Nausea can be a side effect of stomach phlegm.
The side effects of phlegm in the stomach depend to some extent on the cause of the excessive phlegm production. Illnesses such as the common cold and respiratory or sinus infections cause excessive phlegm production, which usually travels down the throat to the stomach. This can cause constipation, vomiting, and bad breath.
A side effect is constipation. If too much phlegm accumulates in the stomach, it can become stagnant; in other words, it just stays in the stomach without moving. This can cause a blockage of the normal digestive tract, which means difficulty passing stool.
Bad breath can result from phlegm in the stomach.
Nausea and vomiting are often side effects of stomach phlegm. This reaction can be caused by several factors, but too much phlegm can create a feeling of nausea and vomiting. Nausea can be made worse by an existing cold, which caused phlegm to build up early on. Sinus infections can create an almost constant stream of mucus down your throat and stomach, which can also trigger this reaction.
A diagram of the stomach and duodenum.
Loss of appetite is another common side effect of phlegm in the stomach, for similar reasons it causes vomiting. The feeling of fullness that mucus in the stomach can create often leads to a loss of appetite. Nausea caused by excess phlegm can also make a person not want to eat. Loss of appetite is a symptom of the common cold; therefore, if a cold is responsible for stomach phlegm, the already existing symptom may be exacerbated.
Loss of appetite, usually caused by a common cold, can be made worse by phlegm in the stomach.
Stomach phlegm also causes bad breath. Phlegm is made up of a certain protein, which is broken down by anaerobic bacteria that live in the stomach. When protein breaks down, sulfur is released, which often makes breath smell bad. This bacterium is also present in the throat and therefore can cause bad breath even if the phlegm has not yet reached the stomach.
Phlegm in the stomach can cause constipation and bad breath.
To treat stomach phlegm, the sufferer must understand what is causing the problem. Phlegm is originally produced in the nasal cavities and, when excessive, runs down the throat to the stomach. Treating the cold, respiratory or sinus infection that is causing the phlegm is the first step in treating the problem.
