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What Causes Coughing Up Of Black Phlegm?
hi! i am a 26 year old male who has been smoking poppers- (pot and tobacco mixed) from a water bong for about 4 years now. i have noticed that i cough up a lot of black mucus in the last year or so, and i am a bit concerned. i hit around 4-6 bowls a day. i know its bad and need to stop and am trying. i would like to know the health effects from these after a long time of use. like what the black mucus is. it will help me stop if i know. just dont want to have a heart attack before i reach 30. i also have noticed some chest pains where it feels like my chest needs to expand and crack in the middle. thank you for your time and patience with this issue.
Mon, 3 Mar 2025
Hello,
Your habit for the past 4 years is not at all tolerable by your lungs. The black mucus that too very copious amounts is due to:
- The smoke you inhale daily that settles in lungs as sticky tar and leads to black phlegm
- Certain fungal infections like mucormycosis can also cause black phlegm
- Lung cancer
- Bronchiectasis
- Sarcoidosis
In your case, it's purely due to the smoking of pot and tobacco and their deposition in lungs leading to lungs damage. The only treatment is to quit smoking immediately so that your lungs can recover in 6 months to 1 year. Please stop smoking. That can also lead to early heart attacks and brain strokes. Once get your ECG and a 2D echo done by a cardiologist as you have been complaining of recent chest pain.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
Your habit for the past 4 years is not at all tolerable by your lungs. The black mucus that too very copious amounts is due to:
- The smoke you inhale daily that settles in lungs as sticky tar and leads to black phlegm
- Certain fungal infections like mucormycosis can also cause black phlegm
- Lung cancer
- Bronchiectasis
- Sarcoidosis
In your case, it's purely due to the smoking of pot and tobacco and their deposition in lungs leading to lungs damage. The only treatment is to quit smoking immediately so that your lungs can recover in 6 months to 1 year. Please stop smoking. That can also lead to early heart attacks and brain strokes. Once get your ECG and a 2D echo done by a cardiologist as you have been complaining of recent chest pain.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
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