Coughing up white mucus: Causes and treatments - Medical News Today

Posted: 10 Aug 2020 12:00 AM PDT

There are several potential causes of a cough that produces white mucus. We outline some examples below.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes acute inflammation of the airways within the lungs. Factors that commonly trigger this inflammation include:

A person who is having an asthma attack may experience the following symptoms:

Coughing up white mucus is not an immediate cause for concern. However, coughing up a lot of mucus may lead to a worsening of asthma symptoms. The reason for this is that excess mucus can clog up the airways, making it more difficult for a person to breathe.

Treatment

Once a doctor has diagnosed asthma, they will likely prescribe an asthma inhaler. The inhaler typically contains a bronchodilator, which is a medication that helps relax the muscles around the airways. This relaxation makes it easier for a person to breathe during an asthma attack.

Home remedies

The following home remedies can lessen the severity or frequency of asthma symptoms:

avoiding irritants or allergens, such as:
taking antihistamines to help control allergies
trying relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness, to reduce stress-related symptoms

Upper respiratory tract infections

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), such as the common cold or flu, can cause a cough that produces white mucus. These infections occur due to viruses.

The symptoms of a URTI begin as soon as 10–12 hours after infection with a virus and can last up to 3 weeks.

The common cold and flu share a number of symptoms, including:

In addition, the flu may cause fever and chills.

Treatment

A flu vaccination will reduce a person's risk of developing the flu.

If a person already has the flu, their doctor may prescribe antiviral treatment to shorten the length of flu symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Antivirals are most effective when people take them within 48 hours of symptom onset.

Home remedies

The common cold typically goes away within 7–10 days. In the meantime, the following over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help alleviate the symptoms:

OTC pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen
decongestants to relieve a blocked nose
OTC cold medications containing a combination of pain relievers and decongestants

People should note that decongestants are not suitable for use in children.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the medical term for infection and inflammation of the bronchi within the lungs. The bronchi are the main airways that lead from the trachea into the lungs.

Most cases of acute bronchitis are viral and develop following a URTI. However, people may also develop bronchitis after exposure to the following irritants:

smoke
polluted air
dust

The symptoms of bronchitis include:

a cough that produces clear, white, or yellowish mucus
difficulty breathing
wheezing
a sore throat
a runny nose
fever

Treatment

A doctor may prescribe steroids or beta-2 agonists to help reduce inflammation of the airways. These medications should help a person breathe more easily.

Doctors may also prescribe codeine to suppress coughing episodes. However, codeine is highly addictive, and people should not take this medication for longer than their doctor recommends.

Home remedies

OTC cough suppressants may help reduce the frequency or severity of coughing episodes. Sucking throat lozenges may also help alleviate any throat soreness resulting from prolonged coughing.

The following lifestyle changes may also help reduce the severity and duration of bronchitis symptoms:

quitting smoking
avoiding pollutants
avoiding exposure to known irritants or allergens
receiving regular vaccinations for the flu and pneumonia

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition that makes it difficult for a person to breathe. The condition can involve one or more of the following:

thickening and inflammation of the airways
damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
loss of elasticity within the airways and alveoli
overproduction of mucus within the airways, which can worsen breathing difficulties

People typically develop COPD following prolonged exposure to lung irritants. The most common lung irritant in the United States is cigarette smoke. However, prolonged exposure to pipe and cigar smoke can also cause COPD.

People who have regular exposure to high levels of the following may also be at increased risk of developing COPD:

Some possible symptoms of COPD include:

a persistent or productive cough
shortness of breath, especially after physical activity
a wheezing or whistling sound when breathing
tightness in the chest

Treatment

The type of treatment for COPD will depend on the severity of the disease. Possible treatment options include:

Bronchodilators: Medications that assist breathing by relaxing the muscles around the airways.
Steroids: Medications that assist breathing by reducing airway inflammation.
Pulmonary rehabilitation: A program that helps people manage chronic lung conditions. It may consist of the following:
- physical exercises
- breathing exercises
- health education
- advice on symptom management
- counseling
Oxygen therapy: Delivery of extra oxygen into the body via a mask or nasal prongs. Oxygen therapy helps people with COPD receive enough oxygen for their body's needs.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): Doctors have also used CPAP to treat mild cases of COPD. Positive airway pressure pumps air from a small bedside machine through a tube and into a mask that covers the nose, mouth, or both while a person sleeps.

If a person has severe COPD, their doctor may recommend surgery to remove all or part of the damaged lung. However, a doctor will typically only recommend surgery if medications and lifestyle changes have not helped with the symptoms of COPD.

Home remedies

There is no cure for COPD. However, people can take the following steps to help manage the symptoms at home:

stopping smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
receiving regular vaccinations against the flu and pneumonia
performing gentle exercises to maintain muscle strength
following a meal plan to maintain a moderate weight

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