Symptom: Thick Mucous Congestion

Thick mucous congestion in the lungs is a symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. COPD includes two conditions, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis causes chronic inflammation of the tissues lining the lungs. This persistent inflammation results in a thickening of the lining of the lungs, and the formation of thick mucus throughout the airways. Thick mucous congestion in the lungs makes it difficult to breathe, but breathing treatments and techniques and medications can help thin the thick mucous congestion and ease breathing. Frequent coughing can also help to clear thick mucous congestion out of the lungs and improve breathing.