Using "Phlegm" in Sentences: Examples and Clinical Context

Example Sentences

• "I have a lot of phlegm in my throat; I need tea to clear it."
• "The phlegm in his lungs made breathing difficult."
• "She coughed up a ball of phlegm and felt relief."
• "The doctor prescribed an expectorant to loosen the phlegm."
• "The phlegm was so thick it was hard to expel."

Usage Notes and Clinical Distinctions

• Phlegm: Mucus secreted by the lower respiratory tract (lungs, bronchi).
• Mucus: Broader term including nasal and sinus secretions.
• Sputum: Phlegm mixed with saliva, expectorated as a clinical specimen.

Color Clues in Phlegm

• Clear: Viral infection, allergies.
• Yellow/Green: Bacterial infection (neutrophils).
• Pink/Frothy: Pulmonary edema (heart failure).
• Blood-tinged: Tuberculosis, cancer, bronchiectasis.