Bronchitis and coughing up blood: what to know

Blood-streaked mucus may appear after repeated, forceful coughing irritates the airway lining. Blood can also come from the nose or throat and mix with mucus. The amount, colour, frequency, and whether it is mixed with phlegm all matter. Conditions such as acute bronchitis, bronchiectasis, asthma, infection, or another lung problem may be considered. Coughing blood is not a way to identify bronchitis by itself.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly and describe how much blood you saw, how often it happened, and whether it followed a coughing bout. Keep a note of fever, chest pain, breathlessness, weight change, recent travel, smoking, and medicines that affect bleeding. Do not ignore recurrence, even if the amount seems small. Avoid smoking and strenuous activity until you have received advice.

Seek emergency help if bleeding is more than a few streaks, is increasing, or makes breathing difficult. Immediate care is also needed for severe chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat with weakness, fainting, confusion, or blue lips. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or severely short of breath.

Ask what may have caused the bleeding, whether you need a chest examination or imaging, and how to monitor for recurrence. Mention blood-thinning medicines and ask whether any should be changed only under medical guidance. Ask which warning signs require emergency help.