How common is coughing up blood in pulmonary embolism?

A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in a blood vessel of the lung, often caused by a clot. It can irritate or injure a small area of lung tissue, leading to blood-streaked mucus or a small amount of blood with a cough. The amount, colour and timing of bleeding do not identify the cause on their own. Breathlessness, chest pain that is worse on breathing, faintness, or a fast heartbeat alongside bleeding are especially concerning symptoms.

Treat any blood brought up from the chest as a reason to seek medical advice promptly. Note whether it is mixed with phlegm, whether it happened more than once, and whether there is chest pain, fever, leg swelling, recent travel, surgery, pregnancy, or use of hormone medicines. Do not start, stop, or change a blood-thinning medicine without speaking to the clinician who prescribed it. A clinician may examine you and arrange tests to look for the source of bleeding and any lung clot.

Get emergency help now if you cough up more than a small streak of blood, have sudden trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, confusion, blue or grey lips, or feel severely unwell. Seek same-day medical assessment for new coughing up blood even when it is small, particularly if you have a history of clots, cancer, recent immobility, or one swollen painful leg. Keep any sample only if it can be done safely; do not delay care to collect it.

Ask what could be causing the bleeding, which symptoms should trigger emergency care, whether your medicines affect bleeding, and what tests are appropriate. If pulmonary embolism is diagnosed, ask how treatment will be monitored and what follow-up is needed.