Hi. I completely understand your frustration—phlegm can be one of the most challenging aspects of COPD. It's great that you're able to clear it so far, but I hear your concern about what might happen if it becomes more difficult. One thing to consider is talking to your doctor. Your doctor may recommend medicines or devices to help reduce mucus production and make it easeier to clear. you may also find some helpful tips in this forum discussion (https://copd.net/forums/coughing-2#reply-233502). The topic is cough, but the treatment is similar. What do you think? John. community moderator.