Why am I coughing up blood? - Overview

Coughing up blood is what it sounds like— when you cough up blood,
expelling it from the throat, lungs, or any other part of the
respiratory tract. The medical term for coughing up blood is
'hemoptysis' The seriousness of the condition depends on the
amount of blood and the length of time the blood is being coughed up,
but, a you'll read
below, it should never be ignored.

When it is Alarming

It's important to contact your doctor any time you cough up blood, as
it may be sign of a
serious respiratory condition. Get immediate help if:
- You begin coughing up blood following a fall or injury to the chest.
- You cough up more than a few teaspoons of blood
- There is also blood in your urine or stool
- You experience chest pain, dizziness, fever, light-headedness, or
major shortness of breath

What to Look for When You Cough Up Blood

Blood that comes from the lungs or respiratory tract will often appear
bubbly. This is because it has been mixed with air and
mucous in the lungs. The color can range from rust-colored to bright
red. The mucous may be entirely tainted with blood or only contain
streaks of blood mixed with mucous.
Bleeding from the mouth (in the case of a cut, for example) isn't the
same as coughing up blood.

Potential Underlying Causes of the Coughing Up of Blood.

This symptom can be caused by a number of different issues, ranging
from irritation of the
throat to lung cancer. Again, coughing up blood can potentially
indicate an extremely serious problem, so call your doctor as soon as
possible if you have this symptom.
The three most common (and non-serious)
Reasons for this symptom are:
irritation of the throat from excessive coughing— this is in many
cases attributable to
: Irritation from smoking cigarettes
: Bronchitis
: Tuberculosis—Although not common in the U.S, worldwide, this is the
most common cause of coughing up blood

There are many other possible underlying causes of coughing up blood,
many of them quite serious. Because of the wide range of health issues
that can cause this symptom, it is important to see a doctor when it
occurs.

These potential causes include:

- Trauma to the chest chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)—chronic bronchitis or emphysema foreign body/particles (such as
a piece of
food) caught in the lung injury to the arteries in the lung cystic fibrosis
- Pneumonia
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary embolism
- Lupus
- Blood clot in the lung
Lastly, certain medical tests and procedures, such as bronchoscopy,
spirometry, laryngoscopy, tonsillectomy, and upper airway
biopsy can have side effects that lead to coughing up blood.
Source: Healthline, Tbthealth