I'm experiencing brown phlegm for the last four days, especially in the morning right after I wake up. It's really concerning, as I need to spit it out and it hurts when I drink water or swallow saliva. Initially, I wasn't able to get it out properly, so I tried gargling with hot salt water, which seemed to help. By the way, I smoke. Do you think this could be related? Should I be worried about this?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Chandra P

General Practitioner

MBBS
5+ Yrs

Consult Now

It sounds like you may have bronchitis, which can be aggravated by smoking. I recommend you to take an expectorant like Mucinex (guaifenesin) 600mg every 12 hours to help loosen the phlegm. Additionally, you can use an over-the-counter cough syrup like Robitussin (dextromethorphan) 10ml every 4-6 hours as needed for cough. It is important to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water throughout the day. If the symptoms persist or worsen, please consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and management.

Dr. Chandra Suggests...

Consult a Pulmonology Respiratory Medicine Specialist

Find a Pulmonology Respiratory Medicine Specialist

Answered 04/07/2025

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I've been struggling to breathe properly for the past 10 months and I've already had two pulmonary function testsone back in December 2017 and another in March 2018. Could you help me understand what the results from these tests mean? I'm really concerned and just want to know what's going on with my lungs.

Pulmonologist opinion is advised to the patient.

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

I'm really worried about my friend who's only 23. Last year she suddenly started coughing up blood, and after all the tests, the X-ray wasn't promising. She consulted Dr. Dinesh, who's a chest specialist, and started on a TB treatment. She finished her TB course just last month, but this morning, she started coughing up blood again. What should we do for her?

It sounds like the patient is experiencing recurrent bleeding after completing TB treatment. Given her history, it's crucial to reassess her condition with further investigations, such as a chest X-ray or sputum test, to rule out any complications or relapse of TB. Immediate consultation with a specialist is recommended for a tailored treatment plan.

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

I'm really worried because I've been having trouble breathing and I often feel uneasy when I breathe. Plus, I've got this cough that's been bothering me for a while. I know it's not tuberculosis, but what else could be causing these symptoms? Should I be checking for something else?

Patient is advised sputum for AFB ,chest xray pa view ,complete blood count and ESR.

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

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Disclaimer: Answers on Apollo 247 are not intended to replace your doctor advice. Always seek help of a professional doctor in case of an medical emergency or ailment.