Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
Have bronchitis and burns to cough; what happens to the congestion if you don't cough it up? can it make you sicker? better to cough and hurt or not?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Atelectases: The pain on coughing is due to the force you exert on the chest wall and sometimes on rubbing of tissues such as in pleurisy. If you don't cough up secretions, they get what we call inspissated, plug up the airways, cause atelectases and maybe pneumonia. It is best to liquefy secretion for ease of expetoration with lots of fluids (juice and water) and sometimes expectorants.
Answered 12/14/2013
4.7k views
Thank
Related Questions
A member asked:
Can bronchitis last a long time ? Still bad lung congestion with cough and pheghm... no fever . 98.9 .. pregnant curious how long it will last
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
I had bronchitis,when I was younger I took breathing treatments. its worse now, I cough 90% of the day.chest tightness& congestion.could it be asthma?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Cough for a week, no fever, very little nasal congestion. Crackling sound when breathing. 28 year old smoker. Could it be bronchitis?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
How do you tell if a cough is coming from ur lungs or throat? Can hear congestion when cough, but not bring up much, but chest burns when I cough, hel
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
I have Wheezing and chest congestion with runny nose. Cough. Clear mucous. I have had for 3 days. Is it allergy? .I had bronchitis Three weeks ago.
A doctor has provided 1 answer
People also searched for:
4 years cough congestion bronchitis pneumonia with wheez in lungs 5 days Zithromax & nebulizer 2 day steroid still sick wheezes worried plz help ?
Had bronchitis almost a month,Still have congestion and slight cough, but getting better.Is it weird it's lasting so long?
Diagnosed w/ bronchitis 2 weeks ago based on sx. still have bad cough at night &feel chest congestion causing cough when I jog.normal or have X-ray ?
Cough and congestion for 3 yrs no specialist or my pcp seems like they cannot find anything but acid reflux or bronchitis. Nothing has helped. ?
Had bronchitis for 4 wks .Cough gettin better slowly mucus not as bad now . But now feel congestion in chest when breathing in deep breaths? Normal ?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HIPAASecure
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHOAccredited
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
