Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesGenetic DisordersLifestyle Risk Factors
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Genetic Disorders
Lifestyle Risk Factors
There are many medical conditions and diseases that cause excessive mucus production. In some cases, thecolor and consistency of mucusyou cough up can tell a lot about the underlying cause.
Too much mucus may be the result of a chronic respiratory condition likechronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an acute infection likebacterial pneumonia, or a lung disease likecystic fibrosis.While mucus can be beneficial to the body, producing too much mucus can cause breathing difficulties and an increased risk ofsecondary infection.
This article explains the causes of excess mucus in the lungs, and how genetics and lifestyle choices contribute to the problem.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Mucus hypersecretion (overproduction) can occur when mucous membranes are exposed to infection, disease, inflammation, and irritants; this is the body’s way of trying to protect the membranes from damage. In doing so, however, airways can become blocked and interfere with breathing, leading to coughing and shortness of breath.
People with chronic respiratory illnesses may have excessive mucus pretty much all the time. Others may only experience it during disease episodes or acute flare-ups (such as an asthma attack).
Conditions associated with excess mucus production include:
Respiratory Infection
Anyone can have a brief bout of a respiratory illness which can cause increased mucus in the lungs. In fact, acute respiratory tract infections are one of the most common reasons people seek medical care in the United States.
Thecommon coldis a common trigger of upper respiratory tract infections. In severe cases, a respiratory infection can lead tobacterial pneumoniaaffecting the lower respiratory tract.
Other common upper and lower respiratory infections include:
How Pneumonia Is Treated
Daniel Allan / Getty Images
Asthma
During anasthma attack, you may also experience a severe hypersecretion of mucus, leading to airway obstruction. Approximately 20% to 40% of people with asthma experience this, often with mucus that is thicker and stickier than in people with COPD.
How Asthma Is Treated
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Chronic bronchitis, a type of COPD, is associated with excess mucus production. The main cause is cigarette smoking. A diagnosis of chronic bronchitis is dependent on having a cough with active mucus production most days of the week for at least three months.
How COPD Is Treated
Allergy
Severe respiratory allergies can cause the rapid buildup of mucus in the lungs. One example is a form of asthma calledallergic asthmain which anallergen(allergy-causing substance) like pollen, dust mites, and pet dander can trigger the excessive production of mucus and other symptoms.
A severe whole-body allergy calledanaphylaxiscan also cause the sudden hypersecretion of mucus, contributing to severe breathing problems and other life-threatening symptoms. Common causes of anaphylaxis include an allergy to insect stings, peanuts or tree nuts, foods like milk and shellfish, and certain medications (including antibiotics).
How Anaphylaxis Is Treated
Bronchiectasis
How Bronchiectasis Is Treated
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary edemais a serious condition in which fluids accumulate in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, and trouble breathing when lying down. People with pulmonary edema often awaken soon after falling asleep, struggling for breath and describing feelings of drowning.
With pulmonary edema, the mucus is often frothy and may have a pink color due to the presence of blood.
How ARDS Is Treated
There are several hereditary conditions associated with increased mucus. Some conditions directly affect the lungs while others impair the muscles involved in breathing, which leads to increased respiratory mucus:
Environmental irritants such as cigarette smoke and pollutants can cause the goblet cells to produce and secrete mucus while damaging the cilia and structures of the airways.
Exposure to these irritants, especially if you already have a lung disease, can substantially increase your risk of excess mucus in the lungs Common irritants include:
Summary
Anyone who has ever dealt with a respiratory infection like bronchitis knows that excess mucus comes with the territory. Other medical conditions that can trigger this state include asthma, pneumonia, and emphysema as well as genetic and environmental factors. When a healthcare provider identifies and treats the underlying cause, mucus production should return to normal.
Reducing Excess Mucus in the Lungs
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Poole P, Chong J, Cates CJ.Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(7):CD001287. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001287.pub5Ma J, Rubin BK, Voynow JA.Mucins, mucus, and goblet cells.Chest.2018;154(1):169-176. doi.10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.008Renati S, Linder JA.Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.Fam Pract.2016 Jun;33(3):312–317. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmw019Asti L, Bartsch SM, Umscheid CA, Hamilton K, Nachamkin I, Lee BY.The potential economic value of sputum culture use in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and healthcare-associated pneumonia.Clin Microbiol Infect.2019;25(8):1038.e1-1038.e9. doi.10.1016/j.cmi.2018.11.031Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, at al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Gentry S, Gentry B.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):433-41.MedlinePlus.Allergic asthma.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Hill AT, Sullivan AL, Chalmers JD, et al.British Thoracic Society guideline for bronchiectasis in adults.Thorax. 2019;74(Suppl 1):1-69. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212463Sureka B, Bansal K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015 Apr-Jun;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684Hill DB, Long RF, Kissner WJ, et al.Pathological mucus and impaired mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis patients result from increased concentration, not altered pH.Eur Respir J. 2018;52(6). doi.10.1183/13993003.01297-2018National Organization for Rare Disorders.Primary ciliary dyskinesia.Morrow B, Zampoli M, Van aswegen H, Argent A.Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation for people with neuromuscular disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD010044. doi.10.1002/14651858.CD010044.pub2Additional ReadingBaraniuk JN, Casado B, Pannell LK, et al.Protein networks in induced sputum from smokers and COPD patients.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2015;10:1957-75. doi:10.2147/COPD.S75978
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Poole P, Chong J, Cates CJ.Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(7):CD001287. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001287.pub5Ma J, Rubin BK, Voynow JA.Mucins, mucus, and goblet cells.Chest.2018;154(1):169-176. doi.10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.008Renati S, Linder JA.Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.Fam Pract.2016 Jun;33(3):312–317. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmw019Asti L, Bartsch SM, Umscheid CA, Hamilton K, Nachamkin I, Lee BY.The potential economic value of sputum culture use in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and healthcare-associated pneumonia.Clin Microbiol Infect.2019;25(8):1038.e1-1038.e9. doi.10.1016/j.cmi.2018.11.031Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, at al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Gentry S, Gentry B.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):433-41.MedlinePlus.Allergic asthma.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Hill AT, Sullivan AL, Chalmers JD, et al.British Thoracic Society guideline for bronchiectasis in adults.Thorax. 2019;74(Suppl 1):1-69. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212463Sureka B, Bansal K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015 Apr-Jun;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684Hill DB, Long RF, Kissner WJ, et al.Pathological mucus and impaired mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis patients result from increased concentration, not altered pH.Eur Respir J. 2018;52(6). doi.10.1183/13993003.01297-2018National Organization for Rare Disorders.Primary ciliary dyskinesia.Morrow B, Zampoli M, Van aswegen H, Argent A.Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation for people with neuromuscular disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD010044. doi.10.1002/14651858.CD010044.pub2Additional ReadingBaraniuk JN, Casado B, Pannell LK, et al.Protein networks in induced sputum from smokers and COPD patients.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2015;10:1957-75. doi:10.2147/COPD.S75978
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Poole P, Chong J, Cates CJ.Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(7):CD001287. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001287.pub5Ma J, Rubin BK, Voynow JA.Mucins, mucus, and goblet cells.Chest.2018;154(1):169-176. doi.10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.008Renati S, Linder JA.Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.Fam Pract.2016 Jun;33(3):312–317. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmw019Asti L, Bartsch SM, Umscheid CA, Hamilton K, Nachamkin I, Lee BY.The potential economic value of sputum culture use in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and healthcare-associated pneumonia.Clin Microbiol Infect.2019;25(8):1038.e1-1038.e9. doi.10.1016/j.cmi.2018.11.031Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, at al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Gentry S, Gentry B.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):433-41.MedlinePlus.Allergic asthma.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Hill AT, Sullivan AL, Chalmers JD, et al.British Thoracic Society guideline for bronchiectasis in adults.Thorax. 2019;74(Suppl 1):1-69. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212463Sureka B, Bansal K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015 Apr-Jun;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684Hill DB, Long RF, Kissner WJ, et al.Pathological mucus and impaired mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis patients result from increased concentration, not altered pH.Eur Respir J. 2018;52(6). doi.10.1183/13993003.01297-2018National Organization for Rare Disorders.Primary ciliary dyskinesia.Morrow B, Zampoli M, Van aswegen H, Argent A.Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation for people with neuromuscular disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD010044. doi.10.1002/14651858.CD010044.pub2
Poole P, Chong J, Cates CJ.Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(7):CD001287. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001287.pub5
Ma J, Rubin BK, Voynow JA.Mucins, mucus, and goblet cells.Chest.2018;154(1):169-176. doi.10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.008
Renati S, Linder JA.Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.Fam Pract.2016 Jun;33(3):312–317. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmw019
Asti L, Bartsch SM, Umscheid CA, Hamilton K, Nachamkin I, Lee BY.The potential economic value of sputum culture use in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and healthcare-associated pneumonia.Clin Microbiol Infect.2019;25(8):1038.e1-1038.e9. doi.10.1016/j.cmi.2018.11.031
Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, at al.Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition).Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:399-407. doi:10.2147/COPD.S144312
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.
Gentry S, Gentry B.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):433-41.
MedlinePlus.Allergic asthma.
Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158
Hill AT, Sullivan AL, Chalmers JD, et al.British Thoracic Society guideline for bronchiectasis in adults.Thorax. 2019;74(Suppl 1):1-69. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212463
Sureka B, Bansal K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015 Apr-Jun;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684
Hill DB, Long RF, Kissner WJ, et al.Pathological mucus and impaired mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis patients result from increased concentration, not altered pH.Eur Respir J. 2018;52(6). doi.10.1183/13993003.01297-2018
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Morrow B, Zampoli M, Van aswegen H, Argent A.Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation for people with neuromuscular disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD010044. doi.10.1002/14651858.CD010044.pub2
Baraniuk JN, Casado B, Pannell LK, et al.Protein networks in induced sputum from smokers and COPD patients.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2015;10:1957-75. doi:10.2147/COPD.S75978
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