Clear phlem and cough

[Aprfife]

Hi all, I have congestive heart failure was diagnosed in June I have now developed a cough and clear phlem mostly when lying down but also standing. Does anyone else suffer from this and know what causes it any help appreciated.

[cowparsley]

Good morning.I also have congestive HF and was told as long as the phlegm`s clear it`s nothing to worry about but if it`s worrying you please see your GP just to be on the safe side. Good luck.

[Aprfife in reply to cowparsley]

Thank you

[jimmyq]

I have had a persistent cough for 3 years now and it has been investigated. No cause was found. It has been put down to "age". If it goes yellow it could mean that you have an infection. You have an early warning system now!

[Aprfife in reply to jimmyq]

Thank you

[ILowe]

For the last few years I have been battling with clear phlegm which often has green elements. The battle gets worse over time. First I find a problem, fix it, then have no problems, then another problem arises.

1/ Lack of Vitamin D. Testing costs a fortune, so presume you are low on it, and take a decent safe size. I take 2000IU capsules, which is more than the tiny ones beloved of doctors.

2/ A beta blocker. When the cardiologist took me off this, the problem went away for a few years.

3/ Pollution, and sensitivity to pollution. I have now moved and hope to see if my lungs improve

4/ Taking advice from the Cystic Fibrosis people (they are the real experts on this) to drink copiously even in winter

5/ Any hint of asthma, so, appropriate medication, either a course, or the salbutamol on demand, whichever works for you.

6/ A physiotherapist trained me to clear my lungs 3x daily. I was breathing in a way that forced the phlegm down in the lungs. The mucus needs to come up, and come up promptly, to avoid infection building up.

7/ Fixing the posture I take for working at the computer

There is probably more. That will do for now.

[jimmyq in reply to ILowe]

How do you clear your lungs?

[ILowe in reply to jimmyq]

OK. It is difficult to explain and i have got a bit rusty and there are several considerations. Next time I see my physio I will try and video it.

1/ lie down on your back. Ideally put your hands behind your head. This is uncomfortable for me so, compromise needed.

2/ First practice breathing with your diaphragm, which means your stomach should go up and down. Simply breathing from your diaphragm will help a lot.

3/ breath slowly -- you must not hyperventilate

4/ Deeply exhale,

5/ Slowly inhale, fill up using your diaphragm first, then your chest.

6/ Slowly exhale, diaphragm first then chest. This encourage the mucus to move upwards rather than downwards. While slowly exhaling, create some positive pressure in your lungs which opens up the alveoli. You do this by narrowing your lips as if you were whistling.

Do the cycle ten times. Resist coughing. Then cough, in a special relaxed huff, not forced. Do a few short coughs, relaxed not strained. If mucus comes up, great, try again. Then do another ten cycles. Do the coughing. Repeat a third time if needed.

Supposed to do this three times a day. About five minutes per session.

[jimmyq in reply to ILowe]

Thanks. I'll give it a whirl.

[series1]

I sleep on a foam wedge so the phlegm doesn't make me cough as much, instead I have a good coughing session in the morning to clear my lungs. There are medications that might help, ask your GP. I have inhalers and they seem to work.