How common is coughing up phlegm in chronic sinusitis?

Chronic sinusitis can cause swelling inside the nose and sinuses, changing how mucus drains. Mucus running down the back of the throat, sometimes called postnasal drip, can trigger throat clearing or coughing and may be most noticeable after lying down. Blocked nose, reduced sense of smell, facial pressure, and thick nasal discharge may occur as well. Phlegm coughed from the throat can feel similar to mucus coming from the chest, so the rest of your symptoms matters.

Use any nasal treatment prescribed for you in the way you were shown. Saline nasal rinsing may help some people clear mucus, but use clean equipment and water prepared according to product instructions. Drinking fluids and avoiding tobacco smoke can reduce throat irritation. Consider recording whether the cough relates to meals, lying down, allergens, or a blocked nose. A clinician can review persistent symptoms and check for nasal polyps, allergy, asthma, reflux, or chest causes where appropriate.

Seek urgent care for trouble breathing, swelling around an eye, severe headache with fever, confusion, vision changes, chest pain, or coughing up blood. Arrange a routine medical review when nasal blockage, facial pressure, loss of smell, or mucus-related cough continues despite treatment, or when symptoms interfere with sleep and usual activities. A new chesty cough with fever or breathlessness should also be assessed rather than assumed to come from the sinuses.

Ask whether your cough is likely related to postnasal drip or needs assessment for another source. Ask how to use nasal sprays or rinses safely, whether allergy testing is useful, and what symptoms would justify an ear, nose, throat, or respiratory referral.