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咳嗽
咳嗽是自然的反射。这是您身体清除刺激物（例如粘液，过敏原或烟雾）并防止感染的方式。
Coughs are often categorized as dry or productive. Aproductive cough从肺部提出痰（粘液，痰液和其他物质）。
粘液形成一种保护性涂层，可使刺激性和细菌远离气道的细腻和敏感的组织。我们的鼻子和鼻窦produce平均大约升每天的粘液。
喉咙和肺的气道也产生粘液。当我们对一个人做出反应时，身体会产生更多的粘液过敏或感冒或感染。
If you’re coughing up mucus, it’s an indication that you have an irritation or possible呼吸道感染.
固体白色粘液
当您咳嗽厚实的白色粘液时，这可能是您气道中有细菌感染的信号。这种感染可能需要您的医生处方抗生素。
Foamy white mucus
Mucus that contains bubbles and is foamy is commonly referred to as frothy sputum. Frothy sputum can sometimes be a sign of:
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- 肺炎
- 肺水肿(such as from heart failure)
如果您要咳嗽泡沫痰，请与您的医生一起检查此症状和其他症状。
Looking at the color of the mucus you’re coughing up isn’t an effective diagnostic tool on its own. The most effective way of identifying bacterial infections is by testing a sample of the sputum in a laboratory.
But mucus color can play a role in determining what’s going on in your respiratory system.
A2012 studypublished in the European Respiratory Journal showed the following results from sputum samples that were positive for bacterial growth when cultured:
- Clear phlegm tested positive for bacteria capable of causing infection in 18 out of every 100 samples.
- 黄痰含有能够在每100个样品中46个引起感染的细菌。
- 绿色痰液中包含能够在每100个样品中59种引起感染的细菌。
Clear mucus
如果您要咳嗽浅色或透明的粘液，则可能表明您正在处理过敏，或者您的呼吸道中有轻微的感染。
黄色或绿色粘液
If you’re coughing up yellow or green mucus, it might indicate that you have a respiratory infection.
Your mucus changes color because of defensive enzymes that your immune system is releasing. A green tint comes from an iron-containing enzyme, for example.
There are a number of steps you can take to clear mucus, including the following:
- 你自己留着水合by drinking plenty of fluids — especially water. If you become dehydrated, your mucus can get thicker, which, in turn, may make your cough worse.
- Rest and conserve your energy for fighting off the infection that could be the trigger for your mucus production.
- 考虑非处方药。示例包括：
- 瓜菲烯等期望者（Mucinex)
- decongestants such as oxymetazoline nasal spray (Afrin,SudafedOM)
- pseudoephedrine (Contac 12-Hour, Dimetapp Decongestant)
- antitussives such as dextromethorphan (Triaminic Cold and Cough,Robitussin Cough).
Consult with your doctor — especially if your symptoms become worse or don’t go awayafter 9 days.
Try anover-the-counter medicationto relieve your symptoms.