Situations often arise when, during a cough, when expectorating sputum, there is blood in it in the form of clots or streaks. Such sputum indicates serious diseases associated with the respiratory organs. In these cases, you should immediately seek medical help and undergo an examination in order to establish the causes of this symptom as soon as possible and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Diagnostic measures are carried out using chest x-ray and bronchoscopy. Blood and sputum are sent for testing.
Blood in sputum when coughing
The presence of blood in expectorated sputum indicates pathology in the body. Light-colored blood may appear in small quantities when small blood vessels are damaged. Such damage occurs due to increased pressure during coughing. Dark red color, collected in the form of veins or clots, can be a symptom of tuberculosis or even lung cancer.
Studies have shown that sputum with blood during coughing can appear with any disease of the respiratory system. Therefore, examination is of paramount importance to identify the causes of this pathology.
Before the examination begins, it is established that the blood supply comes from the respiratory organs. There are no impurities or unpleasant odor in it, the color is predominantly light pink. With gastric bleeding, the color is darker, and during coughing there is a urge to vomit. Along with sputum, food debris and other stomach contents may be released.
Which doctor should I go to?
If you are coughing up blood or have green or yellow sputum, you should visit a therapist. He will conduct an initial examination and write out directions for tests. Based on the results obtained, consultation with a cardiologist, pulmonologist, phthisiatrician, or oncologist may be required.
If you experience frequent hemoptysis, you should visit a physician.
The causes of coughing up blood are different, so if unpleasant signs appear, you should not panic or make fatal diagnoses. Only a specialist can identify the cause of the pathology after a comprehensive examination.
Causes of blood in sputum
If hemoptysis is present, the attending physician determines the cause of this phenomenon. Possible reasons:
- With inflammation of the bronchi, hemoptysis appears in 65% of cases. Acute or chronic bronchitis is characterized by frequent and severe coughing attacks. This is when blood streaks appear, mainly in the morning hours.
- The appearance of bright scarlet blood in the sputum is characteristic of pneumonia or a lung abscess. At the same time, the temperature rises, weakness sets in, and immunity decreases.
- A small amount of blood in the sputum is observed with laryngitis, tracheitis and tonsillitis.
- Tuberculosis is characterized by a prolonged cough, during which small amounts of sputum are released. It has a pink color or red veins.
- With lung cancer, clinical manifestations are not observed for a long time. But, after a certain time, the patient develops a cough that repeats in attacks. At the same time, streaks or blood clots appear in the sputum. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply.
- Decompensation in cardiovascular diseases often leads to the development of pulmonary hypertension. Because of this, blood stagnates in the lungs, after which it appears in the sputum during coughing.
- Pulmonary hemorrhage poses a serious threat to life for the patient. As a result, heavy bleeding occurs during coughing, accompanied by shortness of breath and chest pain. In such cases, urgent hospitalization is required.
Prevention
You can prevent blood from coming out when you cough using the following preventive rules:
- complete cessation of bad habits;
- avoiding hypothermia;
- proper and balanced nutrition;
- daily walks in the fresh air;
- strengthening the immune system;
- early detection and elimination of ailments that can lead to coughing up blood;
- Regularly undergoing a complete preventive medical examination, including fluorography.
If you seek medical help in a timely manner in cases of blood from the throat, the prognosis will be favorable. However, it is necessary to take into account that each disease that causes such a symptom has its own consequences, which often pose a threat to human life.
https://youtu.be/vlXO6299c1U
Blood in sputum in the morning
If in the morning the presence of blood during expectoration has become systematic, then there is a high probability of serious disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Such bleeding is associated with the upper respiratory tract. Often, they are diagnosed as pulmonary or tuberculous, although the causes may be different.
Usually, in the morning, blood comes out in the amount of one or two spits. At the same time, the presence of a cough is not at all necessary. The color of the blood is often dark, and the blood itself is thick. At the exit, a dense lump containing pus or mucus is formed. This type of hemoptysis is not of pulmonary origin. The reasons lie in the tonsils or nasopharynx. Capillary bleeding from the gums may occur. As a result, at night, blood accumulates in the upper respiratory tract, which is why it appears in the morning.
By visually examining blood discharge, a preliminary conclusion can be made about the presence or absence of tuberculosis.
When should you immediately consult a doctor?
If the discharge was observed for no more than 2-3 days and only during a cough, there is no need to worry. In the absence of this phenomenon, standard therapy can be continued in the future.
But in some cases, the patient needs medical help. The presence of blood when coughing is a reason to consult a doctor and make changes to the treatment regimen if:
- Blood is released over a long period (more than 4-7 days).
- Bloody discharge is also observed after an acute coughing attack passes.
- During an attack, suffocation is felt;
- Over time, the amount of blood only increases. You should consult a doctor immediately if bleeding begins.
- Blood is released in the form of clots and foam.
With small amounts of blood, the body can cope with the problem on its own. At the same time, increased discharge indicates the need for therapy.
A timely visit to a doctor can not only prevent further development of complications, but also save the patient’s life. However, we must remember that hemoptysis is not always associated specifically with bronchitis.
There are blood streaks in the sputum
Sputum with blood is expectorated in cases where the blood vessels are damaged. Thus, blood enters the lumen of the bronchi and, ultimately, it is coughed up. If such a manifestation occurs extremely rarely, then it does not pose a health hazard. Most likely, this is due to damage to the vessel during a sharp, intense coughing and may indicate a lack of vitamins in the body.
If streaks of blood appear regularly, this means that a comprehensive examination carried out in a hospital setting is necessary. The reason for such an examination is the following symptoms that appear along with blood streaks:
- Weak appetite leading to weight loss.
- The person feels weak and tired.
- Even in a calm state, shortness of breath is present, and the cough becomes prolonged.
- A prolonged cough is accompanied by intense chest pain.
True and false hemoptysis
It is necessary to distinguish between biological fluids released from the oral cavity during expectoration; these can be:
- sputum is a secretion of the bronchopulmonary system released when coughing;
- mucus is a biological fluid produced by the nasopharynx during inflammation, flowing down the back wall into the throat, and released during expectoration;
- saliva is a biological fluid secreted by the salivary glands into the oral cavity.
Hemoptysis occurs:
- The real thing is the release of sputum streaked with blood when coughing or blood clots in the sputum. The appearance of clots in sputum is caused by pathological changes in the bronchopulmonary tree.
- False - these are traces or clots that appear when coughing up mucus that collects in the throat and flows from the nasopharynx or enters from the esophagus. It's just blood in your saliva when you cough.
In addition, the intensity of secretion of secretory fluids during expectoration is important.
https://youtu.be/MW-bu5q6JaQ
Depending on the amount of blood released, there is a classification of this phenomenon:
- hemoptysis is a discharge of less than 50 ml per day;
- generalized bleeding – from 60-80 ml.
There is also profuse bleeding, but this usually happens at the last stage of oncology or tuberculosis.
In the case of true and false hemoptysis, the expectoration process may be accompanied by a cough. In any case, blood comes from the mouth, so it is very difficult to understand without research what kind of hemoptysis is observed in the patient.
Sputum with blood in bronchitis
The presence of blood in the sputum during a cough often indicates the presence of serious diseases associated with the respiratory system. Such a disease is chronic bronchitis, which occurs in an acute form. To establish the exact cause, it is necessary to know the symptoms characteristic of this disease. Therefore, if blood appears in the sputum, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor to identify the causes of this symptom and undergo a thorough examination.
In acute bronchitis, there is a wet cough. Sometimes, traces of blood can be seen in the sputum, and the patient’s temperature rises. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by a prolonged cough that lasts for more than three months. Shortness of breath occurs during physical activity.
At a time when chronic bronchitis worsens, in the sputum, in addition to thick purulent discharge, there are scarlet streaks of blood. Therefore, only after a comprehensive examination, a course of therapy aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease is prescribed.
Bronchitis and its symptoms
Bronchi are one of the elements of the human respiratory system. They connect the trachea with the lungs and take an active part in the process of air entering the body. This explains the importance of this organ for normal human life.
Bronchitis is an inflammatory process that develops in the bronchi area due to viruses, infections or irritants entering the human body. The disease negatively affects the functioning of the organ and the general condition of the patient.
There are three main forms of the disease:
- Spicy. Usually develops against the background of an infectious lesion of the body. This form is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, but without the development of destructive processes.
- Chronic. Protracted bronchitis is typical for smokers. Due to the long development, the inflammatory process affects all layers of the bronchi, leading to disruption of their patency.
The disease can become chronic three months after the onset of development (in the absence of therapy). To avoid this, you need to know how bronchitis manifests itself. Its symptoms in adults are as follows:
- Lethargy, weakness.
- Increased body temperature (in some cases up to 39 degrees).
- Excessive sweating.
- Hard breathing, shortness of breath.
- Cough. It is dry during the first few days, from about the third day it is wet, with sputum production.
The danger of the chronic form of bronchitis lies in the disappearance of the symptoms of the disease for a while, which is why the patient consults a doctor after the development of changes in the tissues of the bronchi and complications.
One of their characteristic symptoms for bronchitis is a cough with bloody discharge.
Sputum with blood during a cold
The reason for the appearance of blood may be damage to small blood vessels, which easily burst during a cold cough. In this case, bleeding does not pose any danger to the patient's body.
However, blood present in sputum indicates the presence of more serious pathological processes occurring in the human body. Blood in sputum is detected both during a cold and in the presence of diseases that are closely related to it.
- Hemoptysis is often observed with bronchitis, when at the same time there is an increase in temperature. As a result, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. The danger comes from chronic forms of the disease, and during periods of exacerbation. At this time, in addition to blood, purulent discharge appears in the sputum.
- Streaks of blood in the sputum may also be present in bronchiectasis due to prolonged debilitating cough. In addition, the patient experiences shortness of breath, fever, and weakness.
Diagnostics
If a cough interspersed with blood does not go away over a long period of time and is accompanied by other clinical signs, then you need to seek help from a doctor who will prescribe laboratory and instrumental examinations necessary to establish the etiological factor.
However, first of all, the clinician must independently:
- interview the patient in detail - to find out the first time and intensity of expression of symptoms;
- study the medical history and life history of the patient - in some cases this will indicate the reason that blood is coughed up when coughing;
- perform a thorough objective examination to obtain a complete picture of a particular ailment.
Laboratory tests play an important role in establishing the correct diagnosis:
Bronchoscopy
- general and biochemical blood test - to identify signs of a particular inflammatory disease in children and adults, as well as to monitor the functioning of internal organs and systems;
- bacterial analysis of sputum.
The basis of diagnosis is instrumental examinations of the patient, including:
- radiography;
- CT;
- bronchoscopy;
- biopsy – indicated for lung cancer, which is necessary to confirm or refute the presence of an oncological process.
If an expectorant cough of blood occurs due to damage to other organs, the patient may be referred for consultation to a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and cardiologist or phthisiatrician.
Types of hemoptysis
In medical practice, expectoration with blood is classified into several groups. The following types are distinguished:
- true hemoptysis is a condition characterized by the appearance of sputum with blood. The color of blood ranges from bright scarlet to brown. Along with this there is copious secretion of mucus from the bronchi;
- slight bleeding from the lungs - in this case, the patient coughs up sputum mixed with blood, the discharge is foamy, sometimes there is pure blood, there is no mucus. The total amount of daily secretion from the bronchi reaches 100 ml;
- moderate bleeding - the volume of expectorated blood reaches 500 ml;
- profuse bleeding is a serious condition accompanied by copious discharge of blood and mucus. The amount of secretion exceeds 500 ml.
Identifying the causes of the disease can be quite difficult. Sometimes this requires a long stay of a person in the hospital, a full examination with all the relevant tests.
There are several types of diseases that cause bleeding. These include harmless, congenital lung pathologies, common and rare diseases.
Why do you cough up blood?
According to medical statistics, among therapeutic patients, hemoptysis in 60-70% of cases occurs due to a cold, bronchitis or pneumonia. During a severe coughing attack, the wall of a blood vessel in the lining of the bronchi may rupture, allowing a small amount of blood to enter the respiratory tract, where it is coughed up as streaks of sputum. In this case, coughing up blood does not pose a serious danger, since after the acute inflammatory process subsides it disappears without any consequences.
In approximately 20% of cases, hemoptysis is caused by malignant tumors of the bronchopulmonary system (cancer, adenocarcinoma).
Another cause of this symptom is thromboembolism (blockage with a blood clot) of the pulmonary artery or its branches.
Other causes of hemoptysis can be many other pathologies of the respiratory system:
- tuberculosis;
- bronchiectasis;
- lung abscess;
- traumatic lung injuries (blunt chest injury, rib fracture);
- cystic fibrosis;
- pulmonary amyloidosis;
- Iatrogenic injuries during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (bronchoscopy, pulmonary artery catheterization, transbronchial biopsy).
The appearance of a cough with blood is not in all cases associated with diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. A common cause of its occurrence is diseases of the ENT organs (sinusitis, sinusitis, tumors of the pharynx or larynx).
Heart failure may also be accompanied by hemoptysis. This is due to stagnation of blood in the vessels of the pulmonary circulation and an increase in pressure in them.
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system
In addition to lung diseases, heart and vascular diseases can provoke hemoptysis. These include:
- pulmonary edema due to decreased pumping function of the heart. The condition causes severe shortness of breath, foamy discharge mixed with blood;
- Mitral stenosis is a disease that occurs due to disruption of blood flow due to narrowing of the mitral orifice. In this case, the patient experiences a severe cough with blood, especially during physical exertion, shortness of breath, and a general deterioration in health;
- Aortic aneurysm is another cause of pulmonary hemorrhage. Compression of the lung leads to atelectasis and causes the development of pneumonia. The patient develops a cough mixed with blood and suffocation. The condition is serious and often ends in the death of the patient.
Some heart diseases cause pulmonary hemorrhage
Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels are often indicated by the release of blood without coughing. If you notice this symptom, you should definitely make an appointment with a doctor.
Important! The lungs of a healthy person produce about 50 ml of mucus per day. This is an absolutely normal physiological process, indicating good functioning of the organ.
How to treat
Therapy is carried out depending on the pathology. The general points are:
- use of hemostatic agents;
- taking iron supplements to correct anemia;
- reducing the severity of cough with antitussives is assessed from the point of view of the risk-benefit ratio due to the risk of sputum stagnation;
- carrying out bronchodilator therapy to reduce shortness of breath and bronchospasm in corresponding diseases and syndromes;
- limiting blood thinning medications;
- control of general blood test.
Inflammatory lesions of the lungs of an infectious nature are subject to treatment with antibacterial drugs, this also applies to the treatment of tuberculosis. An abscess and other cavity formations in the disintegration phase must be removed surgically, since in these cases it is rarely possible to stop the appearance of blood in the cough conservatively.
Lung tumors are treated with anticancer drugs and chemotherapy. For systemic diseases and vasculitis, the use of steroids and cytostatics is indicated. If the problem is in the oral cavity, then use local antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ointments, treat the bleeding site with Parodontos, Rotokan. Rinses with chamomile, oak bark, cinquefoil rhizome, linden flowers, and serpentine rhizome are useful.
Congenital pathologies of the respiratory system
Blood from the throat during expectoration is often a sign of congenital anomalies associated with the development of the bronchopulmonary system. There are several conditions in humans that are accompanied by bleeding from the lungs.
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis of the pancreas or cystic fibrosis is accompanied by the secretion of mucus by the exocrine glands. As a result, secretion accumulates in the digestive organs, ducts of the mucous glands, and bronchi. As for the patient’s breathing, the patency of the bronchi is impaired, and purulent mucous contents accumulate in the organ. As a result of the development of bronchiectasis, the patient expectorates sputum with blood. In the absence of help, the organ becomes completely blocked, which can lead to death.
Rupture of a bronchial cyst
Bronchial cysts are diagnosed in both newborns and adult patients. The pathology is a neoplasm in the bronchi, which is often latent. Bleeding in this disease occurs due to rupture of the formation or its infection. At the same time, air accumulates in the bronchial cavity, the body temperature rises, the patient’s general well-being sharply worsens, weakness, irritability, and lack of appetite develop.
Rendu-Osler-Weber disease
Hemorrhagic telangiectasia or Randu-Osler-Weber disease is accompanied by frequent bleeding from dilated capillaries, is non-inflammatory in nature, and manifests itself in the form of spider veins and mesh formation on the skin. Telangiectasia affects various internal organs, including the respiratory system. Symptoms include frequent bleeding on the skin, anemia, and patients coughing up blood and mucus.
For sore throat
Sore throat (tonsillitis) is an inflammatory process that occurs in the palatine tonsils of the oral cavity. Most often caused by streptococcus. Initially, the mucous membrane of the arches and palatine tonsils becomes inflamed, and then becomes covered with a white coating. Under the plaque itself there will be damaged mucous membrane.
This clinical picture describes the entry of bacterial microflora into the mucous membrane of the tonsils and the further struggle of leukocytes with foreign agents, with the release of pus or the formation of that same film.
Coughing with blood - this may be a sign of unsuccessful intervention from the outside into the oral cavity, in order to remove white plaque from the tonsils, with damage to the mucous membrane itself. From here saliva mixed with blood will appear.
Causes of sore throat and coughing up blood:
- Streptococcus.
- Staphylococcus.
- Viruses.
- Fungal infection.
Main symptoms of sore throat:
- increased body temperature;
- sore throat that gets worse when swallowing and eating solid foods;
- general weakness;
- chills;
- white or grayish coating (often with fungal infection);
- initial redness of the tonsils on one side;
- enlarged and painful submandibular lymph nodes;
- cough;
- loss of appetite.
You should also know that a no less formidable disease like diphtheria has similar clinical signs to sore throat.
The causative agent - corynobacteriae diphteriae, affects the tonsils in the same way as sore throat, having a common origin with it:
- redness of the palatine tonsils and arches;
- covering them with a white or grayish coating;
- body temperature and general weakness.
Its difference from a sore throat:
- difficulty in separating plaque from the mucosa (if successful - 100% damage to the mucous membrane with copious bleeding);
- may affect two tonsils.
Coughing with blood will be more common with diphtheria than with sore throat, due to the ingrowth of plaque into the mucous membrane and the patient’s attempt to remove it independently.
Diagnosis of the causes of coughing up blood
To diagnose a disease that is accompanied by hemoptysis, a number of examinations should be carried out:
- General examination , percussion, palpation and auscultation.
- Laboratory test : general blood test (hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets, ESR), to exclude large blood loss and inflammatory reaction; blood chemistry; sputum analysis (determining the number of red blood cells in sputum, the presence of the causative agent of tuberculosis and other pathogens in sputum); fecal analysis for eggs of helminthic infestation (to exclude this factor).
- Instrumental data : spirometry (assessment of pulmonary function, determination of exhaled air velocity to exclude chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD); tests with drugs that dilate the bronchi (Salbutamol) to exclude bronchial asthma and other allergic conditions; determination of blood gas composition using a pulse oximeter; chest x-ray; fibrobronchoscopy (examination of the bronchial mucosa using special equipment); CT scan; lung biopsy (for oncology); angiopulmonography – study of the vascular pattern of the lungs; body plethysmography (like spirography - the goal is the same).
Treatment
The method of treating hemoptysis is determined by the cause that led to its occurrence. For lung cancer, the doctor, based on the characteristics of the clinical situation, may prescribe surgical, chemotherapy, radiation or combination treatment.
One of the causes of hemoptysis is pulmonary tuberculosis
In cases where hemoptysis occurs against the background of the cavernous form of tuberculosis, the patient is prescribed simultaneous therapy with several anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Treatment of hemoptysis due to bronchitis and pneumonia is carried out with the help of antibacterial drugs.
Bronchiectasis and lung abscess may require surgery.
Common lung diseases
Many patients ask why I cough up blood? This is explained by various lung diseases and their complications. These include tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia and many other diseases. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
The most common cause of hemoptysis is lung disease
Fungal lung infection
Pulmonary candidiasis in the initial stages looks like a common cold, the patient coughs, and the general condition worsens. The cough may be dry or with copious sputum production. In the later stages, blood clots appear in the secretion, body temperature rises, breathing becomes difficult, and pain occurs in the chest.
Important! To diagnose the disease, sputum is examined for the presence of fungus, since X-rays can detect the disease only in the later stages.
Worm infestations
Often patients cough up blood due to the destruction of lung and bronchial tissue by parasites. The amount of blood can be insignificant or massive, depending on the degree of damage to the organ. The cough is often dry and paroxysmal. A person is worried about shortness of breath, allergic skin rashes, low-grade body temperature. Periodic headaches and dizziness appear.
Tuberculosis
One of the most common causes of bleeding when coughing is tuberculosis. Moreover, blood discharge is observed both during a cough and without it. Characteristic symptoms of the disease include:
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- persistent increase in body temperature (38–39 degrees);
- weight loss;
- loss of appetite;
- heavy sweating during sleep;
- alopecia (hair loss);
- dry cough that lasts more than 3 weeks;
- hemoptysis.
These symptoms cannot be ignored; if they are detected, you must make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. Treatment of tuberculosis in the later stages requires a long time, often accompanied by serious condition and death of the patient.
Acute and chronic bronchitis
With the development of bronchitis, expectoration of sputum with small splashes of blood and pus occurs. This symptom is especially pronounced at the beginning of the disease, but even during this period it is not leading. Other manifestations of the disease include increased body temperature, general malaise, difficulty breathing, wheezing, dry cough, sweating, and chest pain. In the absence of proper treatment, bronchitis turns into pneumonia.
Lungs' cancer
The tumor in the lungs causes a severe cough, patients cough up copious amounts of mucus, pus mixed with blood. At the same time, body weight drops sharply, appetite decreases, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, general weakness, and loss of ability to work develop. Treatment of pathology in the initial stages is carried out surgically. In later stages, the use of radiation and chemotherapy is necessary.
Lung cancer causes many dangerous symptoms, including bleeding when coughing
Pneumonia
Accompanied by hemoptysis is acute pneumonia, especially provoked by pathogens such as staphylococcus, Klebsiella, pseudomonas and others. The mucus has a rusty or brownish tint; scarlet blood clots are less common.
Other signs of pneumonia include:
- a sharp increase in body temperature, sometimes up to 40 degrees;
- weakness;
- severe suffocating cough;
- headache;
- loss of appetite;
- sometimes loss of consciousness.
The condition requires immediate treatment. Therapy with antibiotics and other medications is used.
Pulmonary infarction
Pulmonary infarction is a condition in a patient in which ischemia of a certain part of the organ occurs due to embolism or thrombus of the pulmonary artery. A person complains that he has pain in the chest and develops a dry cough. Unpleasant sensations intensify with physical activity, bending, turning. Symptoms of the disease in 50% of patients include coughing up blood. The sputum has a rusty tint, and there are insignificant spots of blood. In some cases, heavy pulmonary hemorrhage is diagnosed.
Pulmonary abscess
A lung abscess is characterized by the development of an inflammatory process in the tissues of the organ, which is why the formation of purulent-necrotic cavities is observed in the lungs. When coughing up, the sputum has bright spots of blood and is accompanied by an unpleasant putrid odor. The amount of secretion sometimes reaches 1 liter. The patient experiences pain in the sternum, loss of appetite, and loss of body weight. The abscess causes a sharp increase in body temperature, weakness, and apathy.
What do you definitely need to pay attention to?
To begin with, you should visit your local therapist. After the initial examination, if the doctor identifies alarming symptoms, he will give a referral for examination to more specialized specialists.
- Cough with a salty taste and red mucus that lasts more than 3 days.
- In addition to cough, weak condition, lack of appetite, weight loss.
- Shortness of breath and chest pain at rest.
The local therapist will examine the problem and conduct a preliminary diagnosis. Then he will refer you to a phthisiatrician, oncologist, or pulmonologist, depending on the disease. Treatment is possible only after a detailed examination.
Not all patients tend to visit a doctor when the first symptoms of the disease appear. Sometimes patients tend to wait and make an appointment only when their health deteriorates critically.
Aspects that should encourage the patient not to postpone a visit to the doctor remain:
- profuse hemoptysis;
- parallel development of dizziness or loss of consciousness;
- sudden weight loss;
- fever accompanied by coughing up blood;
- chest pain.
These conditions are a reason to call an ambulance. Delay in providing specialized care can result in death.
Hemoptysis without cough
Sometimes the discharge of blood is not preceded by a cough. Most often, this phenomenon is caused by cardiac and vascular pathologies.
- Pulmonary edema. Rapid fatigue and discomfort in the sternum appear, sometimes it is localized in the heart area. The exudate separates little by little, the substance is foamy and colored pinkish or scarlet. This disease often leads to death.
- Tear of the aortic wall. This condition often occurs after certain interventions. There is little blood in the mucus; therapy is not needed.
The presence of blood is also caused by the rupture of weakened blood capillaries running along the respiratory organs. This phenomenon is not dangerous.
What kind of disease is this
Many patients who experience this symptom do not understand why there is blood coming from the throat and wonder what it means. Doctors say that there are a number of diseases behind this sign, and when diagnosing it is important to take into account the accompanying symptoms.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a widespread infectious disease caused by Koch's bacillus. Most often, this pathology affects the lungs, causing the patient to cough up sputum containing blood. Doctors identify the following causes of tuberculosis:
- dependence on alcoholic beverages, drugs and tobacco products;
- abnormalities in the structure of the respiratory system;
- chronic inflammatory processes in the respiratory system (including a history of acute diseases);
- the presence of chronic pathologies in other organs and tissues;
- disorders of the endocrine system (including diabetes mellitus);
- unbalanced diet, in which the body does not receive enough vitamins and microelements;
- low stress resistance, depression;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- unfavorable living or working conditions.
The listed risk factors lead to the fact that the patient’s immunity is weakened, which makes the likelihood of getting sick higher.
At the initial stage of the disease there are no symptoms. However, then the person’s health deteriorates, the throat may bleed, uncontrollable irritability appears, and body weight sharply decreases. Night sweats are another sign that helps recognize the development of the disease. However, the same symptom occurs in cancer, so the patient must undergo additional diagnostic procedures.
Tuberculosis is a serious disease that is treated on an outpatient basis. A person is placed in a medical facility, sent to a number of diagnostic procedures and prescribed medications for complex treatment. These are anti-tuberculosis drugs and drugs designed to enhance immunity.
Worm infestation
Helminthiasis is a condition caused by the penetration of parasitic organisms into the body. The causative agents of the pathology can be roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, whipworms, and toxocaras. If the patient is bleeding from the throat, the cause may be infection with the listed microorganisms.
The cause of helminthic infestation is non-compliance with personal hygiene rules and the patient’s weakened immunity. Infection occurs through dirty food and water. A percutaneous route of infection is also possible, when microorganisms penetrate inside through damaged skin. However, most often the cause of the disease is carelessness in handling food. Worms become infected by people who do not wash their hands often enough, do not heat-treat food, and drink low-quality water that is not subject to boiling processes.
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To avoid infection, doctors recommend heat-treating foods and drinking boiled water. Experts advise not to purchase products of questionable quality, as this increases the risk of infection.
An infected person may bleed from the nose and throat. In addition to streaks of blood in the sputum, which are a sign of helminthiasis, there are other symptoms:
- digestive disorders, gas formation, changes in stool;
- inflammation and pain in the joints;
- skin rashes, burning and itching;
- decreased hemoglobin level;
- deterioration of skin and hair condition;
- weakness and increased fatigue;
- unstable emotional state, constant irritability;
- sleep disorders: insomnia, drooling and grinding teeth during sleep, increased anxiety.
Another sign that will help recognize helminthic infestation is increased sensitivity to allergens. If a person has not previously suffered from allergic reactions and other manifestations of weakened immunity, then when infected with worms, blood appears and allergies to dust, pollen, and animal hair appear.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a unilateral or bilateral inflammation of the lungs, in which sputum streaked with blood may be observed. This is an acute inflammatory disease that can be caused by a whole group of pathogens:
- gram-positive microorganisms: pneumococci, staphylococci and streptococci;
- influenza, herpes and parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses and fungal microorganisms;
- mycoplasmas;
- gram-negative microorganisms: Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Legionella.
Other factors leading to pneumonia: ingestion of toxic substances and allergens, ionizing radiation, chest injuries.
Patients with pneumonia produce sputum when they cough; in severe cases it may be streaked with blood. The disease is characterized by a persistent increase in temperature, fever, sweating, and weakness. Bleeding from the throat is rare. Most often this happens in advanced stages of the disease, when treatment was provided untimely or not adequately.
Cancer
Among the most common causes leading to hemoptysis, doctors identify a cancerous tumor in the lung area. This is a malignant neoplasm that begins to form in the pulmonary parenchyma or bronchial tissues. It is a cluster of mutated cells that divide uncontrollably and, in the absence of treatment, metastasize to other internal organs.
Factors that increase the risk of developing lung cancer are: abuse of tobacco products, unfavorable environment, exposure to radiation.
A malignant tumor can be recognized by a number of symptoms:
- steady increase in temperature;
- chest pain;
- night sweats;
- hoarseness of voice;
- coughing up blood;
- violation of lymphatic and venous outflow from the upper body;
- swelling of veins in the chest, neck and arms;
- swelling and redness of the face.
In severe cases, impaired consciousness and visual disturbances may occur. Patients have a bleeding throat and often have a headache.
Surgical intervention on the organs of the respiratory structures
Surgical intervention is required in cases where the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage. Most often, this treatment method is prescribed to patients with a malignant tumor. During the rehabilitation period, the patient may bleed from the throat. The cause of hemoptysis in this case lies in non-compliance with the specialist’s recommendations.
In more rare cases, patients cough up sputum containing blood and pus. The cause of this symptom is the addition of a bacterial infection. In this case, doctors prescribe antibiotics, which are intended not only to treat, but also to prevent the disease.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a pathology in which the bronchi undergo irreversible changes. They expand and become deformed, causing them to function limitedly.
Doctors identify a number of signs of this disease:
- discharge of blood from the larynx and throat;
- weakness, headache;
- pale skin;
- dyspnea;
- chest deformity.
Coughing with blood during bronchitis and bronchiectasis is severe and almost continuous. Sputum is released in large quantities - up to several hundred ml of mucous discharge, mixed with pus and blood streaks, leaves the body per day.
Purulent inflammation of the bronchial tree leads to the patient’s body becoming depleted. The person experiences problems with appetite and suddenly loses weight. If bronchiectasis occurs in children, they lag behind in sexual and physical development.
Traumatic chest injury
Damage to the chest affects the internal organs and bones that form its frame. This condition can result from broken ribs and injuries to the heart and lungs. Often this is a serious condition that poses a great threat to the health and even life of the patient. Blood coming from the mouth when coughing indicates damage to the lungs and blood vessels. In this case, a viral, fungal or bacterial infection may be associated. Along with blood, sputum and purulent discharge may be coughed up.
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Even with the slightest damage to bones and internal organs, sharp pain will appear that cannot be ignored. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.
Pathologies when blood comes out with saliva
Inflammatory processes in the lungs (
2. Neoplasms (adenocarcinoma, lung cancer).
3. Other diseases: respiratory cystic fibrosis, left ventricular failure, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary embolism, traumatic lung injury, pathologies of the development of veins and arteries, hemorrhagic diathesis, amyloidosis.
The most common causes of blood in sputum are bronchiectasis and bronchitis.
The most common diseases that cause coughing up blood. | Other symptoms of these diseases. |
Bronchitis. | Prolonged cough with sputum. The sputum contains bright scarlet speckles of blood along with pus. High temperature, shortness of breath. |
Pneumonia. | “Rusty” sputum interspersed with scarlet blood is coughed up. Shortness of breath, weakness, high temperature. |
Lung abscess. | Persistently elevated temperature, night sweats, chest pain, poor appetite. The sputum is purulent, fetid, interspersed with blood. |
Bronchiectasis. | The cough is prolonged and there is pus in the sputum. Shortness of breath, fever, weakness. |
Tuberculosis. | Persistent low-grade fever, weight loss, lethargy, poor appetite, purulent sputum with traces of blood. |
Lung cancer. | Scarlet streaks in the sputum, prolonged cough, sudden weight loss, feeling of suffocation, severe sweating at night, chest pain. |
Cardiac disorders. | Blood stagnation, shortness of breath during exercise, cough with traces of blood. |
Pulmonary embolism. | Severe pain in the chest, a couple of hours after the onset of pain - coughing up blood. |
Respiratory cystic fibrosis. | Frequent colds. When coughing, purulent, viscous sputum with traces of blood is produced. |
Diseases of the stomach, esophagus, duodenum. | Instead of coughing up blood, there is bloody vomiting. It is important to distinguish these phenomena from each other. When vomiting, blood is released in dark red clots. |
Pathologies of traumatic origin (after biopsy, bronchoscopy, after operations). | A cough with scarlet blood appears after operations or traumatic diagnostic procedures. |
- Dehydration of the body.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Bronchitis.
- Lungs' cancer.
- Tuberculosis.
- Pneumonia.
. It is necessary to hospitalize the patient without delay. First of all, call an ambulance.
Pulmonary hemorrhage can occur with tuberculosis or lung cancer.
https://youtu.be/TfKXEH9uUn4
It is necessary to help the patient take a half-sitting position and allow him to swallow some ice. Raise the patient's head. Any blood that comes out must be coughed up immediately and under no circumstances should it be retained inside. The patient should not be allowed to swallow blood.
The danger of pulmonary hemorrhage is that blood can get into the deep layers of the lung tissue, and this causes a serious pathology - aspiration pneumonia.
The appearance of blood in saliva is often not immediately noticed by a person. In the absence of a cough, its presence does not cause any discomfort in the patient. One of the typical causes of this is brushing your teeth too vigorously.
At the same time, a toothbrush, especially a recently purchased one, has too hard bristles, which irritate the gums so much that they begin to bleed. In this case, the problem resolves itself over time as the bristles gradually soften. If this does not happen, it means that the gums are too weak, and you need to purchase a brush with softer bristles, as well as a special elixir or paste with substances that strengthen the gum tissue.
Another common cause of blood in your saliva may be the effects of a recent nosebleed. Its remains continue to be present in the sinuses for several more days. From the nasopharynx, the remaining blood almost freely penetrates into the oral cavity and comes out during expectoration, mixing with saliva.
In some cases, symptoms are not limited to the appearance of blood in the mouth, rising along with phlegm from the depths of the throat. At the same time, chest pain begins, body temperature rises, and problems arise with the legs. If blood is coughed up from the inside without causing a serious cough, then the cause in this case may be a viral or infectious disease.
The appearance of blood in saliva, even in the absence of coughing attacks, is definitely a reason to seek qualified medical help. First, you should go to an appointment with your local general practitioner, and he will write out a referral for further research, and based on the results, he will send you to a specialist.
Depending on the results of laboratory tests, it usually becomes clear why blood appeared in the saliva and which doctor to contact to eliminate the causes of its appearance. This could be a dentist or otolaryngologist, a pulmonologist, a transfusiologist, or even an oncologist. They will not only diagnose the disease, but also determine the degree of its development and, based on this, recommend a form of medical intervention. It can be both therapeutic and operative.
In any case, further events should not ignore the appearance of blood in saliva.
In case of injuries or dangerous diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, after operations in this area, vomiting in the form of red clots is possible. This is a dangerous phenomenon that requires urgent medical attention.
Blood in saliva appears for the following reasons:
- when dehydration occurs;
- with hypothyroidism;
- during the development of bronchitis,
- with developing lung cancer,
- at different stages of pneumonia,
- in the last stages of tuberculosis.
All of these diseases are not simple, and the appearance of blood clots or redness of saliva is considered a dangerous phenomenon. Sometimes the mucous membranes of the oral cavity are damaged, bleeding gums are observed, and a poorly placed denture becomes the “culprit”. With such phenomena, the discharge is temporary, it goes away on its own or after simple manipulations.
https://youtu.be/0E7Bzgnd_fE
Coughing in the morning and noticing blood in the mucus, people tend to panic. Usually there is a reason for this, since bloody clots in the morning signal a long-developing pathology. But the explanation for this phenomenon can be simple, for example, a burst blood vessel or bleeding gums.
If blood is released when coughing in the morning, then this is a sign:
- inflammatory process in the lungs;
- problems in the tonsils or nasopharynx;
- the presence of a foreign body in the respiratory lumen;
- previous medical procedures;
- rupture of the cyst, when the contents fall into the lumen of the bronchi;
- hemorrhagic diathesis, promoting spontaneous bleeding;
- vascular aneurysms or varicose veins.
The causes of morning hemoptysis are quite varied. Even helminthic infestations can cause such a reaction. Therefore, without diagnostic measures, it is quite difficult to determine the cause.
By changes in the color and consistency of sputum, one can judge the formation of pathological processes in the lungs. If there is clear and light sputum, then this is a clear sign of a viral disease. If it thickens and has a yellow tint, you should clarify the data on the presence of a bacterial infection in the lower respiratory tract.
No temperature
When the sputum produced during a cough is yellow, this is a clear sign of bronchitis (symptoms of purulent bronchitis are described here), sinusitis (symptoms of purulent sinusitis are described here). When a cough rarely occurs in a patient, but sputum is produced, then an urgent need to go to the clinic. Emergency assistance is necessary in cases where the sputum contains an admixture of blood and pus. After all, yellowness in the sputum indicates the presence of pus.
Also, cough with yellow sputum can occur in people who have a passion for smoking. The nature and shade of sputum indicates the cause of bronchitis. A yellow tint indicates that an infection has accumulated in the bronchi. Therapy for such patients should take place in a hospital setting or at home. The treatment regimen is determined by the doctor after diagnosis. In the link you can read how to cure a smoker's cough.
To summarize, the following diseases should be identified, during which yellow sputum discharge without fever appears:
- bronchitis;
- viral diseases;
- bronchial asthma;
- pulmonary edema;
- lung abscess;
- lung cancer.
With temperature
If, in addition to yellow sputum, the patient also has a rise in temperature, then this is a clear symptom of diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. The temperature may also increase with the diseases mentioned above. If the indicators are not significant (up to 38 degrees), then it is too early to panic. When the temperature is above 38 degrees for a long time and yellow sputum comes out, then this is a reason to consult a doctor.
To accurately determine the nature of the inflammatory process, it is necessary to conduct a laboratory study. For these purposes, the patient submits his sputum, and a specialist examines it using microscopic and macroscopic methods. To carry out this analysis, you need to collect sputum in the morning, but do not eat anything beforehand.
Otherwise, you will not be able to get an accurate result. To ensure a minimum saliva content, the patient must rinse the mouth with an antiseptic solution and boiled water. After this, collect the mucus in a special container. If, during the test, mucus is released in a small volume, then the patient is prescribed irritating inhalations. Here you can read more about inhalations for wet coughs in children.
First aid for pulmonary hemorrhage
What to do when a person has excessive bleeding from the lungs? If this condition develops, the patient should be hospitalized immediately. After calling an ambulance, you must do the following:
- Help the patient assume a semi-sitting position.
- The head should be raised.
- A person should spit out the secreted blood and should never hold it or swallow it.
- If the situation allows, you need to give the patient a cold drink or swallow some ice.
- When the patient is unconscious, his head must be turned to the side so that he does not choke.
After the ambulance arrives, doctors need to be informed under what circumstances the bleeding developed. This will help in further diagnosis.