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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Coughing Of Thick Yellow Phlegm?

I 22 and have smoked for 3 years. I get broncides twice or three times a year. I don t cough that often but during the day I will have a quick cough and cough up thick yellow flem. What does that mean? I need to quit smoking don t i? I was planning on quoting in a year after I graduate but I wanted to know if I needed to quit now and if I have something severe. I m scared and now super nervous :(
Thu, 18 Jun 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
do you have intermittent or continuous fever,malaise or breathing difficulty?..if yes u must have infection your lungs(mostly) or resp. tract.yellow phlegm commonly indicates an ongoing bacterial infection.you can take antibiotics if your infection is severe..if your duration of cough is more than 3 weeks i guess it may be aresult of a chronic infection,most commonly TB..since you are a smoker(though 3 years is not that long),u have incresead chance of getting COPD,which will be characterised by regular periods of infectious exacerbations and remissions..yes QUIT SMOKING..no doubt in that..
PLS VISIT YOUR NEARBY DOC IF U HAV ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:.
IF YOUR COUGH IS MORE THAN FOR 3 WEEK,
WEIGHT LOSS,
BREATHING DIFFICULTY,
HIGH FEVER,
BLOOD IN YOUR SPUTUM
Hope that helps...get well soon
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What Causes Coughing Of Thick Yellow Phlegm?

do you have intermittent or continuous fever,malaise or breathing difficulty?..if yes u must have infection your lungs(mostly) or resp. tract.yellow phlegm commonly indicates an ongoing bacterial infection.you can take antibiotics if your infection is severe..if your duration of cough is more than 3 weeks i guess it may be aresult of a chronic infection,most commonly TB..since you are a smoker(though 3 years is not that long),u have incresead chance of getting COPD,which will be characterised by regular periods of infectious exacerbations and remissions..yes QUIT SMOKING..no doubt in that.. PLS VISIT YOUR NEARBY DOC IF U HAV ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:. IF YOUR COUGH IS MORE THAN FOR 3 WEEK, WEIGHT LOSS, BREATHING DIFFICULTY, HIGH FEVER, BLOOD IN YOUR SPUTUM Hope that helps...get well soon