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"Question I stopped smoking two years ago. I am a singer and I cannot clear my throat of phlegm.  It is affecting my singing at the top of my range also breath control is poor compared to when I smoked.  I seem to be turning into that character from the Fast Show who cannot clear his throat! I have tried everything, can you help?  Answer I am sorry to hear of your ongoing problems with phlegm at the back of your throat, and appreciate the difficulty given your profession.  It is not unusual for people who have taken the very commendable step of giving up smoking to experience an increase in production of mucous from the lungs.  This occurs over time as the so called goblet cells and their little protruding hairs regrow to form the lining of the main breathing tubes, having previously been affected by the smoke.  These cells produce mucous and their little hairs or cilia form an &amp;#039;escalator&amp;#039; that allows an anatomical clean-up operation to occur, getting rid of a lot of unwanted rubbish from your lungs and allowing them to return towards normal.  This often goes on for 12 \u201318 months in my experience, sometimes longer, depending on the individual.  I note that you have lost a good deal of weight and do not know if this was intentional or not, over what period it has occurred and whether it relates to your symptoms.  In your case, I advise that you see your doctor for an examination and relate your situation in full.  It is essential that you have the opportunity for further investigations to be done if they are thought to be necessary, eg spirometry, chest X-ray and blood tests, so as to be certain that everything is within the normal spectrum of life and the universe.  I do hope after this you will be reassured that in time the phlegm will clear and you can continue singing unhindered.  Yours sincerely,  The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As I smoked for 20 years \u2013 will my lungs repair themselves?  Last updated 19.09.2010 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/lungs/a5165/i-stopped-smoking-and-now-have-phlegm/>