14 Reasons for Coughing Up Blood

Coughing up blood can be one of the most worrying medical symptoms that you can experience, and it can be the source of a lot of panic – especially if it’s something that’s happened to you more than once. There are plenty of medical conditions and causes that can cause you to cough up blood, some are far more serious ones (such as a symptom of certain cancers) and others easier to treat. 

It’s not the kind of symptom that you should ignore. Make an appointment with your doctor if you’ve had one or several instances of coughing up blood, or phlegm that isn’t completely clear or has any kind of smell. Establishing the cause of coughing up blood as a symptom can be done in the matter of just a few tests, and it could save your health.

Here are 8 possible reasons why you could be coughing up blood.

1. Tuberculosis Infection

Tuberculosis is a health condition which affects several thousand people across the world every year, and although it’s not prevalent in all parts of the world, you could be at risk of contracting it if you have a lowered immune system and have recently come into direct contact with anyone who has it. 

Some of the first signs of a tuberculosis infection will include persistent coughing, which eventually turns to cough blood as the condition progresses. By this point, a tuberculosis infection is highly contagious and will need a completed course of TB medication to clear up.

Tuberculosis can also spread to any other parts of the body that don’t include the lungs, and in severe cases, tuberculosis of the spine, kidneys or other organs can happen. 

If you experience any persistent flu-like symptoms or a cough that doesn’t go away, see your doctor for tests.