Your guide to blood in mucus from your throat

There could be multiple reasons for blood in your mucus — some more serious than others.

Hemoptysis, the medical term for blood in mucus from the throat, means blood is coming from somewhere in your respiratory tract, which includes the mouth, throat, nose, lungs, or the passageways leading to the lungs.

Knowing the cause of hemoptysis can help you treat it in the right way for you.

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Symptoms of blood in your mucus

The symptoms of hemoptysis have a wide range of severity, including streaks of blood, bright red blood, or bloody mucus that you expectorate (cough or spit out).

Mild hemoptysis makes up the vast majority of cases, and it may go away on its own without complications. But the more severe form is known as life threatening hemoptysis.

Symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:

• coughing up a lot of blood, usually more than a few teaspoons — one study defines this as more than 150 milliliters of blood in 24 hours
• blood in your urine or stool
• chest pain
• dizziness
• fever
• shortness of breath

Causes of blood in your mucus

There are many different reasons you might experience hemoptysis, all with varying severities. In up to half of all cases, doctors cannot identify a specific cause.

Asthma

Sometimes, people with asthma, an inflammation of the tubes that carry oxygen in and out of the lungs, may cough up blood. This usually happens during or after an asthma episode. If you cough up bloody mucus during an asthma flare-up, seek medical attention straight away.

There’s no cure for asthma, but different treatments can help manage your symptoms and prevent you from severe episodes that lead to coughing up blood.

Acute respiratory tract infections

One of the most common causes of hemoptysis is an acute infection in the respiratory tract, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. This would most likely be alongside other symptoms, such as fever and difficulty breathing.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that affects the lungs. It does not always cause symptoms, but those who do experience them may have a fever, fatigue, or an excessive cough that may produce blood.

If you have tuberculosis, it’s essential to start a course of antibiotics immediately.  

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease in which the airways lose the ability to clear out mucus due to damage from a previous infection, injury, or disorder such as cystic fibrosis. This makes the airways prone to infection, inflammation, and damage. Accompanying symptoms may be chest pain and shortness of breath.

Pulmonary vasculitis 

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels caused by the body’s white blood cells attacking healthy cells. When it affects the lungs, specifically known as pulmonary vasculitis, it can cause the damaged blood vessels to bleed and result in coughing up blood. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing and chest pain.

Pulmonary edema

In this condition, fluid builds up in the lungs, reducing the movement of oxygen in the lungs. This can cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood. Pulmonary edema has numerous possible causes, including congestive heart failure and even side effects from some medications, such as heart medications and antibiotics. 

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in your lung. Blood in your mucus is a common symptom of pulmonary embolism, but research suggests that it’s uncommon for pulmonary embolism to be the cause of hemoptysis in people who go to the hospital for it.

Autoimmune diseases

With these types of diseases, such as lupus, the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. In the lungs, this can result in fluid buildup, which causes a cough that may bring up blood, as well as shortness of breath and chest pain. 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that block airflow in the lungs, the most common of which are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Persistent coughing and wheezing are characteristics of COPD.

Malignancy

This can refer to either lung cancer, which starts in the lungs, or secondary lung cancer, which begins in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs. A worsening cough and chest pain, along with coughing up blood, could indicate cancer. Both conditions require immediate diagnosis and treatment. 

Diagnosis

To diagnose the cause of blood in your mucus, a healthcare professional will ask about your health history, such as whether you recently had bronchitis or the flu. They will want to know whether you’ve had a cough or a fever or if you have an asthma diagnosis.

They will also put a stethoscope on your chest and back, listening for wheezing or crackling in your lungs. Your medical history will also provide them with important information. 

Doctors are likely to also use imaging studies to get a better picture of your chest. These include:

• chest radiography
• CT scans
• CT angiography scans

They may use a bronchoscope to look down the throat for obstructions to your airway in a procedure known as a bronchoscopy. Doctors may also confirm some conditions with a blood test. 

Treatments for blood in your mucus

Treatment will depend greatly on the underlying cause of the blood in your mucus. For bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, a doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics like amoxicillin (Amoxil).

For viral infections, such as the flu, oral antivirals, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), can help reduce the severity and duration of the condition.

In the case of fluid buildup in the lungs, such as with pulmonary edema, doctors may use oxygen along with diuretic medication, such as furosemide (Lasix), to remove excess fluid. 

For more serious conditions, such as a tumor or a blood clot, doctors may opt for surgery in combination with chemotherapy. Doctors use a procedure called bronchial arterial embolization for life threatening hemoptysis. It blocks the arteries to stop the bleeding.

To help with the blood, healthcare professionals may recommend cough suppressants. These generally contain dextromethorphan, and they are available over the counter. Drinking lots of water can also help, as it can flush out mucus and blood.

Other ways to help the lungs if you are coughing up blood are avoiding smoking, if applicable, and keeping your home as clean as possible. This is because dust, mold, mildew, and smoke can further irritate sensitive lungs. If you live in a polluted area, avoid exercising or spending a long time outdoors on low quality air days.

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Online care for blood in your mucus

If you notice blood in your mucus and don’t know why, it’s important to get it checked out straight away. If it’s due to something serious, a healthcare professional can start a treatment plan.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Blood in the mucus indicates bleeding from somewhere in your respiratory tract. It can be a symptom of numerous conditions of varying severity, from pneumonia to lung cancer.

In all cases, you should consult with a healthcare professional to diagnose the underlying cause and get the appropriate treatment. 

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