Black mucus is rare. It can be the sign of a fungal infection, or exposure to pollutants such as coal, dust or cigarette ...

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 ...

People often dismiss a cough as a minor ailment, but sometimes it can be a sign of an underlying problem, especially when ...

A team led by Johns Hopkins University engineers figured out how and why human cells move much faster through thick mucus than thinner varieties. The findings could inform and inspire new treatment ...

Medically reviewed by Susan Russell, MD Key Takeaways Drinking warm fluids like tea can help loosen thickened mucus in the lungs.Inhaling moist air using a humidifier or steam can make it easier to ...

Phlegm is a form of respiratory mucus produced by the lungs. The airways between the larynx and the respiratory bronchioles are lined by columnar epithelium over which an airway surface liquid (ASL) ...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) mucus can clog the lungs and digestive tract. Although there is no cure for CF, medications and therapies can help thin this mucus. Share on Pinterest ArtMarie/Getty Images Cystic ...

The left side shows computational modeling results of model bacteria undergoing polymer stress, or thicker mucus. The right side is not undergoing polymer stress. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sniffles, ...

Your body knows how to keep your baby safe during pregnancy, starting with the mucus plug. Learn what the mucus plug is, what it does, and when you'll lose it. Medically reviewed by Alyssa Dweck, MS, ...