Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 31/05/2016 10:50:02

Title: Why does coughing restrict my lungs?
Post by: thedoc on 31/05/2016 10:50:02

Gale Gaffley asked the Naked Scientists:
   Whenever i cough up saliva.  My lungs wants to close up. Its very scary doc.
What do you think?

Title: Re: Why does coughing restrict my lungs?
Post by: RD on 31/05/2016 13:16:57

Quote from: thedoc on 31/05/2016 10:50:02

Whenever i cough up saliva.  My lungs wants to close up. ...

If you cough-up stuff that's called a productive cough (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003072.htm) , the stuff is called mucous/phlegm/sputum , (but not saliva).

Coughing [up stuff] is not a cause of your breathing problem, it's a symptom.

Most probable reason for a productive cough would be infection, which could be treatable by your doctor.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/pages/introduction.aspx