If you have heart failure that gets worse quickly, you are likely to cough up pink phlegm. This may happen if you get a lot of fluid in your lungs. If this happens, you should seek medical attention right away. It can lead to a serious condition called pulmonary edema.

Heart failure can make fluid collect in your lungs. (To learn more about this, see What is heart failure?) You cough because your lungs are trying to get rid of the fluid. The fluid is pink because it has seeped out of your blood vessels.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.