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Airway mucus is a normal part of the body’s defense system. It helps trap dust and germs before they reach deeper into the lungs.
But in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the airways may make too much mucus. Although some mucus is good, excess mucus contributes to coughing, wheezing, and chest congestion.
Too much mucus can also increase your risk of lung infections. It promotes COPD exacerbations (flares), which are episodes when your symptoms can be particularly intense.
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The good news is that there are several strategies that can help control mucus in COPD. Here’s what you should know.
One of the most common types of COPD is chronic bronchitis. In chronic bronchitis, long-term irritation and inflammation promote mucus production. This extra mucus is part of the body’s attempt to protect itself.
Normally, you clear extra mucus by coughing it out. But COPD can weaken your coughing muscles. Over time, this makes it harder to get rid of excess mucus.
Lung disease can also damage tiny hair-like structures called cilia. Cilia help move mucus toward the throat so you can cough it out. Airway inflammation and narrowing can make this process harder. As a result, mucus gets trapped.
Too much mucus can contribute to common COPD symptoms such as:
Mucus isn’t always a sign that COPD is getting worse. However, any changes in the amount, color, or thickness of mucus are worth discussing with your healthcare provider. Mucus changes could signal a COPD flare or a respiratory infection.
Here’s what you can do to help manage COPD mucus at home.
It’s essential to avoid smoking when you have COPD. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best steps you can take to protect your lungs and slow COPD progression.
Secondhand cigarette smoke can also irritate the airways. Other potential triggers include:
Find which substances make your breathing or coughing worse and limit your exposure.
When outdoor air pollution is high, check local air-quality information. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity until conditions improve.
Medicines don’t all work the same way. Not every COPD medicine directly reduces mucus.
However, prescribed treatments can help open the airways, reduce symptoms, and lower the risk of exacerbations.
Bronchodilator inhalers relax the muscles around the airways. This helps air move more easily. Some inhaled medicines also contain corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids can reduce airway inflammation, making it easier to breathe and reducing the risk of COPD exacerbations.
It’s essential to use inhalers correctly. Using inhalers incorrectly can mean less medicine reaches the lungs. Ask your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use your inhaler, so you can get the most from treatment.
A nebulizer turns liquid medicine into a mist. Then, you inhale the mist through a mouthpiece or mask. Depending on the medicine, nebulized therapy may help open the airways or support mucus clearance.
In patients with chronic bronchitis and repeated exacerbations, anti-inflammatory medications such as phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors and antibiotics have been shown to reduce exacerbations.
Another type of medication, called mucolytics, can also help. Mucolytic medicines work by making mucus less thick and sticky. They can make it easier to cough up mucus. But mucolytics aren’t right for everyone with COPD.
Drinking plenty of water keeps mucus thinner and easier to cough up. However, some people with COPD have other health conditions that limit fluid intake.
If you’ve been told to restrict fluids because of a heart, kidney, or other medical condition, ask your healthcare provider how much you should drink.
Drinking extra fluids isn’t a miracle cure. But staying hydrated could help you feel better and less congested overall.
A respiratory therapist or pulmonologist (lung doctor) can teach you breathing exercises to help clear your airways. Here are some examples of what they might recommend.
A huff cough is a technique you can use to clear your airways. It can help move mucus so it’s easier to cough it out.
To try a huff cough, you’ll need to:
Postural drainage involves lying in different positions on the bed or the floor. You’ll want to do it on an empty stomach about 30 minutes after using your inhaler.
Three positions you can try include:
Hold each position for at least three minutes. Do deep belly breathing. If you need to cough, sit up and practice controlled coughing.
Lightly pound on your chest or back with a cupped hand (or have a friend do it for you). The motion helps loosen the mucus in your lungs.
Avoid hitting your spine and breastbone. Your healthcare provider can provide guidance on how to do this at home before you try it.
Physical activity can help maintain strong breathing. Moving your body may also keep mucus moving and your airways clearer.
You don’t need to exercise a ton to get some benefits. Walking, gentle cycling, or other activities recommended by your healthcare team can help.
If you get very short of breath, dizzy, or unusually tired, stop. Follow your COPD action plan. Seek medical guidance on how to exercise safely.
Pulmonary rehabilitation can be particularly helpful for people who have trouble staying active because of COPD. These supervised programs combine exercise training, education, and strategies for managing your symptoms.
Dry air can irritate the airways. This may make mucus feel thicker. Using a humidifier can offer relief, particularly when the air is very dry.
However, humidifiers aren’t right for everyone. Adding moisture to the air doesn’t directly reduce mucus production.
In addition, a poorly cleaned humidifier can grow mold or bacteria. If you use a humidifier, follow the cleaning instructions carefully.
Warm showers may also help you breathe easier. But don’t rely on shower steam for a COPD flare that needs medical attention.
Knowing what’s normal for you can make it easier to recognize a change that needs medical attention. Mucus may normally be clear. A sudden increase in the amount of phlegm, thicker-than-usual mucus, or a change in color may mean there’s a problem.
White mucus contains white blood cells (immune cells). If your mucus is light and creamy, you could be fighting a small cold or dealing with typical COPD-related irritation.
Yellow or green mucus can be from a lung infection. However, mucus color alone can’t diagnose a bacterial infection or tell you if you need antibiotics.
Your healthcare provider will also consider any other symptoms, like more coughing or shortness of breath, fever, chest discomfort, or unusual fatigue. They may also run tests to pinpoint the type of infection before treating it.
A COPD flare may be triggered by respiratory infections, air pollution, smoke, or other factors. Sometimes, there’s no obvious trigger.
Possible warning signs include:
If you’ve been given a COPD action plan, follow it when your symptoms change. Tell your healthcare provider if your symptoms are worsening or aren’t getting better.
Severe breathing difficulty requires immediate medical attention. Seek emergency care if you can’t catch your breath. Signs such as bluish or gray lips or fingernails, rapid heartbeat, confusion, or chest pain should be taken very seriously.
Don’t assume that a major change in breathing or mucus is simply part of your COPD. Other conditions can cause symptoms that seem like a COPD flare but need different treatment.
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