Bloody phlegm can occur due to prolonged coughing, use of anticoagulants, respiratory infections, pulmonary edema, bronchitis, bronchiectasis or be a sign of lung cancer.
It is important that a pulmonologist or general practitioner is consulted when bloody phlegm is noticed, especially when there are other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, fever, frequent tiredness, hoarseness or back pain, for example, as it can be sign of gravity.
As soon as the cause of bloody phlegm is identified, it is important that treatment is started to prevent complications, and the use of medication may be indicated depending on the cause, in addition to measures to hydrate the airways, such as drinking plenty of fluids during the day. and washing your nose, for example.
Main causes
The main causes of bloody phlegm are:
1. Prolonged cough
When you have an allergy or the flu and have a dry, strong and prolonged cough, you may notice small bleeds due to irritation of the airways, which can end up mixed with phlegm. This situation is temporary and is usually not serious, disappearing after a few days, especially when the cough improves.
What to do: The ideal is to try to calm the cough to reduce irritation in the airways. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of water during the day, in addition to washing your nose with serum to hydrate the mucosa and taking a homemade honey syrup with propolis, for example, or antihistamine syrups, such as loratadine. See how to prepare this syrup and other natural cough recipes.
2. Dryness of the airways
Dryness of the upper airways, which involves the nose, larynx and pharynx, can cause the elimination of bloody phlegm. This can happen due to a flu, cold or allergy, for example, which, due to constant coughing or sneezing, can cause the local mucosa to become more irritated, causing small bleeds.
However, it is also possible for the upper airways to dry out as a result of very dry weather, causing small vessels in the nose to burst and causing bloody phlegm.
What to do: In this case, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and wash your nose to keep the mucosa hydrated. In addition, your doctor may recommend the use of anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate symptoms.
3. Use of anticoagulants
The use of anticoagulants, such as warfarin or heparin, can increase the risk of bleeding in various parts of the body, as the blood becomes thinner. Therefore, it is possible that, if there is a slight irritation of the respiratory tract, due to an allergy, for example, there may be a small amount of bleeding that is eliminated with a cough and phlegm.
What to do: If the amount of blood present in the phlegm is small, it is not a sign of alarm, however, if there is heavy bleeding, you should go to a medical appointment to assess the possibility of discontinuing the medication or changing the dose. .
4. Respiratory infections
Respiratory infections, such as flu, pneumonia or tuberculosis, for example, can also cause coughing up blood due to inflammation and irritation of the airways. In addition, it is common to notice other symptoms such as yellowish or greenish phlegm, difficulty breathing, pale skin, bluish fingers or lips, fever and chest pain. Check out other symptoms that may indicate a lung infection.
What to do: If you suspect a respiratory infection, it is always important to consult a general practitioner or pulmonologist to confirm the diagnosis, identify the cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment, which may include the use of antibiotics, rest and increased fluid intake during the day. .
5. Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition in which there is a permanent dilation of the lung bronchi, causing excessive phlegm production, as well as a feeling of frequent shortness of breath. Furthermore, the presence of blood in the phlegm is also a very common sign.
What to do: Bronchiectasis should always be diagnosed by a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be initiated. Therefore, if this condition is suspected, you should consult a pulmonologist to carry out tests, such as X-rays, and observe the characteristics of the bronchi. This condition has no cure, but treatment with medication prescribed by a pulmonologist can alleviate symptoms during attacks. Understand better what bronchiectasis is and what to do.
6. Bronchitis
Bronchitis can also be associated with the production of bloody phlegm, as there is recurrent inflammation of the bronchi, which increases irritation of the airways and the chances of bleeding.
In cases of bronchitis, the phlegm is normally white or slightly yellowish, and may be accompanied by the presence of a few threads of blood, wheezing when breathing, frequent tiredness and a feeling of shortness of breath. Check out other symptoms of bronchitis.
What to do: Rest and adequate water intake are often able to alleviate the symptoms of bronchitis, however, if the symptoms are persistent or if the difficulty breathing worsens, it is advisable to seek medical attention, as it may be necessary to use medications directly into the vein.
People who suffer from chronic bronchitis should follow up appropriately with a pulmonologist, starting to use the medications recommended by the doctor as soon as the first signs of an attack appear.
7. Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema, popularly known as “water in the lungs”, occurs when there is an accumulation of fluids inside the lungs. This happens more easily in people with heart problems, such as congestive heart failure, in which blood is not pumped correctly by the heart and, therefore, accumulates in the small blood vessels of the lung, causing fluid to be released inside the lung. .
In these cases, the phlegm released may be reddish or pinkish and has a slight foamy consistency. In addition, other common symptoms are difficulty breathing, bluish lips and fingers, chest pain and rapid heartbeat.
What to do: Pulmonary edema is considered a medical emergency. Therefore, if you have a heart problem and suspect any changes in the lungs, it is very important to go to the emergency room quickly, to confirm the diagnosis and start the most appropriate treatment, which, in the case of edema, is carried out in hospital. at the hospital. Learn more about treating pulmonary edema.
8. Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a rarer condition, but it can also cause bloody phlegm. This type of cancer is more common in people over 40 and who smoke.
Other symptoms that may also appear in cases of lung cancer include a persistent cough that does not improve, weight loss, hoarseness, back pain and extreme tiredness. See the 10 signs that could indicate lung cancer.
What to do: Whenever cancer is suspected, especially in people with risk factors, it is very important to consult a pulmonologist to carry out all necessary tests, confirm the diagnosis and start treatment. Generally, the earlier cancer is identified, the easier it will be to achieve a cure.
When to go to the doctor
It is important to consult a pulmonologist to identify the cause of blood in the phlegm, in order to begin the most appropriate treatment.
Consultation with a doctor is more urgent when there is:
- Bloody phlegm that does not improve after 3 days;
- Presence of large amounts of blood in the phlegm;
- Presence of other symptoms such as high fever, intense difficulty breathing, pale skin, bluish fingers and lips.
To investigate this type of symptoms, the doctor may perform tests such as lung X-rays, spirometry or computed tomography, for example.
