Blood in cough: Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) can have many

Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) can have many causes, from infections to lung cancer. Learn how to diagnose and treat this symptom and when to call a healthcare provider. Understand what blood in cough indicates, possible causes, and when to seek medical advice with insights from AOI’s cancer specialists. Causes of coughing up blood include infection (bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking, foreign object that has been inhaled (aspirated), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, tuberculosis, and others. Blood in phlegm can be a sign of a mild infection or bronchitis, but it can sometimes indicate a severe infection or lung cancer. Learn more here.