Coughing Up Blood

Causes of coughing up blood

Common causes of coughing up blood include:

a long-lasting or severe cough
a lung or airway infection like a chest infection, pneumonia, tuberculosis or bronchitis
a problem with your airways that causes them to widen and produce more mucus (bronchiectasis)

Sometimes coughing up blood can be a sign of something more serious like a blood clot or lung cancer.

It's important to get it checked out as soon as possible.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you've coughed up a few small spots, flecks or streaks of blood, or noticed blood in your phlegm or handkerchief

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:

you're coughing up more than just a few spots or streaks of blood
you're coughing up blood and finding it hard to breathe, have a very fast heartbeat or have pain in your chest or upper back

These symptoms could be a sign of a more serious problem like a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
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