Phlegm, Mucus (Phlegm)

Phlegm, or mucus, is the non-medical name for phlegm. Sputum is a viscous fluid that is secreted from the respiratory tract.

Phlegm is formed as a result of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. During inflammation, the production of mucus by the cells of the mucous membrane increases. Excess mucus mixes with dead cells and other inflammatory products to form sticky phlegm.

The presence of phlegm is one of the classic symptoms of respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis. Coughing up phlegm helps clear the airways of accumulated mucus and inflammatory products. However, excessive accumulation of phlegm makes breathing difficult and can lead to suffocation.

Therefore, for diseases accompanied by the formation of excess phlegm, mucolytic drugs are prescribed to dilute sputum and facilitate its discharge. In addition, breathing exercises and drinking plenty of fluids are recommended for effective coughing up of phlegm.

Phlegm and mucus are not exactly the same thing. These words have several meanings - it all depends on the context. The adjective "phlegmatic" means having composure and equanimity; The adjective “slimy,” according to the dictionary, comes from the word “mucus,” which forms something flaccid, gelatinous. Other dictionaries give the meaning of “soft” (as an example, “mucous substance” - “colloidal solution”). These words have many different connotations, differing in word order and greater precision of definition.

In medicine, sputum is understood as a pathological secretion of the upper respiratory tract, consisting of bronchial contents, including bronchopulmonary secretions and saliva. The first mention of bronchial secretion is described by Hippocrates, who noted the presence of sputum in patients with tuberculosis. It was he who studied in detail the secrets of various diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Based on these studies, they isolated blood as a special component present only in sputum. Already in the 40s of the 19th century, doctors began to use