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What Causes Constant Clearing Of Throat Along With Severe Cough?

Posted on Mon, 25 May 2015

Question: I am 32 and a non-smoker. About 1.5 years ago, I had a really bad chest cold, my doctor said I might have even had a touch of pneumonia. The cold eventually went away, but since then I have been consistently coughing up clear phlegm 10-20 times a day. Usually, it's just small amounts, and I cough it up to try and clear my lungs and throat. I went to my doctor about a month ago and he performed a lung function breathing test and checked my blood oxygen levels and said that everything was normal. He prescribed allergy medication( Ranitidine) and Hypertension medication, but it doesn’t seem to have made much difference. Also, the coughing seems to be worse right after I eat and when I wake in the morning. Is it possible for excess phlegm and mucas to drain into my lungs? Should my lungs clear this without me having to cough so much?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You are mostly having GERD.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion, you are mostly having GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
It is due to laxity of gastroesophageal sphincter.
Because of this the acid of the stomach tends to come up in the esophagus and cause reflux.
This reflux causes aspiration.
And aspiration causes coughing.
The characteristic of GERD associated cough is its association with eating and supine position.
Reflux is more in supine position and after eating.
Ranitidine is not anti allergic. It is antacid used in GERD.
Please let me know
1. Do you feel heaviness in stomach after eating?
2. Do you have belching after eating?
3. Do you have burning epigastric pain?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 minutes later)

I apologize but i am not talking ranitdine it is allergy medication called loratadine

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please reply me answers of below asked questions.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I don't think you are having allergic cough.
In my opinion, you are mostly having GERD associated cough.
Please let me know
1. Do you have burning epigastric pain after eating?
2. Do you have belching after eating?
3. Do you have chest tightness or chest pressure after eating?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

No actually when i do eat im pretty fine, when i run or lifting i get shortness of breath, throat swells up mostly from coughing, when i wake up in the morning o have alot of mucus to cough up and remove.
my apologies. The medication was actually. Loratidine not Ranitidine. I don't have Gerd. I have hypertension only. I am taking Flonase and Zyrtec over the counter..

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have allergies?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Since your lung function test is normal, no need to worry for asthma or bronchitis.
Sometimes allergy can cause coughing with occasional phlegm.
So please let me know
1. Do you have allergies?
2. For what you are taking flonase and zyrtec? Both are anti allergic.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar