DEAR DR. GOTT: My wife has COPD/emphysema. She is under the care of a well-respected pulmonologist. He told her when she was first diagnosed that coughing would be a forever symptom of the disease. However, when she coughs, many times during the course of the day, she will cough for several minutes at a time while trying to loosen and bring up phlegm. We’ve discussed this issue with the pulmonologist and he recommended a decongestant/cough medicine like Robitussin DM. It doesn’t seem to help so I was wondering if you know of any home remedies that can better help loosen the phlegm and allow her to expel it. Thank you.

DEAR READER: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term to describe a group of lung conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
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