Coughing Up Yellow Mucus: Causes and Remedies

Coughing Up Yellow Mucus: Causes and Remedies

In healthy individuals, mucus is transparent and clear in appearance. If you are Coughing Up Yellow Mucus, a bacterial infection is most likely the cause. Most commonly, the first sign of an infection is coughing up mucus that isn’t clear. This is also an indication that your body’s immune system is combating the infection. In order to eradicate this symptom, you need to first determine the cause. Thankfully, there are also numerous home remedies that can provide relief.

Possible Causes of Coughing Up Yellow Mucus
1. Cold or Flu
A common symptom of a cold or flu is coughing up clear or pale yellow colored mucus. Cold and flu are very common causes of a phlegmy cough if there are no other significant symptoms.

2. Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an infection which causes irritation and inflammation in the main airways of the lungs (bronchi). Bronchitis can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections. One of the symptoms is coughing up yellow mucus. Other symptoms include a Sore Throat and fever. A natural remedy that can help relieve bronchitis symptoms is the inhalation of warm and steamy air that has been infused with drops of eucalyptus oil.

3. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. The infection can affect one or both lungs and can cause the air sacs to fill with pus or fluid, which leads to a cough with pus or phlegm. Pneumonia can also be accompanied with difficulty breathing, a fever and/or chills.

4. Sinus Infection
Sinuses, which are normally filled with air, can become blocked with stagnant mucus and filled with fluid. This may create a breeding ground for bacteria and cause a sinus infection which leads to colored phlegm. To help ease the symptoms of sinus infection, drink plenty of water and try nasal irrigation.

5. Allergies
Another common cause of coughing up yellow mucus is the allergic reaction. Many people are allergic to pollen or the skin dander of certain animals. Exposure can cause a person to develop a cough, with colored mucus that is sometimes yellow.

6. Asthma
Those with asthma may experience long periods of coughing, which can be accompanied with colored phlegm. Asthma causes respiratory inflammation and can create an excess amount of mucus that is colored yellow by the inflammatory cells. Other symptoms of asthma include wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

7. Lung Cancer
This is the most serious cause of coughing up yellow mucus. You should seek medical attention if you have been coughing with chest pain for more than two weeks with no sign of improvement. A further indication is if the mucus becomes a pinkish color or infused with blood.

How to Relieve Coughing Up Yellow Mucus
1. Lemon and Honey


Lemon juice is highly acidic and helps to break up the mucus. Lemon tea can be bought at the store or it can also be made at home. Simply mix two teaspoons of lemon juice in a cup of warm water. The inclusion of honey to this mixture will help to soothe your throat.

2. Warm Liquids


Warm liquids can help to break up some of the mucus in your throat and reduce inflammation. Herbal tea such as thyme, marshmallow and horehound leaves can relax the respiratory tract and thin the mucus. Chicken soup can also provide nourishment.

3. Salt Water Gargling


Mix about half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. Place some of the mixture into your mouth. Tilt your head back and gargle. This process, when done several times throughout the day, helps to clear out trapped mucus.

4. Things to Avoid


Many things that we consume can cause phlegm to build up, so you may need to expel these things from your daily dietary routine. Three main things to avoid is smoking, dairy products and the inhalation of chemical products. All of them can lead to the production of excess mucus. It would also be advisable to avoid deep fried fatty foods.

5.

Take an Expectorant
Expectorants are often available over the counter at drug stores. These medications help to break up mucus and make its expulsion from the body far easier, relieving coughing up yellow mucus.

When to See a Doctor
Many things can cause a person to cough up yellow mucus and some of them may warrant a visit to the doctor. It is always advisable to visit a doctor if you have the following experiences:

• You have other symptoms along with the cough, such as shortness of breath, chest pains and/or wheezing.


• You are coughing up blood or blood-infused mucus, even if you only coughed up a small amount.


• You have a loss of appetite or unexplained Weight Loss.


• You have a fever of 101 ºF (38.3 ºC) or higher.


• You have persistent Night Sweats.

Coughing up Yellow Mucus

Coughing up Yellow Mucus






Mucus is also called as phlegm that gets accumulated in the throat. Mucus is thick water like substance taking various colors with respect to the cause of the disease and has to be expelled out of throat. Mucus is produced in the windpipe or trachea. Phlegm means inflammation in Greek. The presence of mucus irritates the windpipe and causes great discomfort and the person feels relieved only after he coughs up mucus.

The color of the mucus is white or colorless. There are several reasons for the formation of mucus. Similarly the color of the mucus can be yellow, brown, black or bloody red and even pink. Often, your doctor will ask for color of the mucus to determine for making right diagnoses.

Coughing up clear mucus is nothing to worry and it can be due to irritation in the respiratory tract.

Diagnoses :

Depending on the symptoms your doctor may order for blood test, sputum test, ECG, CT scan and even chest X-ray. He needs to complete these tests to rule out any chance of having TB.

Causes :

Yellow mucus can be due to viral or bacterial infection and is indicative of inflammation of respiratory tract. Often it is accompanied by Sore Throat and fever during Bronchitis.

Yellow mucus can be indication of chronic bronchitis caused due to excess of smoking and working in pollution prone environment. Tuberculosis can cause yellow mucus with blood traces.

Lastly, Lung Cancer can also cause yellow mucus. But this is not the only symptom since it is accompanied by Weight Loss, loss of appetite and hence you need to consult your physician in case of above symptoms.

It can be due to intense Asthma or allergic reaction that has affected the respiratory tract causing inflammation. The yellow mucus indicates the presence of leucocytes in excess.

In addition, it can be caused due to Pneumonia, cold, Cystic Fibrosis, gammaglobulinemia and allergies. In rare cases, yellow mucus can be caused due to abdominal bloating or fullness of stomach.

Home Remedies :

If you observe yellow mucus without any other serious symptom, you can consider doing these simple home treatments.

Inhale hot vapor in which few drops of eucalyptus or menthol are added. It will readily act on the nostrils to clear the passage. Taking lots of hot beverages like green tea, mint tea can help to ease out congestion. You can also try drinking hot vegetable soups repeatedly. Avoid eating spicy foods and fried items. You can use capsicum which acts as expectorant to ease out the congestion and thinning out mucus. Gargle lukewarm salt water 5-6 times a day to spit out mucus easily and to clear your throat.

Medical Treatment :

In case of severe cold with other symptoms for 2 or 3 days you need to consult your doctor. He would give prescription medications for thinning the mucus and for clearing the air passage gradually.

Coughing up Yellow Mucus – Causes and Treatment

Coughing up Yellow Mucus – Causes and Treatment

What is Phlegm?

The term “phlegm” originates from the word “phlegma” which is Greek for inflammation. This phlegm accumulates in the area of the throat and will need to be coughed up.

In medical terms, phlegm is referred to as “sputum” or “expectorated” matter, meaning “coughed up substance”.

The majority of individuals refer to this as mucus or snot. When a person suffers from some infection or other disorder, this mucus gathers in the throat. This mucus aggravates the air passages and causes discomfort which triggers coughing which expels this mucus.

Allergies, Asthma and infections can cause the respiratory tract to become inflamed and leading to a buildup of cells of inflammation or leukocytes in this mucus. This will cause the mucus to turn yellow. Yellow, thick mucus is a signal of a viral or bacterial infection. Individuals suffering chronic or acute bouts of Bronchitis or Pneumonia that is bacterial will normally cough up yellow thick mucus.

Causes of Yellow Mucus

There are many conditions that cause the cough of mucus that is yellow and these can include:

Pneumonia
Pneumonia that is viral or bacterial causes a more frothy yellow mucus

Allergies or Asthma
Allergies or asthma that is caused by a reaction to some allergen substance
Bronchitis
Bronchitis that is bacterial or viral and will force an individual to cough up yellow mucus and is a definite sign of inflammation. Could also be accompanied by excessive cough, fever and Sore Throat.

You're reading Coughing up Yellow Mucus – Causes and Treatment posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.

Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis causes yellow mucus to be coughed up. It is caused by smoking as well as working in hazardous environments. In this case, the mucus is thick and hard to cough up and might restrict getting oxygen to lungs

Influenza or Flu
Influenza or flu which is a common viral infection of the respiratory system

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most perilous reason for coughing up mucus that is yellow, particularly if accompanied by Weight Loss due to low appetite. This need immediate evaluation by a medical professionals.

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is another cause for coughing up yellow mucus and could also contain traces of blood as well as generally feeling listlessness and having a fever. This is a disease requiring serious treatment and observation for the remainder of life in order to prevent any recurring of the acute phase

Coughing up Yellow Mucus Treatment

There are natural remedies along with OTC medications that may cause temporary relief to the stress of some the above listed conditions, especially viral infections of the sinuses. Here are some remedies that can be considered:

• Solutions for steam inhalations might be helpful in quickly relieving any pressure or congestion in the sinus and nasal cavities when yellow mucus starts to accumulate.


• Smokers need to make a serious attempt to quit smoking.


• Eat foods that are antioxidants as they can boost the immune system as well as help fight the infection.


• Prevent sinus problems by being aware of the possible environmental sinus irritants.


• Acupressure for the sinuses which is also referred to as “sinus pressure point” is a safe and proven very effective way of preventing worse infections from developing.


• Drink lots of room temperature water thru out the day and this thins the mucus for flow that is easier as well as helps to also prevent infections.


• OTC or over the counter drug remedies can be used to primarily relief symptoms

Avoid using the following nasal sprays unless advised by a physician:

• Naphazoline


• Xylometazoline


• Phenylephrine


• Oxymetazoline

• Avoid stress as prolonged stress weakens the immune system


• Very warm baths or showers can stimulate perspiration which helps detoxify the body as well as boost the immune system

If these home remedies do not work or if the symptoms only get worse it is advisable to seek medical treatment as quickly as possible.

Coughing up Yellow Mucus