“Trouble clearing my throat?”
I have extreme flem and have to clear my throat and it gets worse when I lay down.
Male | 60 years old
2 Answers
You need check for allergies and also gastric reflux disease
Phlegm in throat come from 3 main sources:
- postnasal drip from sinuses (due to allergies like hay fever or respiratory infection like the common cold) - you can try OTC (over-the-counter) Cetirizine (Zyrtec) or Cetirizine-D (Zyrtec-D), which has decongestant if you are stuffy (caution: do not take decongestants like sudafed/pseudoephedrine if you have high blood pressure or enlarged prostate).
- non-med treatments include saline nasal spray, vick's vapor rub (generic store brand works fine), steaming with vick's (boil water in small pot, carefully place on trivet on table, put tiny amount of solid vick's vapor rub into the hot water, cover your head with a towel, eyes closed & breath in the vapor/steam for ten minutes; remove the towel and blow your nose - repeat as needed)
- lungs (like asthma) - this is often seen in persons with hay-fever type allergies; asthma requires treatment with Rx inhalers & you need to see a doctor for this.
- GI tract (gastrointestinal issues from stomach/esophagus like heartburn/acid reflux; there is an entity called silent reflux/GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) where there is cough/phlegm without feeling the reflux) - you can try OTC Omeprazole (Prilosec) or Famotidine (Pepcid). Note: the OTC doses of GI meds are always lower than the prescription doses given by doctors (e.g., Rx Omeprazole is 40 mg, but the OTC dose is 20 mg; same doses go for Famotidine).
- Important: If you have silent GERD, you need to be referred to a GI specialist for an upper endoscopy called EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) - why? Because one serious cause of acid reflux, can be stomach or esophageal cancer; also a stomach fluid culture is taken to see if you have a bacteria called Heliobacter Pylori, which can cause persistent GI symptoms & ulcers).
The above recommendations are offered to you to perhaps help you get some initial relief while awaiting an appointment with a primary care physician (board-certified family practice physician or internal medicine physician). *Primary Care Physicians can take care of 95% of whatever medical issues you have & will refer you to other specialists when needed.*
*Don't self-treat too long, find out the real reason for your symptoms. Take care of yourself. *
If you do not have medical insurance, go to your local hospital and ask if they have a charity care department to help you navigate the medical insurance world. Local churches may also have someone who can guide you where you can go for medical help.
Lucille Len, MD, FAAFP
- postnasal drip from sinuses (due to allergies like hay fever or respiratory infection like the common cold) - you can try OTC (over-the-counter) Cetirizine (Zyrtec) or Cetirizine-D (Zyrtec-D), which has decongestant if you are stuffy (caution: do not take decongestants like sudafed/pseudoephedrine if you have high blood pressure or enlarged prostate).
- non-med treatments include saline nasal spray, vick's vapor rub (generic store brand works fine), steaming with vick's (boil water in small pot, carefully place on trivet on table, put tiny amount of solid vick's vapor rub into the hot water, cover your head with a towel, eyes closed & breath in the vapor/steam for ten minutes; remove the towel and blow your nose - repeat as needed)
- lungs (like asthma) - this is often seen in persons with hay-fever type allergies; asthma requires treatment with Rx inhalers & you need to see a doctor for this.
- GI tract (gastrointestinal issues from stomach/esophagus like heartburn/acid reflux; there is an entity called silent reflux/GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) where there is cough/phlegm without feeling the reflux) - you can try OTC Omeprazole (Prilosec) or Famotidine (Pepcid). Note: the OTC doses of GI meds are always lower than the prescription doses given by doctors (e.g., Rx Omeprazole is 40 mg, but the OTC dose is 20 mg; same doses go for Famotidine).
- Important: If you have silent GERD, you need to be referred to a GI specialist for an upper endoscopy called EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) - why? Because one serious cause of acid reflux, can be stomach or esophageal cancer; also a stomach fluid culture is taken to see if you have a bacteria called Heliobacter Pylori, which can cause persistent GI symptoms & ulcers).
The above recommendations are offered to you to perhaps help you get some initial relief while awaiting an appointment with a primary care physician (board-certified family practice physician or internal medicine physician). *Primary Care Physicians can take care of 95% of whatever medical issues you have & will refer you to other specialists when needed.*
*Don't self-treat too long, find out the real reason for your symptoms. Take care of yourself. *
If you do not have medical insurance, go to your local hospital and ask if they have a charity care department to help you navigate the medical insurance world. Local churches may also have someone who can guide you where you can go for medical help.
Lucille Len, MD, FAAFP
