza vaccine injection. This vaccine is deemed safe now and can help to boost your immunity level.
- Lung disease
The final common disease that can cause excessive phlegm in the morning is lung diseases such as pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) and also chronic bronchitis. All of these diseases have a characteristic of producing excessive phlegm. This will obviously make it hard for you to breathe since the airway can be blocked by the mucus. If you have any of these diseases, then it is best to meet your doctor as soon as possible. Since the treatment is different for each of the diseases, you might want to discuss the treatment with your doctor. It is recommended to get treatment as fast as you can because there are some chances that these diseases can become worse in the future.