In young people who are generally healthy, coughing up blood is rarely a sign of serious illness. But in older people, especially smokers, it is cause for concern.
Bringing up small amounts of blood in your sputum (phlegm and saliva) can sometimes be caused by prolonged coughing.
However, if you have other symptoms too, such as a fever, you may have a chest infection or more serious medical condition that needs investigating and treating. The medical term for coughing up blood is haemoptysis.
You should see your GP immediately if there is blood in your sputum and:
- you cough up more than a few teaspoons of blood
- there is also blood in your urine or blood in your stools
- you also have chest pain, dizziness, fever, light-headedness or severe shortness of breath
This page can give you a better idea of the cause, but do not use this guide to diagnose yourself with a condition. Always leave that to your GP.
Where is the blood coming from?
Before you read on, it is worth considering where the blood is coming from.
A severe nosebleed or bleeding from the mouth or throat can cause blood to come out in your saliva when you cough. This is different from coughing up blood from deep within your chest. Blood from your chest is often mixed with mucus (there may just be streaks of blood in the mucus or the mucus may be frothy or bloodstained).
Also, be clear that you are coughing up blood (from the airways or lungs), rather than vomiting blood from the stomach, which may indicate a different problem, such as a peptic ulcer.
Common causes of blood in sputum
The most common reasons for coughing up blood are:
- prolonged, severe coughing
- a chest infection such as bronchitis – this is most likely if your sputum is coloured or contains pus, you have a fever or you have a tight feeling in your chest
- bronchiectasis – this is a long-term lung condition causing excess mucus in the airways
Click on the above links for more information on these conditions.
Less common causes of blood in sputum
Less commonly, coughing up blood may be the result of:
Click on the above links for more information on these conditions.
Sometimes, no cause can be found and the episode never happens again. This is known as unexplained haemoptysis.
Rare causes
Rarely, coughing up blood may be the result of:
Click on the above links for more information on these conditions.
