Bloody sputum: Causes of coughing up blood

Sputum is the slimy substance coughed up from the bronchi into the throat during certain diseases, which is typically spit out.

The mucus in sputum can change color and appear ruddy or brown, but the source of the blood is unknown. There are numerous causes for this type of throat mucus.

Hemoptysis is a medical term that refers to the presence of small amounts of blood or bloody sputum. Coughing up blood can also be caused by a variety of factors, and is a symptom of a disease. Hemoptysis can be seen in movies and TV shows.

The most important details are that if there is blood in the sputum or airways, such as the nose, it is always advisable to contact a doctor’s office to clear it out. Additionally, if you cough up blood or have bloody phlegm in your throat, you should contact your general practitioner.

Bloody sputum and coughing up blood: causes of the discoloration

Bloody sputum is a symptom of a disease, not a single cause, and cannot be attributed to a single cause. Coughing up blood is a symptom of a disease.

Bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia are the three most common causes of coughing up blood, accounting for the majority of cases.

• (severe) bronchitis: Inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchi due to infection with viruses or bacteria
• Blood from the nose: the bloody phlegm sometimes results when blood runs from the nose back into the throat
• Pneumonia: usually bacterial infection of the lungs
• Tuberculosis: infectious disease caused by mycobacteria
• Aspergillosis: Fungal infection of the lungs with fungi of the genus  Aspergillus
• Bronchiectasis: permanent enlargement of the bronchi in the lungs
• Lung cancer (bronchial carcinoma): malignant tumor that is mainly caused by smoking
• Lung metastases: spread of another type of cancer
• Pulmonary embolism: blocked blood vessel in the lungs or pulmonary circulation
• Heart failure (weak heart)
• Legionellosis: Disease caused by Legionella ( Legionella pneumophila ).
• Cystic Fibrosis: Autoimmune disease also known as cystic fibrosis
• other autoimmune diseases such as the very rare Goodpasture syndrome
• Pulmonary high pressure (pulmonary hypertension): chronically elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation (e.g. due to heart valve defects)
• Lung abscess: collection of pus in the lungs
• lung rupture
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; Wegener’s granulomatosis): rheumatic disease with necrotizing, inflamed tissue
• injuries to the lungs
• Swallowing small parts when eating or playing: especially in children
• vascular malformations
• Taking blood-thinning medication (e.g. ASA (acetylsalicylic acid)) and the resulting increased tendency to bleed
• coagulation disorder
• Syphilis: bacterial sexually transmitted disease

Bloody sputum in the throat is a common symptom of heart disease or lung problems, but it does not necessarily have a bad cause. It can also come from frequent clearing and coughing if you have bronchitis. Home remedies are available for bloody sputum and coughing up blood.

Coughing up blood: These symptoms are clear warning signs

Go to the doctor if you have blood in your sputum, but be aware of warning signs that indicate an acute emergency. These include blood in the sputum, coughing up blood, and difficulty breathing.

• profuse coughing up blood
• this causes dizziness when standing up, thirst, sweating, weakness, tachycardia
• persistent fatigue
• persistent weakness
• shortness of breath

Bloody sputum: how not to treat

It is important to cough up the phlegm and not take cough-suppressing medication (antitussives). Home remedies are not the first choice, and it is important to clarify the bloody cough with a family doctor or go to the emergency room if there are other warning signs. There, the symptoms of the illness can be treated and the sputum can disappear.