what does it mean if you find blood in your phlegm?
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The medical term for coughing up blood is haemoptysis. You may cough up small amounts of bright red blood, or frothy blood-streaked sputum (phlegm). The blood is usually from your lungs and is often the result of prolonged coughing or a chest infection.
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Your body induces itself to cough in order to protect any particles from entering your airways and the lungs. A cough that doesn't go away or worsens into a chronic cough, is one of the most common symptoms of lung cancer. If you are coughing up blood or rust-colored spit/phlegm, see your doctor immediately.
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So, to answer your questions: The phlegm itself isn't toxic or harmful to swallow. Once swallowed, it's digested and absorbed. It isn't recycled intact; your body makes more in the lungs, nose and sinuses. It doesn't prolong your illness or lead to infection or complications in other parts of your body.
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When phlegm rises from the lungs into the throat, the body is likely trying to remove it. Spitting it out is healthier than swallowing it. Share on Pinterest A saline nasal spray or rinse may help to clear out mucus. 7.
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A cough with a lot of mucus or phlegm usually is a sign of a cold, especially if your child also has a runny nose and sore throat. If the cough is accompanied by a fever and thick, green mucus, it could be a sinus infection. If your child has had a cold and the cough is getting worse, it could be pneumonia.
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In severe cases — if you've also got chest pain or you're spitting up blood — coughing could be a symptom of a pulmonary embolism (a blocked artery in the lungs), which is serious (and not totally out of the question, since pregnant women are more prone to blood clots).
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Phlegm is more related to disease than is mucus and can be troublesome for the individual to excrete from the body. Phlegm is a juicy secretion in the airway during disease and inflammation. Phlegm usually contains mucus with virus, bacteria, other debris, and sloughed-off inflammatory cells.
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Discreetly getting rid of phlegm. When phlegm rises from the lungs into the throat, the body is likely trying to remove it. Spitting it out is healthier than swallowing it. Share on Pinterest A saline nasal spray or rinse may help to clear out mucus.
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White. Thicker white mucus goes along with feelings of congestion and may be a sign that an infection is starting. The white color comes from an increased number of white blood cells. If you have asthma, lots of white phlegm may be a sign of inflamed airways.
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As your doctor draws out excess fluid from around your lungs, you may feel like coughing or have chest pain. The needle will be removed, and a small bandage will be applied to the site. After the procedure, your blood pressure and breathing will be monitored to make sure you do not have complications.
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You may have a few minutes of discomfort during or after the test. Collecting blood from an artery typically hurts more than drawing it from a vein. Arteries are deeper than veins, and there are sensitive nerves nearby. You also may feel lightheaded, faint, dizzy, or nauseated while your blood is drawn.
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Thicker white mucus goes along with feelings of congestion and may be a sign that an infection is starting. The white color comes from an increased number of white blood cells. If you have asthma, lots of white phlegm may be a sign of inflamed airways.
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Call your doctor if you're coughing up blood. He or she can determine whether the cause is minor or potentially more serious. Call 911 or emergency medical help if you're coughing up a lot of blood or if the bleeding won't stop.
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What do those colors mean? You might have heard that yellow or green mucus is a clear sign that you have an infection, but despite that common misperception, the yellow or green hue isn't due to bacteria. When you have a cold, your immune system sends white blood cells called neutrophils rushing to the area.
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What does green or yellow phlegm mean? If you see green or yellow phlegm, it's usually a sign that your body is fighting an infection. The color comes from white blood cells.
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Hemoptysis may occur when there is bleeding in the throat, the trachea, or in the large or small airways of the lungs (the bronchi or the bronchioles). 3﻿ Many people describe their symptoms as spitting up blood-streaked mucus. Blood that is coughed up is often mixed with phlegm and can have a bubbly appearance.
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The color brown often means old blood. You may see this color after your phlegm appears red or pink. Brown phlegm is commonly caused by: Bacterial pneumonia:This form of pneumonia can produce phlegm that is green-brown or rust-colored.