Coughing Blood: Acute Bronchitis Symptoms and Causes

Understanding a Cough that Tastes Like Blood

Coughing up blood can be an alarming symptom that often causes people distress. While there are several potential causes, one of the most common is acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is an infection of the bronchi (the airways that carry air into and out of the lungs). It often develops after having a cold or other respiratory infection. In most cases, bouts of acute bronchitis will clear up within a couple of weeks without treatment. However, the cough and other symptoms can linger for longer in some people. Understanding the signs and distinguishing acute bronchitis from other conditions can help determine if and when medical treatment is needed.

Typical Signs and Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis

Some of the most common symptoms of acute bronchitis include:

• Cough, often worse at night
• Production of mucus, which may be clear, white, yellow or green
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Sore throat
• Mild fever and chills
• Chest discomfort or tightness
• Shortness of breath, in more severe cases

While most signs of acute bronchitis are typical of a respiratory viral infection, coughing up blood or phlegm tinged with blood can also sometimes occur. Let's take a closer look at why this happens and when it may be a cause for concern.

Why Does My Cough Taste Like Blood?

Coughing up blood is called hemoptysis. When severe, this symptom may originate in the lungs or airways themselves. But with mild bleeding, the source is often irritation or inflammation of the respiratory tract from excessive coughing.

As the lining of the airways become swollen and inflamed during an acute bronchitis infection, small capillaries in the area can also become inflamed and fragile. Forceful bouts of coughing can then cause these delicate vessels to burst.

A small amount of blood mixes with mucus and is then coughed up. Sometimes the amount is so minuscule that the only sign is the iron-like taste it leaves in your mouth. Other times there may be visible streaks of blood in the phlegm. Either way, this is usually not serious if mild.

When to See Your Doctor

While a cough that tastes like blood due to bronchitis often goes away on its own, it's still a good idea to consult your doctor, especially when:

• You cough up more than about half a teaspoon of blood at a time
• Bleeding doesn't stop after a few days
• You have other concerning symptoms along with coughing blood, like trouble breathing, chest pain or high fever

Seeking prompt medical care is also a must if you have risk factors like heart or lung disease, take blood thinners, or have had similar bleeding episodes before.

Is Coughing Blood Ever Normal?

Outside of acute bronchitis infections, are there any instances when coughing up blood is considered relatively normal or harmless? Sometimes, yes.

Many competitive runners report occasionally coughing up small flecks of blood after intense training or races. Also known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, this is thought to result from ruptured capillaries as the lungs rapidly expand and contract during intense cardio exertion.

While alarming, mild bleeding like this usually resolves quickly on its own once the strenuous activity ends. However, recurrent or excessive bleeding should still prompt an evaluation by your healthcare provider.

What About Blood-Streaked Sputum?

Finding a small amount of blood mixed with normal sputum is also not uncommon following prolonged bouts of intense coughing. As previously mentioned, this can happen as delicate capillaries burst from excessive force.

Seeing blood-tinged mucus after an intense coughing spell may be entirely harmless. But if it becomes frequent or persists longer than a couple days, bringing it up to your doctor is wise.

Causes Other Than Bronchitis

While acute bronchitis is one of the most frequent causes of coughing blood, other possible reasons include:

• Severe pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Lung cancer
• Tuberculosis
• Fungal infections
• Heart failure
• Lung abscess

As you can see from this short list, spitting up more than a tiny amount blood may potentially indicate something quite serious. Calling your doctor anytime bleeding seems excessive or persistent is extremely important.

Acute Bronchitis Treatment and Recovery

In otherwise healthy individuals, acute bronchitis usually clears up on its own without treatment. Getting plenty of rest and staying well hydrated is key during recovery.

Over-the-counter medications may also help relieve uncomfortable symptoms:

• Cough suppressants Help control troublesome coughing, allowing more rest.
• Expectorants Help loosen mucus so it's easier to cough up.
• Pain relievers Help ease sore throat, headache, muscle aches and fever.
• Inhaled bronchodilators Can help relieve temporary narrowing of airways and shortness of breath.

Most symptoms start improving within 7-10 days, but fatigue and cough often persist 1-2 weeks longer. Call your doctor if symptoms last more than 3 weeks or seem to relapse or worsen instead of gradually going away.

Can I Prevent Future Bouts of Bronchitis?

Repeated bouts of acute bronchitis can make you more prone to developing chronic bronchitis or other chronic lung problems later in life. So avoiding repeat infections is beneficial.

Good ways to help prevent repeat bouts of acute bronchitis include:

• Get vaccinated against flu and pneumonia
• Wash hands frequently
• Limit contact with sick people when possible
• Don't smoke; avoid secondhand smoke
• Avoid polluted air when feasible

Paying attention to cold and flu prevention techniques can also be helpful, as acute bronchitis often follows such viral illnesses. Taking care of your overall health is also beneficial.

When to Head to the Emergency Room

Most cases of acute bronchitis and occasional blood-tinged sputum are not emergencies. However, you should seek emergency care right away if you experience:

• Copious amounts of coughed up blood
• Severe trouble breathing
• Very high fever and respiratory distress
• Confusion, bluish lips/skin or extremely rapid heartbeat

As these may indicate a life-threatening issue like pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or lung injury, immediate emergency care is vital whenever breathing is severely impaired or large amounts of bleeding occurs.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.