I had breathing difficulty when i woke up this morning, with strong coughs producing white phlegm.

Cold or asthma: Your symptoms are typical of the common cold (viral infection of the respiratory tract) especially if you had a runny nose or low grade fever. If a common cold your symptoms usually will improve in 3-7 days. If your symptoms last longer or you have a history of asthma, your asthma may be experiencing a flare and need treatment.