I feel like there is phlegm in my chest and I can’t cough it up

Feeling like there is phlegm in the chest but not being able to cough it up may be caused by upper respiratory tract infection, chronic pharyngitis, sticky phlegm and other reasons. For this symptom, patients need to identify the cause and provide symptomatic treatment. Symptoms can usually be relieved through medication and daily care.

1. Upper respiratory tract infection: often caused by virus invasion, causing irritation of the mucous membrane of the throat and the production of sputum. Drugs such as Compound Paracetamol and Lianhua Qingwen Capsules can be used during treatment to inhibit virus reproduction and control infection.

2. Chronic pharyngitis: Long-term smoking and other factors may cause chronic pharyngitis, dry throat and foreign body sensation in the pharynx. Patients can take Qinghou Liyan granules, Yiqing capsules, etc. as directed by the doctor to clear away heat and detoxify and improve pharyngeal symptoms.

3. Thick sputum: Insufficient drinking water or a dry environment may make the phlegm thick and difficult to cough up. At this time, you should increase your water intake, such as drinking more warm water or honey water, and use a humidifier to increase indoor air humidity if necessary.

4. Respiratory muscle weakness: When the body is weak or suffers from neurological diseases, it may lead to respiratory muscle weakness and affect expectoration. Treatment needs to be targeted at the original disease, and respiratory function exercises can be performed to enhance respiratory muscle strength.

5. Airway obstruction or chronic respiratory disease: The entry of foreign bodies or the growth of tumors in the airway may cause airway obstruction, and chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis can also make it difficult to cough up sputum. These situations require prompt medical treatment, and measures such as surgery and drug treatment should be taken according to the specific situation.

During the treatment process, in addition to taking medications for specific causes, patients can also consider using expectorant drugs such as ambroxol hydrochloride, bromhexine, etc. to help dilute sputum and promote its discharge.

To sum up, there may be many reasons for coughing up phlegm in the chest. Patients should carefully analyze the symptoms, seek professional medical advice, and combine drug treatment with daily care in order to achieve an early recovery.