Ellen,
Gross, but I don't, either. The only problem I've ever had is that it upsets my stomach when I haven't eaten anything and I'm at the beginning of the cold with lots of drainage. Gross. So here I am in my 30's with no after-effects of swallowing phegm. I figure hocking is more gross than swallowing.
Who knew that I'd comment on phlegm. 
Couldn't hork to save my life. When you get the answer (are some people just BORN with the ability?) fill me in. It's so close to throwing up that I get scared and swallow. TMI?
Yeah, I know. I keep trying and I just spit up or throw up. Thankfully (?) the diarrhea has ridden my body of anything in my stomach, so the throw up is pretty much water and mucus.
And with that visual image, I bid you good day.
I do the same thing. I can't cough it up either. Hope you feel better soon.
Coughing sucks!
Mucinex (not off-brand) is the BEST thing ever to get rid of phlem or anything caught in your throat or chest. Give it a try!
I don't know that it will hurt you, but it's going against your body's natural flow.
The physiology is that phlegm is one of your bodys defense systems against bacteria and virus. When you have an invasion of the nasal passages, sinuses, or lungs phlegm production kicks up, traps the bacteria/virus and the act of blowing your nose or coughing up that lugie expells the viral/bacterial laden phlegm from your body.
The stomach acid should kill whatever is lurking.
Hope you are feeling better.
Never been able to get rid of the phlem. Husband is great at it though. Is a testosterone thing?
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