Even if it is kind of gross when you're full of it and wrestling with it, phlegm actually serves a useful purpose: The thick, sludgy substance—made up of mostly water, salt, and antibodies—is designed ...

While avoiding catching a cold is tough, you can find relief without having to stock up on hundreds of medications and tissues.

The buildup of excess mucus in your nasal passages and throat is a common and uncomfortable symptom of many illnesses. JDawnInk via Getty Images Being sick with a cold or other congestion-causing ...

Mucus is a slippery, protective substance that keeps your airways, throat, and digestive tract moist, trapping and clearing out dust, allergens, and germs to help protect against irritation and ...

Medically reviewed by Susan Russell, MD Key Takeaways Coughing up white mucus can be a sign of an upper respiratory infection ...

Various home remedies can help manage phlegm and mucus, such as drinking plenty of fluids and using a saline nasal spray or rinse. If home remedies do not help, over-the-counter and prescription ...

Sipping a warm tea or broth helps keep the throat moist and loosens up mucous. “Warm temperatures may also reduce coughing by ...

Many things can block normal nasal drainage, including excess mucus from allergies or an infection, but experts say there are options to help.

How You'll Know: The sore throat comes with other symptoms you’d expect from those viruses.

Healthy phlegm is usually clear and runny, but many different health conditions can change the consistency or color. Phlegm, also called sputum, is mucus produced by your lungs that helps protect your ...