My Health Is Of Concern

[frost91]

So i started to smoke about a year ago, and nothing ever happened after, i felt fine. But in august, i use to smoke a bowl with friends everyday. After some time, i started to develop chronic phlegm. I still usually smoke a bowl or two a week, and everytime after, my phlegm gets worst. I cough thick yellow phlegm every hour or so and it is starting to scare me. Anyone else have this problem?

[neffertiti]

I've had this happen a couple of random times, but usually i'll chug a glass or 2 of water and be fine. Are you well hydrated for your sessions?

If its a chronic thing and happens every time you smoke, i'd say it's at least worth looking into

[MandirnOrange]

that sounds kind of serious. Have you gone to a doctor to get it checked out?

[Voski]

Take a break. If you don't seem to be improving go see a doctor.

[frost91]

yea...havent really been on a break and havent seen a doct. I am very worried. Hoping for the best

[Zyram]

Just a bit of wisdom from experience and my Grandmother (who really knows alot). Yellow phlegm usually means allergies, darker phlegm usually is like a sinus infection. If it's yellow, you may have some kind of allergy to some chemical in the hookah smoke. Not a doctors opinion here, but I always have yellow phlegm when I have allergies going. Might look into an allergy test or something. I will sometimes get a runny nose if I breathe the smoke out of my nose, but I've never really gotten a heavy cough from my hookah smoking.

-Z

[newjacksm]

Yeah I usually get yellow phlegm during allergie season (like brigh neon) when I have a terrible sinus infection its brownish yellow (grossss) I hardly ever get phlegm from hookah or winded. I feel more winded after smoking ciggeretes day out with friends drinking.

[frost91]

well my phlegm is very light in color, sometimes clear. At times, the consistency is very gooey, kinda gelatiness. I have to only cough every once in a while and one nostril is usually clear. when i run or excercise, i find the phlegm to be alot thicker...i really hope nothing is wrong

[newjacksm]

Nothing serious should be wrong, if you took a break from hookah for a week or two im sure you would see better results. Although I have been smoking everyday for the pass 4 months now, the only big changes I have seen is that I am getting a little sick easier then usual. Everyone is different though. If the Phlegm is coming from your lungs go to the doctor, if its coming from your throat it could be a simple post nasal drip. Edited December 16, 2008 by newjacksm

[erufiku]

Had a similar thing happen to me... well, mine was worse I think. I actually had the feeling of having water in my right ear for about 2 weeks (due to phlegm overproduction I presume). The doc said nothing's wrong with me, so I took a month-long break and then it was fine. If you smoke every day I'd suggest taking a week (or two week) long break once in a while. That being said I'd still go to the doc just to make sure nothing bad comes out of this.

[Rani]

Have you changed anything else? You know, hot chocolate because it's winter for example? Dairy products dramatically increase mucus production and load on your respiratory system which is why you'll never hear of any serious professional singer eating dairy. Celine Dion for example said the best part of her two year break was she could have ice cream and milk! If I'm eating dairy products, I sometimes get mucus exactly as you describe. I drop the dairy products and keep smoking - no mucus. Anybody who doesn't believe me is welcome to prove it to themselves. Give up all dairy products for one week. You'll have cold like symptoms for a couple days and then your throat and lungs will be incredibly clear. So much so that a lot of people never go back to eating dairy. Because we smoke sometimes we automatically blame our smoking and it's something else entirely. When in doubt though, go see a doctor.

'Rani

[frost91]

i just thought if i had any dairy, but i really didnt. If i recall correctly, for the past 3 weeks i havent had any dairy at all. problem not solved. Thanks tho. Ill try to be more conscious

[mattarios2]

i had horrible phlegm for a while, I only stopped for 3 days and then I was good to go, can obviously take longer or shorter with different people. try takin a break as others have suggested. If it doesnt help after a week, see the doc.

[Click]

I think the phlegm is just a naturally sickness that occurs during the winter season.  I usually have this happen to me every few years during winter and has happened years and years before I started smoking shisha.  I've found it usually takes a while for it to all clear out or antibiotics are the best best.

[Bulldog_916]

I think the phlegm is just a naturally sickness that occurs during the winter season. I usually have this happen to me every few years during winter and has happened years and years before I started smoking shisha. I've found it usually takes a while for it to all clear out or antibiotics are the best best.

Antibiotics will weaken your immune response. Avoid them if you can. Last thing you want is an ACTUAL infection and have the bacteria be immune to the medicine. Snort, cough, and spit. Never fails to get rid of the mucus.

[Hippo_Master]

If you have something wrong wiht your throat, your tonsils will most definitely swell up. This is easily noticeable. It's an infection. If it is painless, then you are fine. If your throat is always sore, you constantly have thick mucus build up of the yellow color or with blood in it, you need to see a throat and mouth specialist.

If you happen to notice white flecks in your swollen tonsils, these are called tonsilloliths (tonsil stones), and these are either a product of dairy consumption or a build up of white blood cells fighting an infection. these can be removed with a waterpik.

Be very careful when it coems to your throat. In most cases, if there is no pain there is no problem.

[JillyIsJustKidding]

I just did this quiz sort of thing on AOL's news.

Chronic Bronchitis showed up...You can only get it from smoking I assume.

It says the symptoms are phlem and chest pain I think. Do you have chest pain? If so, then it can be bronchitis.

Idk, you won't know for sure until ya see a doctor. I'd say you should be safer than sorry, ya know?

[JillyIsJustKidding]

I just did this quiz sort of thing on AOL's news.

Chronic Bronchitis showed up...You can only get it from smoking I assume.

It says the symptoms are phlem and chest pain I think. Do you have chest pain? If so, then it can be bronchitis.

Idk, you won't know for sure until ya see a doctor. I'd say you should be safer than sorry, ya know?

EDIT: ah hah! found the link

http://www.aolhealth.com/health/contagious-or-not

Go to number 10 if ya want. But here is the full info. Eck it won't let me c&p since its a java app so here is a screen shot:

Edited December 18, 2008 by JillyIsJustKidding

[Tati]

Nurse Tati says:
I really love the ridiculous advice given on here every once in a while.

Yellow to green phlegm means infection. That could be caused by anything from a cold to...bronchitis.
Anyways, if you are as worried as you say you are, I would definitely go to the doctor.

Keep us updated!

[frost91]

no chest pain. Just maybe every hour i cough up flem. Im going to start on antibiotics today. My sister is a doctor but she doesn't know i smoke hookah as frequent as i do. Well i actually have a cold right now so im going to start on antibiotics and keep you guys updated. Thanks for all the responses

[Rayneuki]

no chest pain. Just maybe every hour i cough up flem. Im going to start on antibiotics today. My sister is a doctor but she doesn't know i smoke hookah as frequent as i do. Well i actually have a cold right now so im going to start on antibiotics and keep you guys updated. Thanks for all the responses

Your doctor should know EVERYTHING about what you do when it comes to your lungs/throat.

Tati is right.

And Acute Bronchitis can be caused by other things than smoking. My BF has it, he can't smoke because of it (hell, even going in a room with that fake-fog stuff makes him unable to breathe).

Just go to a doctor, personally even if a family member of mine was a doctor I would go to someone else. Why do you think doctors go to other doctors to diagnose them? They know they won't get it right because of emotional ties ect.

[Bulldog_916]

no chest pain. Just maybe every hour i cough up flem. Im going to start on antibiotics today. My sister is a doctor but she doesn't know i smoke hookah as frequent as i do. Well i actually have a cold right now so im going to start on antibiotics and keep you guys updated. Thanks for all the responses

I think it's a bad move to start on antibiotics before you know what you actually have. But it's up to you.

[mattarios2]

no chest pain. Just maybe every hour i cough up flem. Im going to start on antibiotics today. My sister is a doctor but she doesn't know i smoke hookah as frequent as i do. Well i actually have a cold right now so im going to start on antibiotics and keep you guys updated. Thanks for all the responses

I think it's a bad move to start on antibiotics before you know what you actually have. But it's up to you.

I agree

[Fluffy]

i smoke 2 bowls a day and havent noticed any health problems. maybe your getting sick do you have asthma?

[kazz]

So i started to smoke about a year ago, and nothing ever happened after, i felt fine. But in august, i use to smoke a bowl with friends everyday. After some time, i started to develop chronic phlegm. I still usually smoke a bowl or two a week, and everytime after, my phlegm gets worst. I cough thick yellow phlegm every hour or so and it is starting to scare me. Anyone else have this problem?

of course you realize you are smoking tobacco right? welcome to the world of smoking

Acutally This happened to me when I first started smoking in general (cigarettes, Cigars, etc. I work at a tobacconist lol). idk it just went away.

If it bothers you that much and your barking when you cough, I would def. go see a doctor. Doctor always knows best!

Of course, you can always quit smoking if it really bothers you. people react differently with tobacco. I know that there is a tobacco that our hand roller at work usues on his cigars that I cannot smoke because it gives me headaches on the first puff. Edited December 20, 2008 by kazz