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A member asked:
When i wake up i have to hack up some phlegm. ( very little) it is brown in color. i am 38 f. former smoker. i don't have a cough. is this normal?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
See your doctor: Clearing mucus in the morning after sleeping flat all night is very common but most of the time there should not be a brown color to it. The source could be a number of places but as an ex-smoker it should be checked out. Sinuses can also be a source. You might need a chest xray but see your doctor.
Answered 10/3/2016
5.7k views
Maybe postnasal drip: Mild nasal allergies can cause some muscus dripping in back of throat/mouth and collects there during sleep and can turn a bit brown in the am. During day, little mucus/drip is pulled down by gravity, but when sleeping mucus tends to stay in back of throat and thus productive coughing/coughing in the early am. If worsens, call doc for eval. Good luck.
Answered 2/23/2018
5.7k views
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