Coughing up hard chunks often means thick phlegm has clumped, potentially from infections (cold, bronchitis, pneumonia), asthma, allergies, or GERD, but they could also be tonsil stones, which are hardened bits of food/debris from your throat, appearing as white/yellow balls. If the chunks are from your lungs, they're thickened mucus; if from your throat, they're likely tonsil stones. See a doctor for persistent coughs, fever, shortness of breath, or chest tightness to get a proper diagnosis and treatment, especially if symptoms worsen or are concerning.
If your body isn't able to clean your lungs of the phlegm, you may end up with a chronic cough. If you have a lot of mucus in your throat and lungs, it can collect together, forming hard phlegm chunks. It's normal to have balls or chunks of clear or white phlegm, even when you're not sick.
Tonsil stones happen when bits of food, dead cells and bacteria get stuck in the small pockets of your tonsils. Over time, this material can harden into small lumps. You may be more likely to develop tonsil stones if you have: poor oral hygiene.
Catarrh is a build-up of mucus (phlegm) in your airways. It usually affects the back of the nose, the throat or the sinuses. It's often temporary, but some people experience it for months or years. This is known as chronic catarrh.
Clear phlegm with bubbles, or phlegm that's semi-solid to almost liquid, is normal. Phlegm with sticky, hard chunks, however, is likely a sign of uncontrolled asthma or another type of COPD.
Do
Good oral hygiene reduces the bacteria in your mouth that can lead to the formation of tonsil stones. Tonsil stones are not harmful to your health and are more of a nuisance than an issue. A frequent complaint about tonsil stones is that they tend to cause bad breath due to the bacteria that collect on the tonsils.
Some signs that you may need to go to urgent care with your cough include:
Tonsil stones are small, pebble-like lumps that form in your tonsils. They're made of hardened minerals (like calcium), food debris and germs. The main symptom is bad breath, but some people develop other issues like a cough or sore throat.
Common symptoms include:
Pneumonia coughs can be deep, loud, and sometimes productive or wet. You can drink plenty of fluids and rest to help support recovery from pneumonia. If untreated, pneumonia may lead to complications like lung abscess or respiratory failure.
The four main types of coughs are: wet, dry, paroxysmal and croup. Most coughs do go away on their own. Home remedies and over-the-counter cough medicines can help relieve symptoms.
No, you can't really "cough up a lung." But according to a new case report in the latest New England Journal of Medicine, it's possible to get uncomfortably close. Two days of chest pain drove a 40-year-old woman to Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham, United Kingdom, for relief.
You should see your GP if: you've had a cough for more than three to four weeks (persistent cough) your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse, for example, you have a hacking cough or can't stop coughing. you have chest pain.
Five common symptoms of bronchitis are a persistent cough (often producing mucus), chest soreness or tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and fatigue, often accompanied by cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, mild headache, or low-grade fever.
Signs and symptoms:
Particularly in the context of the above risk factors and cough, associated red flag symptoms and signs for significant disease include: Weight loss. New coughs lasting over three weeks. Unexplained haemoptysis, particularly if recurrent or persisting. Breathlessness.
Walking pneumonia symptoms to look for:
Poor Oral Hygiene: Not brushing, flossing, or using mouthwash regularly allows bacteria and food particles to build up in the mouth and get trapped in the tonsils' pockets, leading to tonsil stones.
Processed foods: Highly processed snacks like chips and crackers tend to leave particles that are hard to remove from the mouth. These particles can get lodged in the tonsil crypts and contribute to stone development. High-starch foods: Pasta, bread, and potatoes can leave residue in the mouth.
How To Get Rid of Tonsil Stones
To help remove mucus, focus on drinking plenty of fluids like water, herbal teas, and clear broths to thin it, plus try warm drinks with lemon and honey, and gargle with warm salt water; avoid dehydrating drinks like alcohol and excessive caffeine. Warm liquids are especially effective at soothing the throat and loosening congestion.
Symptoms
Alcohol: Alcohol can dehydrate the body and irritate the respiratory system. This can lead to excess mucus production in the nose and throat. Additionally, some people may be allergic to certain types of alcohol, which can trigger mucus production.