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Why does phlegm come after coughing?

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Why does phlegm come after coughing?
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      Phlegm (also called sputum) comes after coughing because coughing is the body's primary mechanism for clearing it out of your respiratory system. Here's how it works: Mucus Production: Your respiratory system (from your nose and throat down to your lungs) is lined with mucous membranes that constantRead more

      Phlegm (also called sputum) comes after coughing because coughing is the body’s primary mechanism for clearing it out of your respiratory system. Here’s how it works:

      1. Mucus Production: Your respiratory system (from your nose and throat down to your lungs) is lined with mucous membranes that constantly produce mucus. This mucus is essential for health:

        • It traps inhaled particles like dust, pollen, allergens, viruses, and bacteria.
        • It lubricates the airways.
        • It contains immune cells and antibodies to fight off infections.

      2. Ciliary Clearance: In healthy airways, tiny hair-like structures called cilia continuously sweep this mucus (along with anything trapped in it) upwards towards your throat. You then usually swallow it without noticing.

      3. Increased Mucus/Irritation: When you have an infection (like a cold, flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia), allergies, or are exposed to irritants (like smoke or pollution), your body produces more mucus, and it often becomes thicker and stickier. The cilia might also become less effective at clearing this increased load.

      4. Cough Reflex Triggered: This excess or thickened mucus, or any irritants, trigger “cough receptors” in your throat and airways. These receptors send a signal to your brain.

      5. The Cough Mechanism: Your brain then sends signals back to your respiratory muscles, initiating the cough reflex:

        • You take a deep breath in.
        • Your vocal cords (glottis) close, trapping air in your lungs.
        • Your chest and abdominal muscles contract forcefully, building up pressure in your chest.
        • Suddenly, your vocal cords open, and the trapped air is expelled with great force and speed (sometimes close to 50 miles per hour!).

      6. Expulsion of Phlegm: This forceful blast of air, combined with the dynamic narrowing of your airways during the cough, creates a shearing effect. This shear force dislodges and propels the accumulated mucus (phlegm) from your lungs and airways up into your throat and out of your mouth.

      So, the coughing itself isn’t creating the phlegm; it’s mobilizing and expelling phlegm that has accumulated in your airways due to an underlying condition or irritation. It’s the body’s protective mechanism to prevent these secretions and trapped foreign bodies from entering deeper into the lungs and causing more serious problems

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