If you’re troubled by ‘smoker’s cough’ and frequent mucus buildup, understanding the causes and treatment strategies available is crucial in managing your health.
Mucus plays an important role in our body’s immune response and in our lungs. It clears the airways from irritants such as dust, germs, smoke and chemicals, which the body gets rid of by coughing. Smoking – whether tobacco or cannabis – or vaping, is an irritant and can cause your body to produce more mucus.
In healthy airways, oxygenated air and mucus moves through the tubes with the help of tiny hairs called cilia. When you smoke, the nicotine from cigarettes paralyses the cilia, and mucus becomes difficult to move. This leads to a build-up of thickened mucus, resulting in the characteristic smoker’s cough. Smoker’s cough often brings up phlegm (mucus produced in the lungs).
Besides the discomfort, the excess mucus causes chest congestion, making breathing more difficult and increases your risk of infection and lung damage. Chemicals from smoke can also damage the cells in the lungs causing inflammation in the airways, which leads to the cells producing more mucus.
Chronic symptoms (excessive mucus and coughing) may also indicate underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema; this necessitates medical attention.
Tips for managing excess mucus
1. Quit smoking. Cigarettes are addictive and contains thousands of toxic chemicals, that when inhaled, causes various physiological changes to the lung tissue and cells. Each puff hits the lungs quickly and the blood which is supposed to carry oxygen to the organs now contains toxins, hence depriving your organs of the oxygen they need.
- If you’re serious about giving up smoking, the non-profit, US-based medical practice, Mayo Clinic, offers the following advice:
Try nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine patches, gum and lozenges to help manage cravings. To quit smoking, some people move towards vaping. However, vaping is not risk-free and, since it hasn’t been around long enough, the long-term effects of vaping are not yet known. - Avoid trigger situations where you are more likely to smoke.
- Delay reaching for a cigarette, to push out the cravings.
- To resist a craving, try chewing on hard, crunchy vegetables, sugarless gum or hard sweets.
- Get the support you need from friends, family or a support group.
- Do some physical activity to distract you.
- Constantly remind yourself of the benefits of not smoking.
Once you stop smoking, initially, you may cough up more mucus as the cilia regains function to clear out the mucus.
2. Stay hydrated. Water thins out the mucus.
3. Diet considerations. Certain foods like gluten or milk exacerbate mucus production for some people. [Read more: 5 Types of food to avoid when you have excess mucus.]
4. Medicate. Over-the-counter or prescription medications can break down mucus and help clear airways. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the best option for you.
5. Airway clearance techniques. Postural draining (lying down in different positions to help clear the mucus), physical therapy for the chest, airway clearance devices or handheld positive expiratory pressure devices can assist in removing stubborn mucus and improve respiratory function.
Smoking can cause chest congestion, and the best way to address it is to quit smoking, followed by lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment.
References
- American Lung Association. (2021). Understanding Mucus in Your Lungs. American Lung Association [Online]. Accessed on 18 June 2024. Available from https://www.lung.org/blog/lungs-mucus
- Ashford, K. & Whitbourne, K. (2024). Understanding Your Chest Mucus: Common Causes and Remedies. WebMD [Online]. Accessed on 11 June 2024. Available https://www.webmd.com/covid/mucus-in-chest-overview
- De Pietro, M. (2024). Does smoking cause mucus? Medical News Today [Online]. Accessed on 18 June 2024. Available from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-smoking-cause-mucus
- Hobbs, H. (2023). The Effects of Smoking on the Body. Healthline [Online]. Accessed on 7 July 2024. Available from https://www.healthline.com/health/smoking/effects-on-body
- Mayo Clinic. (2022). Quitting smoking: 10 ways to resist tobacco cravings. Mayo Clinic [Online]. Accessed on 9 July 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/nicotine-craving/art-20045454
- National Health Service. (n.d.). Vaping to quit smoking. NHS [Online]. Accessed on 9 July 2024. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/#vaping-side-effects
- US Food & Drug Administration. (2020). Keep Your Air Clear: How Tobacco Can Harm Your Lungs. FDA [Online]. Accessed on 18 June 2024. Available from https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/keep-your-air-clear-how-tobacco-can-harm-your-lungs