Tasting blood when coughing is not exactly normal but is fairly common and can have several causes. It often results from minor bleeding caused by the rupture of small blood vessels in the throat or nasal passages due to intense coughing, which mixes a small amount of blood with saliva, giving a metallic or blood-like taste. Other reasons include dry conditions, infections, and inflammation in the respiratory system that make tissues more susceptible to minor bleeding when coughing. More serious causes might include respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic lung conditions, or even lung cancer, which cause hemoptysis (coughing up blood or blood-streaked sputum). Some medications and acid reflux (GERD) can also cause a metallic taste when coughing. The taste can be a warning sign if accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain, weight loss, prolonged coughing, or coughing up a significant amount of blood. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional if the blood taste persists, occurs frequently, or is accompanied by other worrying symptoms to rule out serious conditions. If coughing up large amounts of blood or severe breathing difficulty occur, urgent medical care is necessary.
