The Phlegmatic Quiz

Answer: Calm

Phlegm was originally associated with the four humours, or body fluids, and consist of phlegm (calm), choler (yellow bile - irritable), blood (cheerfulness) and melancholia (black bile - depression). The theory began in ancient Greece and has been used as a foundation of eastern medicine.

We have retained the words phlegmatic for calm, sanguine for cheerful, choleric for irritable and melancholic for depressed.

Answer: Clear

Phlegm describes the mucus that lines the lungs and is clear. It can be over-produced due to irritation, usually allergies, when you have to cough up the excess, and becomes opaque when infected. The thicker and more coloured it is the worse the infection. Thick green phlegm is commonest with a chest cold but if there is also a fever the patient could have bronchitis or a similar chest infection. Yellow phlegm is closer to being pus.

Answer: Expectoration

Hawking and hacking are common terms for bringing up phlegm from the sound made. Expectoration is the medical term, deriving from the Latin meaning 'out of the lungs'. Regurgitation is bringing something up from the alimentary canal, usually the stomach.

Answer: Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin is marketed as Mucinex, and is the most specific drug aimed at reducing and clearing infected phlegm. There are many natural treatments and preventative methods, such as menthol, eucalyptus oil and gargling with salt water, but once phlegm has taken hold a simple specialised drug is the most direct method. Chillies are a very good expectorant to bring up phlegm and a mild antiseptic but would not treat the cause of the phlegm production.

Answer: Cough suppressant

Because phlegm is similar to pus the most important thing to do is to get rid of it by natural coughing. Suppressing the cough reflex can overwhelm the lungs with phlegm and cause pneumonia.

Answer: Lubrication

All mucus (phlegm is specific to the lungs) is primarily for lubrication, and will not usually be produced in sufficient quantities to be coughed up. The secondary purpose is for cleansing. With the help of cilia (tiny hairs) particles of dirt inhaled into the lungs are constantly being swept up from the lungs and deposited into the stomach.

Answer: Compression

Certain persistent infections can cause the phlegm to become both thicker and heavier, and as a result lodge in the alveoli of the lungs until coughed out. It is formed into the shape of the alveoli and does not disperse, as it is so thick it remains in a solid shape.

It may be caused by any severe infection but not any of the above in particular. I hope you're not eating when you read this.

Answer: Paper tissues

Medical clinics recommend spitting it into a paper tissue and disposing of it in a dedicated depository, the contents of which are then incinerated. Outside a clinic it is ideal to wrap them in a plastic bag which will then contain any infectious material when disposed of in the normal way. If you have a toilet available it will deal with it, but it is quite likely some may miss going in. Handkerchiefs are better than nothing but are very hard to clean thoroughly afterwards without boiling. Never put nasty substances in an autoclave - these are to sterilise instruments which have already been washed.

Answer: Lung congestion

Any serious blockage of the natural airflow in the lungs is usually caused by unwanted fluid. Instead of air coming in and out smoothly, it will form a foam with air bubbles. Drowning, or inhaling anything noxious, will also cause foaming at the mouth as the foreign liquid will block the lungs and become mixed with air.

It is a clear message to medical personnel that emergency treatment is needed. It can also be caused by severe infection or heart failure which both cause a buildup of fluid on the lungs partly, or totally, made up of phlegm.

It can also be caused by a punctured lung taking in air from the body cavity.

Answer: Sputum

Although you spit phlegm out, we have already established you expectorate it as it comes from the lungs, and once it has left it is technically also called sputum. This simply means material coughed up from the lungs, and is often mixed with saliva on the way up.