Coughing spasms and i get shortness of breath and tightness in the left side of my chest and i cough up phlegm over half the time when i cough.

Bronchitis: Or possibly pneumonia. It's also possible it's a virus like a cold, but given the severity of the cough you should get checked by a doctor ASAP. They may want to do blood tests and a chest x-Ray and you may need antibiotics.

Lung disease: If this is new it could be a pneumonia. If you are a smoker this could be COPD or emphysema. You should be seen and evaluated, as there are treatments that help with both

Chronic bronchitis: It sounds like you may have a form of COPD called chronic bronchitis. See your primary care doctor and get evaluated, diagnosed and treated.