Is vomiting up a lot of phlegm a sign of expelling phlegm?
Apr 03, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Chao
Introduction
Vomiting up a lot of phlegm may be due to expectoration, or it could be reflex vomiting caused by severe coughing. Coughing is usually triggered by conditions such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, with common symptoms including cough and fever. If the cough is due to bronchitis, medications such as levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules and pentoxyverine citrate tablets should be taken orally under a doctor's guidance.
In general, vomiting up a large amount of phlegm may indicate the body is expelling mucus, or it could be due to reflex vomiting caused by severe coughing, which is not related to phlegm expulsion. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Yes (it is phlegm expulsion)
When patients vomit while coughing, the white, sticky phlegm expelled is usually associated with conditions such as gastritis or bronchitis. In these cases, inflammatory substances accumulate in the bronchi and are cleared from the body during coughing. If the coughing is particularly severe, a significant amount of phlegm may be vomited up, after which the frequency of coughing often noticeably decreases. This situation typically indicates that the body is expelling phlegm.
2. No (it is not phlegm expulsion)
If coughing is very intense, frequent coughing can cause a large volume of air to enter the body. This increases intra-abdominal pressure, putting pressure on the stomach and resulting in the vomiting of food contents. This is known as reflex vomiting and requires timely medical evaluation. Coughing is commonly caused by conditions such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, with typical symptoms including cough and fever. If coughing is due to bronchitis, treatment under a doctor's guidance may include oral medications such as levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules and pentoxyverine citrate tablets.
In addition, if coughing is caused by pneumonia, treatment under medical supervision may include oral administration of medications such as cetirizine tablets and compound liquid of fresh bamboo juice.
