Sputum with blood. Coughing up bloody sputum in the morning

Sputum with blood that is coughed up when coughing indicates that the patient may have a damaged lung or bronchi. Blood in sputum is a pathological phenomenon; it should not be normal. If you are bothered by a cough with sputum consisting of mucus interspersed with blood, then you need to consult a doctor. Most often, such symptoms are caused by tuberculosis or complications in the respiratory system. The sooner you are examined by a doctor, the more favorable the prognosis will be.

Classification of pathology

Hemoptysis can be of several types:

True hemoptysis: blood or streaks of blood, red or rusty spots are visible. When coughing up, the sputum may be foamy. Up to 50 ml of bronchial secretion is secreted per day.
Minor pulmonary hemorrhage. When coughing, blood is coughed up either in pure form or as a foamy secretion with blood and mucus. Volume up to 100 ml.
Average pulmonary hemorrhage is expectorated per day up to 500 ml.
Profuse (large) pulmonary bleeding - more than 0.5 liters of blood per day.

Causes of hemoptysis

Sputum with blood can occur if a vessel in the upper respiratory tract or nasopharynx bursts. When a person coughs, air is forcefully pushed out of the lungs, irritating the affected lung. In this case, small vessels can be damaged, and sputum streaked with blood is released.

With malignant and benign tumors in the respiratory system, cough is accompanied by sputum with blood. The same is observed with viral pneumonia, fungal pathologies, bacterial infections, chronic bronchitis, and tuberculosis. Blood may appear due to injury or some kind of medical procedure, for example, bronchoscopy. Some complications of pneumonia or purulent tonsillitis can also cause the appearance of blood in the sputum.

If a child coughs up blood, then it is possible that some foreign object was inhaled. Blood can cause lung injury that occurs as a result of a rib fracture or bruise. Such a manifestation cannot be excluded in congenital pathologies of the respiratory system.

With cardiovascular diseases, coughing up blood is also sometimes observed. With pulmonary embolism, there can be a heart attack at the same time. There is a possibility that mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary edema, and various aortic aneurysms can also be accompanied by hemoptysis.

Sometimes this occurs with nosebleeds, or if the gums or palate are damaged. Often, hemoptysis can develop after taking anticoagulants.

The causes of sputum in the blood are true when blood is actually released from the respiratory tract, and false when there are other reasons for this.

Active tuberculosis is often accompanied by blood in the sputum. This disease is very difficult and long to treat. Mortality from tuberculosis continues to remain high. The disease is caused by bacteria that are extremely resistant to various environmental influences and to many antibacterial drugs.

A very large percentage of people in the world are infected with this bacterium, but as long as a person’s immunity works well, the disease does not occur. It can be triggered by smoking, stress, diabetes, heart disease, hypothermia, HIV or lack of vitamins.

Symptoms of the disease include weakness, heavy sweating (especially during sleep), wheezing in the lungs, cough with bloody sputum, a slight increase in temperature, and swollen lymph nodes. If the disease begins to progress, the temperature rises greatly, pain appears in the shoulder area and under the sternum, the cough becomes dry and causes pain. Treatment of tuberculosis is long, but with timely consultation with a doctor and proper treatment, the patient can count on a favorable prognosis.

Pneumonia can also cause blood to be coughed up in the sputum. This phenomenon occurs if the disease was provoked by pseudomonas, staphylococci or legionella. Pneumonia often occurs in children and is dangerous due to complications that often lead to death.

Symptoms of pneumonia include cough, high temperature (can rise above 40? C), chest pain, shortness of breath and severe weakness. Initially, the patient complains of a dry cough, but very soon sputum begins to separate. In severe cases, the sputum contains streaks of blood, or it becomes red or brick-colored. Such symptoms can appear in the patient for up to 2 weeks. The entire lung, or one lobe of it, may be involved in the inflammatory process. Total pneumonia often develops.

Complications of the disease:

gangrene of the lung;
abscess;
respiratory failure:
myocarditis;
endocarditis.

In order to make a correct diagnosis, you need to take sputum for analysis. If bacteria are detected, then an inflammatory process is occurring in the bronchopulmonary system.

Oncological diseases

The process of a cancerous tumor in the lung is conventionally divided into 4 stages. At the initial stages, the signs and symptoms are not clearly expressed. During this period, the neoplasm itself is small in size and there is no metastasis yet. But the patient may be bothered by a dry cough, malaise, headache and low fever.

As the disease progresses, hemoptysis begins, breathing becomes hoarse, the temperature rises, the cough intensifies, and chest pain appears. At this time, the tumor grows, begins to put pressure on neighboring organs, and metastases appear in the lymph nodes.

At stage 3 of the disease, blood and pus can be seen in the sputum, the patient’s breathing is difficult, swallowing is problematic, sudden weight loss, severe shortness of breath. Speech disturbances may occur, and severe and prolonged pain may occur. With lung cancer, hemoptysis occurs in the form of large clots of bright red color, or sputum with blood becomes jelly-like and acquires a crimson color.

Tests for hemoptysis

To identify the exact cause of sputum with blood, you need to take tests and conduct the necessary research:

Blood analysis. Based on the number of lymphocytes and leukocytes, as well as the ESR indicator, the doctor can conclude whether an inflammatory process is occurring. Platelets will indicate blood clotting.
Chest X-ray. You can detect (or exclude) signs of tuberculosis, pneumonia or cancer.
Analysis of socrota for the presence of Koch bacilli.
If necessary, in addition to fluoroscopy, computed tomography can be performed.
Bronchoscopy to detect tumors in the respiratory system.
Cardiogram, ultrasound of the heart, you need to check the condition of the blood vessels - do an angiogram.

When a person has blood in their sputum, hospitalization is necessary. In an inpatient setting, all necessary tests and studies will be done, and the patient’s condition will be monitored. Sometimes, in severe cases of hemoptysis, the patient urgently needs to be given adrenaline and saline, oxygen therapy or ventilation, which is also only possible in a hospital setting.

Find out how to prepare and submit sputum for analysis.

If blood appears in the sputum when coughing, then this symptom cannot be ignored. Usually, phlegm is coughed up naturally, removing unnecessary substances from the body. But the mucus should be viscous and transparent, without foreign impurities. Therefore, even with colds, the appearance of blood when coughing makes you wary and undergo additional examination. The appearance of hemoptysis or the release of blood in a number of diseases is life-threatening, so there is no need to wait for it to “go away on its own”, but go straight to the doctor.

There is an approximate classification associated with the manifestation of such symptoms:

not threatening life or health;
anomalies of congenital nature;
rare pathologies;
quite common diseases.

Sputum with blood, which does not pose a particular danger, is associated with the following manifestations: minor damage to the bronchial vessels, physical overexertion, hysterical cough, mental injuries, taking medications that thin the blood. In the examples listed, the mucus contains brown streaks of impurities. These signs do not require treatment and go away on their own.

Typically, sputum with blood occurs due to inflammation of the respiratory system, such as:

sinusitis associated with an infectious process in the paranasal sinuses;
laryngitis, when inflammation occurs in the larynx;
pharyngitis, which occurs due to inflammation of the pharynx;
obstructive chronic pulmonary disease, in which tissues change their structure and air has difficulty passing through the respiratory tract;
pneumonia caused by various types of infection and associated with inflammation of the alveoli;
tuberculosis, which develops when Koch's bacillus colonizes and multiplies in the pulmonary parenchyma, destroying tissue.

Sputum with blood appears in common pathologies such as colds or bronchitis. It develops with lung cancer, mitral stenosis, pulmonary embolism, and lung abscess. Disease-defining symptoms include the color of sputum, by the appearance of which you can make a preliminary diagnosis and find out the stage of development of the disease.

Important! If blood is coughed up during a common cold or an unknown illness, this should alert you, since the cause and consequences of the appearance of mucus in the blood are difficult to predict.

First you need to determine the source of the “blood flow”. Vomiting and coughing with blood occur for various reasons. Before a cough with blood appears, a burning and tingling sensation is felt in the throat, after which foam with scarlet mucus appears. When hematemesis occurs, the patient feels nauseous and pain (discomfort) occurs in the abdominal cavity, followed by thick, dark red discharge.

During pneumonia, low-grade fever, shortness of breath, and weakness are observed. Pain in the chest area develops, the patient has poor appetite, high sweating, and general intoxication. After 2 weeks, the dry cough turns into a wet cough. The discharge that appears becomes brown with scarlet patches.

With a lung abscess, pain sensitivity develops behind the sternum. The cause of general weakness is intoxication and weight loss. With an abscess, sputum comes out with pus and an unpleasant odor. The cough continues for a long time, and there is shortness of breath between attacks.

Tuberculosis is the most dangerous, since cough with pus and ichor appears in the last stages of the disease. The patient suffers greatly in the morning. Other symptoms include:

slightly elevated body temperature;
reluctance to eat and gradual weight loss;
weak or lethargic condition;
anemia as a result of blood loss during periodic, hysterical coughing;
night sweats.

Attention! Diseases such as tuberculosis are dangerous and threaten the lives of not only the patient, but also those around him. Since the transmission route is airborne, this leads to rapid infection of others.

With oncology in the lungs, a severe and prolonged cough is observed against the background of characteristic signs of lung diseases. Scarlet veins are clearly visible in the mucus. After the attack, relief does not come, the patient experiences suffocation, profuse sweating, and pain in the chest.

The color of sputum depends on the specific disease:

With bronchitis, pus comes out with red thick spots.
When there is stagnation in the bloodstream, a cough with blood develops.
Pulmonary embolism is fraught with bleeding.
When you have a cold, viscous mucus and mucus are released from the nasal cavity.

There are various diseases in which viscosity is possible, the nature of which can only be determined by a doctor.

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.

Help: in people who smoke, the mucous membranes in the mouth are irritated, the vessels bleed, and when spitting, brown or gray saliva is noticeable. With a hysterical and severe cough, small vessels burst, and a similar phenomenon is observed.

Why is there bloody discharge in the sputum in the morning?

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.

At the first suspicious symptoms, when fear and anxiety arise, you need to seek help. You need to be wary if you observe:

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.

Diagnostics

It is impossible to determine by eye the appearance of blood in sputum, so quite a large number of diagnostic measures are carried out:

general blood analysis;
blood clotting test;
general analysis of sputum and its culture for the presence of microflora;
fluorography;
CT and MRI of the chest;
mantu sample;
cardiogram;
bronchoscopy;
biopsy.

It is not necessary to use all techniques. An important indicator is the thickness of the blood and its shade. So, with foamy, scarlet-colored discharge, we can talk about problems in the respiratory organs. With dark red or coffee-colored hemoptysis, gastrointestinal pathologies are possible. After a preliminary diagnosis, more specific diagnostic procedures are prescribed.

If hemoptysis continues for quite a long time, then hospitalization in the surgery department is inevitable, where doctors will take emergency measures to eliminate the problem. With a certain diagnosis, narrowly targeted treatment is prescribed, aimed at eliminating the specific causes of the disease.

While diagnostic measures are being carried out, the cough reflex is relieved to stop bleeding and reduce the load on the lungs. After determining the cause, drug treatment is prescribed or surgery is performed.

For example, for bronchitis the following therapeutic measures are possible:

being at rest;
drinking large amounts of liquid;
prescribing mucolytics and expectorants.

To liquefy and remove phlegm, use Lazolvan, Bromhexine, Ambrobene, tinctures of thermopsis and marshmallow root. In parallel, physiotherapeutic procedures are used. For bronchial obstruction, treatment involves the use of bronchodilators: Eufillin, Beroteka, Salbutamol.

This symptom “signals” about problems in the body, which is why it is so important to start treatment on time. Without this, it is difficult to predict the consequences. It can be fatal if the hemoptysis is caused by a serious illness.

Important! The disease in its advanced stage will manifest itself in full and will bring a lot of health problems, since, in addition to the disease itself, it is possible.

With a wet cough, mucus with foreign substances and microorganisms is removed from the respiratory tract. If this is glassy discharge, then a favorable outcome awaits the patient. But the color of the discharge may be different, which makes you wary.

Thus, green sputum indicates a protracted inflammatory process associated with infection. A greenish color and pus are a sign that the disease is not going away, but its next stage is beginning. The acute phase has come to an end, and the disease develops chronically, or complications arise, so it is important to contact a medical facility in time.

Green sputum suggests congestion in the respiratory tract. The patient coughs with difficulty, and a viscous secretion comes out. The disease develops under the influence of bacteria that are difficult to treat with medication.

Important! If green sputum is produced when coughing without fever, then various diseases may develop, ranging from pulmonary abscess to anthrax.

Yellow sputum is excreted in a small volume, but indicates serious illnesses: bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia or asthma. Occurs under the influence of a bacterial infection. A yellowish color may indicate the presence of pus in the discharge.

White sputum “speaks” of the absence of infection. It manifests itself in lung cancer at an early stage of its development, then acquiring a foamy consistency, pink color and smell mixed with rot. With the flu, light mucus is also released, thick in consistency, which comes off with great difficulty.

Dark, brown phlegm appears for a reason. This shade indicates the breakdown of blood cells - red blood cells. And since the color is brown, the pathological process has been going on for a long time.

Smoking may be the cause of discharge of this color:

the tissues of the respiratory mucosa are modified as a result of various mutations;
the walls of the capillaries become thinner, and a small amount of blood is released;
small blood vessels change their structure: the walls lose elasticity and become thin, hard and brittle;
The bronchi perceive tobacco as a foreign substance, secreting additional portions of mucus due to the ciliated epithelium.

Brown hemoptysis in most cases occurs with bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis or oncological processes. The cause is the penetration of hematological fluid into the mucus. This symptom indicates a prolonged course of the disease, which was not treated or was not treated at all.

Any discharge is accompanied by additional symptoms that give a general clinical picture. Sputum is not the only and main sign of the disease. Typically, any hemoptysis is accompanied by:

elevated temperature to febrile or subfebrile levels, sometimes lasting for a long time;
painful manifestations in the chest area when inhaling and exhaling, which indicates problems in the lower respiratory tract;
manifestation of shortness of breath or suffocation of varying degrees of intensity and duration;
the occurrence of drowsiness and weakness, severe general condition.

All these symptoms must be considered in a single system so that the diagnosis corresponds to reality, and only then appropriate treatment can be prescribed. But even during a preliminary examination, the color of mucus and its consistency when coughing warns of the development of the disease and indicates malfunctions in the body.

Cough- This is one of the most common signs indicating diseases of the human respiratory system. This cough occurs when the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are irritated and, as a result, blood vessels are damaged, which leads to the appearance of blood in the sputum.

This is a very dangerous irritation, so its very presence indicates possible internal bleeding due to the rupture of a small vessel in the lungs. Blood in the sputum may be a sign of the onset of infectious diseases in the lungs, such as tuberculosis, a tumor of various sizes, or pneumonia.

If a person’s medical history contains a record of chronic bronchitis, then there is no need to associate blood in the sputum with these diseases. The cause may be various functional disorders of the respiratory system.

Causes of sputum with blood

Experts identify the following main reasons:

Depending on the volume and consistency of sputum, the following types of hemoptysis are distinguished:

Hemoptysis of a true nature. The volume of sputum secretion with blood usually does not exceed 50-60 ml per day. The sputum is mucous and viscous, with clearly visible veins of blood and slightly orange spots secreted by the bronchi.
Low level pulmonary hemoptysis. The total volume of sputum with blood per day does not exceed 90-100 ml. Its consistency is more liquid and cleaner, without wet spots, and sometimes it is foamy in nature.
Moderate pulmonary hemoptysis. Accompanied by heavy blood loss of more than 450 ml in one day. The blood may foam slightly and is often clear and free of impurities.
Pulmonary hemoptysis of a large level. A dangerous condition for the patient, since the volume of expectorated blood can exceed 520 ml. Poses a serious threat to life.

Pathological conditions in which blood is observed in saliva

All of the following conditions are very dangerous to health, and leaving them untreated is dangerous:

Inflammatory reactions occurring in the lungs. This includes acute bronchitis, various purulent diseases of the lung tissue, tuberculosis and chronic inflammation of the lungs and bronchi.
Pathological neoplasms. Among them, adenocarcinoma and lung cancer are the most common.
Other diseases. Imbalance of salts in the body (cystic fibrosis), circulatory system disorders, blood clots in the vessels of the lungs, damage and injury to the lungs, congenital defects in the development of veins or arteries and diathesis.

Bloody sputum in tuberculosis

In active tuberculosis, coughing with blood is one of the main symptoms. This disease is difficult to treat.

The development is caused by pathogenic microbacteria that are highly resistant to environmental influences and various antibacterial drugs.

The period of tuberculosis disease is characterized by copious sputum production with noticeably visible veins of blood. Sputum can be purulent or normal, and its peak production occurs in the morning. Hemoptysis, as an independent symptom, occurs at later stages of development; this is important to remember, as it can easily be confused with anemia.

Worm infestation

The reason for the development of this disease is helminths in large quantities. They can freely live in almost any human organ, including the lungs. With helminthic infestation, sputum with clearly visible blood stains is produced.

Infection occurs through poorly washed food, dirty water or through skin contact. A cough with helminthic infestation is often dry and accompanied by a small amount of discharge from the lungs.

Pneumonia

In medical terminology, it is usually called pneumonia. The main causative agents of the damaging processes are staphylococci and pseudomonads. This is a very dangerous disease, as complications can lead to death.

Hemoptysis is most suitable for pneumonia of the croupous type. It manifests itself with a dry cough, acute chest pain and fever (up to 40 C). As the disease progresses, sputum with streaks of blood begins to be released during coughing.

All these symptoms may last for 2-3 weeks. Without proper treatment, the following complications arise: lung abscess, inflammation of lung gangrene and myocarditis

It is very important to pay attention to the nature of the sputum, since it can be used to determine the correct diagnosis and stage of progression.

Bloody sputum in cancer

Hemoptysis can be a symptom of the most dangerous lung disease, namely cancer.

The following reasons for the development of this disease are identified:

bad habits;
genetic predisposition;
pathology of lung or bronchial tissue;
disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
poor environmental situation;
contact with hazardous and toxic chemicals.

The progression of cancer can be recognized by the following symptoms:

severe and persistent cough;
sudden weight loss;
excessive sweating;
weakness and chronic fatigue;
difficult shortness of breath.

When you cough, you produce sputum mixed with blood. Blood that has clotted will be expectorated in the form of small clots, while fresh blood will be a rich red color.

At the same time, mucus along with sputum may be coughed up.

The patient suffers from a severe and painful cough, accompanied by shortness of breath. As the disease progresses, clinical symptoms rapidly intensify. However, as peripheral lung cancer progresses, symptoms may not appear.

Diagnostic measures

A competent doctor begins treatment only when the causes of blood when coughing are definitely established.

The patient is given the following diagnostic complex:

full inspection and collection of all necessary data;
blood and urine tests;
throat examination;
conduct an ECG;
listening to the lungs;
measuring temperature and pressure.

Depending on the clinical symptoms, specialists with more specialized profiles may also join in the diagnosis.

When is immediate examination by a specialist required?

When a patient notices the following symptoms, this indicates the presence of a serious illness, which, without proper treatment, can lead to dangerous complications:

Expectoration of blood along with cough.
Weakness and lethargy, poor appetite, weight loss.
Difficult shortness of breath that occurs without physical activity.
Severe pain in the chest area.

Against the background of such dangerous diseases, in some cases pulmonary hemorrhage may occur. In this case, the patient should take a sitting position and immediately call an ambulance. Anything that cannot be coughed up should be kept inside.

Treatment

Treatment is prescribed depending on the diagnosis, since hemoptysis is only a symptom. In acute bronchitis, the patient needs rest, plenty of fluids, the use of mucolytics and expectorants (Lazolvan, Ambrobene, marshmallow infusion).

If the infection occurs through an infectious route, then Remantadine or Interferon is prescribed for treatment.

If the cause of the disease is a tumor, then surgery is performed at an early stage. Chemotherapy is performed only in cases where surgery is not possible.

The presence of blood when coughing up is a dangerous signal, after which you should immediately consult a doctor. This will help preserve not only health, but in some cases, life.

However, there are some rules that, if followed, will help prevent the appearance of blood in sputum:

Healthy and active lifestyle;
Proper diet enriched with vitamins;
Rejection of bad habits;
Fast and effective treatment of any colds.

Such simple rules will help preserve human health in general for as long as possible and prevent many dangerous diseases.

Coughing up bloody sputum - how dangerous is it?

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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

A frequent and common symptom of respiratory diseases is cough. A cough occurs when the receptor endings of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and pleura are irritated.

Phlegm is the mucous substance that is released when you cough. Sputum contains secretions from the bronchial glands, dust particles, microbes, and sometimes particles of pus.

Blood in sputum

If streaks of reddish-rusty color are observed in the sputum, it means that blood has entered it. Sometimes the cause of this is the rupture of a small blood vessel in the lungs - in this case, this phenomenon does not pose a particular threat to health. But perhaps blood in the sputum signals infectious processes in the lungs ( such as pneumonia, lung tumor, tuberculosis).

If you feel normal and cough up sputum with rare streaks of blood unsystematically, then there is no reason to suspect serious illness. If blood in the sputum appears regularly for some time, you need to go to the clinic.

If the patient has a history of, for example, chronic bronchitis, then you should not associate symptom blood in sputum only with this disease. The cause of the appearance of blood in the sputum may be a completely different, not yet diagnosed, disease.

Sometimes streaks of blood appear in saliva. This phenomenon can be a symptom of dangerous diseases such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and lung cancer.

Causes of coughing up blood

To determine the causes of this phenomenon, you must first make sure that the blood does not come from the stomach or intestines, but from the respiratory tract. Differentiating bloody vomiting from coughing with blood is not always easy. But still there are some differences between them:

Before coughing up blood, you may feel a tingling sensation in your throat; the blood comes out scarlet and foamy.
Vomiting blood is preceded by nausea and discomfort in the abdominal area; The consistency of the blood resembles thick red paint.

After determining where exactly the blood is coming from, you can begin to determine the causes of hemoptysis.

Pathological conditions in which the symptom of blood in the sputum is observed

1. Inflammatory processes in the lungs ( bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis).

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 surgery).	A cough with scarlet blood appears after operations or traumatic diagnostic procedures.

Pathological conditions in which blood is observed in saliva

Dehydration of the body.
Bronchitis.
Lungs' cancer.
Tuberculosis.
Pneumonia.

Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) - reasons, what to do, which doctor to see? - Video

Diagnosis of the causes of coughing up blood

If you cough up sputum with blood, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

To determine the causes of hemoptysis, the following diagnostic methods are used:

1. X-ray examination of the chest. If darkened areas are visible in the picture, this indicates the presence of an inflammatory process; about pulmonary embolism; about lung cancer. If the picture shows that the shape of the shadow of the heart has changed, this indicates cardiac disorders.

2. The bronchoscopy method is appropriate for diagnosing bronchiectasis and lung cancer. The essence of the method is to determine changes in the bronchial lumen ( with tumors, pathological dilatations of the bronchus, the lumen narrows, and this is noticeable in the picture).
Using the endoscopic instrument of a bronchoscope you can:

Remove foreign bodies from the bronchi.
Inject medications into the bronchi.
Examine curved bronchi.
Perform a biopsy.

3. The X-ray computed tomography method allows you to examine and evaluate the condition of the lungs and identify the presence of disseminated processes in the lungs.
Lung diseases with dissemination ( with widespread spread of the pathogen) - very difficult to diagnose correctly; there is a high chance of making a mistake.
That is why the examination of the patient must be carried out using several complementary methods at once in order to be confident in the correctness of the diagnosis.

4. Sputum analysis makes it possible to identify inflammatory processes in the bronchi and other pathologies in which blood appears in the sputum.
If the doctor detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sputum ( Koch bacilli), then this is an objective indicator of the development of tuberculosis.
If a sputum analysis shows a high level of bacteria, then there is reason to suspect pneumonia, bronchiectasis, or a lung abscess.

5. Sweat analysis is used to detect cystic fibrosis. This hereditary genetic disease is the root cause of various pathologies of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.

Cystic fibrosis leads to pathological changes in the anatomy of the lungs, chronic bronchitis, and the formation of bronchiectasis ( dilatations of the walls of the bronchi).

9. Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum. If a patient, for example, has pathologically dilated veins of the esophagus, then blood clots can rise to the upper sections and be expectorated when coughing.

When is immediate examination by a specialist required?

If you experience the following symptoms, be sure to consult your doctor:

Frequent cough, sputum contains copious amounts of blood.
Constant weakness, shortness of breath, poor appetite, sudden loss of body weight.
Chest pain.

Smokers with a long history are especially at risk; they are the ones who most often cough up blood.

Pulmonary hemorrhage and first aid for this condition

If a person begins to produce copious amounts of bloody foam from the mouth, this is an emergency condition, the so-called pulmonary hemorrhage. It is necessary to hospitalize the patient without delay. First of all, call an ambulance.

Pulmonary hemorrhage can occur with tuberculosis or lung cancer.

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 lies in the fact that blood can enter the deep layers of the lung tissue, and this causes serious pathology - aspiration pneumonia.

Which doctor should I contact for help?

If blood appears in your sputum, be sure to consult your doctor:

Content

A sore, irritated throat becomes a clear sign of various respiratory ailments. However, if blood is released, this means that you need to undergo a medical examination. An intense cough with blood during expectoration in the morning or throughout the day can cause various serious diseases, including bronchitis, colds, and pneumonia. In the article you will learn in what cases bloody mucus is released during expectoration and what to do about it.

What is coughing up blood?

Hemoptysis is determined by the presence of scarlet specks in the mucus. The cause of this symptom is damage to the blood vessels. A prolonged cough is preceded by a tingling sensation in the throat during coughing. If, in the presence of inflammation, streaks of blood are sometimes released when coughing, there is no need to worry, but when this happens frequently, hemoptysis can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes or inflammation of the lung tissue, which can cause pulmonary hemorrhage.

Causes

Hemoptysis may indicate the formation of malignant tumors. Other reasons include:

thromboembolism of pulmonary vessels;
mitral valve stenosis;
the left ventricle does not function sufficiently;
Eisenmenger syndrome;
abnormal development of veins and arteries;
pulmonary vasculitis;
hemorrhagic diathesis;
Goodpasture's syndrome.

Blood may be released in the mucus in the presence of an inflammatory process, injury to the lung, bruises, or ingestion of foreign bodies. Coughing up blood may occur with metastatic lung carcinoma, viral or pneumococcal pneumonia. Streaks of blood in sputum when coughing can appear in other dangerous diseases. Blood when coughing may appear due to a stomach or duodenal ulcer. If you have a cough or vomiting with blood, consult your doctor, as this may be a gastrointestinal or esophageal disorder.

Blood in sputum when coughing up

If sputum is coughed up with blood (there are streaks of red-rusty color), this means that a small blood vessel has ruptured in the lungs. This does not in any way affect the person’s functioning or the progress of their recovery. This sign is a signal of a lung infection, but only if blood is not constantly released. If this happens regularly, contact a specialist as soon as possible.

Blood in sputum in the morning

Immediately after waking up, bloody sputum appears for various physiological reasons, and is one of the signs of a dangerous disease. For example, this may indicate rupture of the bronchial vessels, which occurs with a violent, violent cough. The vessels themselves are very fragile, especially when treated with certain drugs. The blood comes out in small clots and will disappear in a few days.

If you notice a large amount of blood when you cough up in the morning, this indicates that you may have tuberculosis. He is summoned by Koch's wand. Symptoms: hacking cough, high fever, bloody sputum. Tuberculosis is detected using fluorography. The next reason is lung cancer, which is the most dangerous disease. In cancer there are:

dyspnea;
sore throat;
painful cough;
weight loss, appetite;
temperature increase;
hemoptysis.

The cause is a great addiction to nicotine products (cigarettes), so smokers suffer from a cough in the morning. If blood appears in the sputum in the morning, there is a high probability of a pulmonary infarction. A prolonged, profuse cough may occur. Patients experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath.

Sputum with blood when coughing without fever

During illness, the body tries to overcome the disease, which is why a fever appears. Coughing helps remove harmful bodies and excess mucus from the airways. The reasons for the release of bloody sputum during a cough can be different; only a doctor can determine the disease. For example, such a symptom may be a sign of an allergic reaction. Another reason may be a malfunction of the cardiovascular system.

The presence of mucus in the hollow organs of the pulmonary alveoli can cause throat irritation. It can lead to pulmonary embolism. Another reason may be sexually transmitted diseases or smoking. The body tries to get rid of nicotine tars that settle on the walls of the respiratory organs. A cough with impurities occurs when:

pulmonary edema;
pneumonia
chronic bronchitis;
lung abscess;
tuberculosis;
bronchial asthma.

For a cold

Symptoms of colds in the respiratory tract are often the production of sputum from the bronchial mucosa. It has a clear or milky color and bubbles. If blood clots get on it, the sputum turns pink, and sometimes there is a dark red color of the sputum. The cause of bleeding is inflammation of the throat. The walls of the throat swell. Vessels can burst due to a strong, sharp cough. It is not hazardous to health and no medical intervention is required.

If purulent sputum appears, you should pay attention to this. Purulent discharge appears in patients who have already had pneumonia or pneumonia. After the mentioned diseases, the human immune system is greatly weakened. He does not always cope with his defensive reaction, so if you notice that during a cough there are traces of pus or blood clots are released, contact your primary care physician.

For bronchitis

During a cough with bronchitis, red streaks can be observed. They can be found in a thick mucous mass that is released during a prolonged cough. Bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. The illness does not last long, but is accompanied by high fever and frequent suffocating cough. During bronchiectasis, the lining of the bronchi becomes covered with pus. This can occur with chronic or acute bronchitis, as well as with damage to the bronchi.

Bronchitis is manifested by bright spots or streaks of scarlet blood, and there are clots of pus. To the symptoms of stagnation of sputum in the lungs, several more are added: shortness of breath occurs, general weakness is noted. The disease can be detected using bronchoscopy. Bronchitis can be confused with cystic fibrosis, the pathology of which is caused by a mutation of the cystic fibrosis gene, which disrupts the structure and function of cells that synthesize protein, which is why thick saliva and a cough with the taste of blood are observed.

For pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs or pneumonia is accompanied by a cough with sputum, foamy blood is released. The acute form is characterized by severe shortness of breath with sputum and streaks of blood. At the same time, you may notice a deterioration in the patient’s general condition, a dull cough, and chest pain. Expectoration is accompanied by the release of reddish mucus and saliva. Purulent abscesses may be observed. A small purulent plaque accumulates in the oral cavity, and an unpleasant odor is noticeable.

During pregnancy

There are cases when during pregnancy a cough is bothersome with blood streaks, which is a consequence of rupture of a small bronchial vessel during coughing, possible mental trauma or heavy workload. Streaks of brown or reddish-rusty phlegm can be observed for several days, and then disappear completely. In case of an inflammatory process, pus in blood sputum, it is recommended to immediately consult your doctor.

Diagnostics

Coughing blood is observed in many diseases; certain examinations of the patient are necessary to help determine an accurate diagnosis, the dynamics of the disease, and its severity. For this purpose, different diagnostic methods are prescribed, the results of which determine whether surgical treatment is necessary or whether conservative treatment can be used. To make a diagnosis, the following diagnostic measures are carried out: sputum analysis, bronchoscopy, computed tomography, radiographic studies and others.

If the image shows characteristic signs of tuberculosis, the following are prescribed:

additional microscopic analysis of sputum;
PCR analysis of sputum;
bacteriological culture of sputum.

What to do if you cough up blood

Depending on the diagnostic results, the doctor determines what to do if there are blood streaks in the sputum. For example, if a patient exhibits characteristic changes of pneumonia during an X-ray examination, treatment with antibiotics is prescribed. During the examination of cancer patients, CT scans, bronchoscopy and other examinations are performed in order to quickly detect the tumor and prevent it from developing further.

Emergency first aid

If the patient has a lot of bloody sputum, try to calm him down, place a pillow under his lower back and sit him up so that he is not sitting upright, but not lying down. Stop him from moving or talking. Then place something cold from the freezer on the patient's chest. After this, urgently call an ambulance so that he can be taken to the hospital for examination. The center will help you determine treatment and the causes of blood in your sputum.

Folk remedies

Popular folk remedies include tea made from plantain, coltsfoot, nettle, wild rosemary, violet, mint, pine buds, rose hips, birch buds, licorice root and elecampane. Some people drink warm milk with Borjomi. For severe coughs, drink tea with ginger root, lemon, and honey. You can use steam inhalations with eucalyptus, tea tree or fir oils.

What not to do

Be sure to exclude any heating. Do not use mustard plasters, hot baths, compresses or paraffin. It is especially prohibited to use these remedies when coughing with purulent and bloody sputum. Avoid aspirin if you want to reduce your fever. Aspirin thins the blood, which can lead to serious clotting or circulation problems.

Prevention

In order to avoid diseases, it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eliminate any bad habits, actively engage in sports, and be outside more often. Proper balanced nutrition also has its place. Your diet should include a variety of vitamins and minerals found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Clothes should be worn according to the season. It is recommended to visit special sanatoriums or resorts once or twice a year, where complex treatment is carried out.

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Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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