Sometimes there may be blood streaks in the sputum produced during coughing. If this symptom is episodic, then it indicates damage to the vessel. In this case, there is no room for panic. But, if coughing up blood with a cold is protracted, then it's time to sound the alarm. After all, this symptom can signal serious diseases of the internal organs.
Possible causes
There are many sources that can cause similar symptoms. In this case, it is very important to correctly determine the cause that provokes hemoptysis. A small amount of light blood appears in the sputum as a result of increased pressure during coughing. And streaks or clots of dark red color are already quite an alarming signal. Such symptoms are characteristic of lung cancer or tuberculosis.
What ailments cause blood when coughing? The causes of such symptoms are hidden inthe following diseases:
- inflammatory processes in the lungs and bronchi;
- tonsillitis, laryngitis, tracheitis;
- colds, flu;
- oncology;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (ulcer);
- cardiovascular disease;
- bronchial injury, tracheal injury.
Associated symptoms
Before choosing a treatment, it is necessary to determine from which body systems when coughing blood comes? It comes from the respiratory tract, or is provoked by the sinuses, stomach, mouth.
Concomitant symptoms can tell the patient the true cause of this phenomenon. For example, pulmonary bleeding is characterized by pain, unpleasant discomfort in the chest. In this case, the secreted liquid, as a rule, is colored pink. The blood coming from the stomach has a darker color scheme. Accompanying the phenomenon of vomiting, pain in the abdomen. Often part of the food or other contents of the stomach is excreted with sputum.
Bronchial diseases
In more than half of all cases, the pathological process occurs with respiratory ailments. Mostly there is a cough with blood in bronchitis or bronchiectasis.
In the acute or chronic stage of the disease, the patient is tormented by the strongest bouts of coughing. As a rule, thick sputum is secreted in a very large amount. It often contains blood streaks. However, this symptom does not occur in all patients who are diagnosed with bronchitis.
Mostlycases of coughing up blood in the morning.
Lung abscess, pneumonia
Inflammatory processes in the lungs are characteristic symptoms. In this case, sputum acquires a rusty hue or, on the contrary, bright scarlet. Pneumonia is accompanied by high fever, chest pain, severe deterioration of the general condition. If the patient is weakened, then often the disease is fraught with such a serious complication as a lung abscess.
In this case, the patient's temperature rises rapidly, and severe pain occurs in the chest. Sputum when coughed up contains a small amount of pus. It takes on a greenish tint and has an unpleasant odor.
Most often there is a strong cough with blood in the morning. Thus the abscess is emptied. After that, the patient experiences noticeable relief. Body temperature drops slightly.
Laryngitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis
With these diseases, streaks of blood can be found in the sputum. The disease is accompanied by other symptoms. As a rule, the patient has a change in voice, pain in the throat.
Tuberculosis
Unfortunately, this is one of the common causes of severe coughing, accompanied by the release of blood. This symptom can be a complication of any form of pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, if the cough is prolonged, and there are blood clots in the sputum, you should immediately consult a doctor. Often, such symptoms are the first sign of an impending illness.
Accompanies tuberculosis increasefever, weight loss, heavy sweating, especially at night. The patient has increased fatigue, excruciating cough.
Lung Cancer
Oncology of the internal organs for a long time may not manifest itself in any way. In the future, the patient periodically develops a cough. The sputum contains blood in the form of clots or streaks. Such symptoms are combined with a deterioration in the condition. This is especially acute in the morning. Acquires a lingering cough. The patient experiences a burning sensation in the chest. It is quite difficult for the patient to clear his throat. Quite often clots are allocated. Also, the disease is characterized by a sharp deterioration in appetite and weight loss.
Cardiovascular disease
In some cases, the patient may develop pulmonary hypertension. The patient has shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air. Stagnation of blood leads to the appearance of it in the sputum during coughing. With these symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Pulmonary bleeding
This phenomenon is life-threatening for the patient. It is characterized by profuse bleeding during coughing. Accompanying the disease is pain in the sternum, shortness of breath. If a patient has a large amount of blood in the sputum, this is a serious reason for urgent hospitalization
Cold diseases
As noted earlier, often unpleasant symptoms can cause damage to small vessels. In this case, coughing up blood with a cold is not fraught with danger. However, it should be remembered that the frequent presence of streaks in sputumshould be alert. The best solution for such symptoms is to undergo a full medical examination.
First Aid
If there is a cough with blood during a cold, this phenomenon does not need urgent intervention. During treatment, special attention should be paid to strengthening the vessels. For these purposes, it is recommended to take certain vitamin complexes. An excellent drug is Ascorutin.
For a cold, which is accompanied by a cough with blood, for bronchitis, the following methods of alternative treatment are recognized as quite effective:
- Aloe (pulp) with honey.
- Decoction of ginger root with lemon.
- Warm milk with mineral (alkaline) water.
- Inhalations over essential oils or potato decoction.
- Herbs (chest), characterized by an expectorant effect.
Disease Diagnosis
To determine the causes of unpleasant symptoms, you should initially visit a therapist. If necessary, he will refer you to a specialist. This could be an ENT doctor, a pulmonologist, a phthisiatrician (if tuberculosis is suspected), or an oncologist.
However, to determine exactly whether a cough with blood occurs with a cold or a more serious illness, the doctor is able only after a laboratory examination. As a rule, the following diagnostic methods are recommended for the patient:
- Complete blood count. This examination will show the degree of inflammation in the body.
- Sputum analysis. Allows you to diagnosebronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia.
- Sweat analysis. This study identifies cystic fibrosis leading to colds.
- Chest x-ray. A very important diagnostic tool. It gives a complete description of tuberculosis, pneumonia, embolism, lung abscess, cancer.
- Bronchoscopy (examination of the walls). A study is used to diagnose oncology, bronchiectasis and some other ailments.
- CT. Computed tomography is capable of revealing all lung changes in sufficient detail.
- ECG, coagulogram, FEGDS. These studies are used to identify the cause of the disease, the source of which is not a cold. In these cases, methods are used to determine cardiovascular and gastroenterological diseases. Blood clotting is carefully examined.
Treatment
Only after diagnosis can the question of fighting the disease be raised. If the cause of the phenomenon is hidden in a cold, then the treatment will include recommendations to strengthen the immune system. The doctor will prescribe antitussive medicines. The complex of drug therapy also includes anti-inflammatory drugs.
Depending on the stage of the disease, the nature of the cough, syrups, cough tablets may be prescribed, the price (average) of which is given in brackets:
- "Bromhexine" (18 r);
- "Bronholitin" (73 r);
- "Ambroxol" (25 r);
- "Sinupret" (277 r);
- Gedelix (226 r);
- Gerbion (204 R).
If there are no contraindications,the patient can put mustard plasters. However, it should be remembered that this tool can not be used at elevated temperatures. It is forbidden to place mustard plasters on moles, spine, bone protrusions. In no case should these drugs be used for tuberculosis, tumors, lung abscess.
Cough pills, the price of which varies within reasonable limits, will be ineffective in case of serious ailments. In the case of bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia, it is advisable to take antibiotics. For the treatment of tuberculosis, special drugs are prescribed. When diagnosing oncology, chemistry is connected, and sometimes a surgical way of solving the problem is considered. Patients who have a lung abscess or bronchiectasis may need surgery.
Preventive measures
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to deal with it. Therefore, it is advisable to follow certain preventive measures. These include:
- Maintaining a he althy lifestyle. Do not forget about moderate physical exertion and mandatory walks in the fresh air.
- Balanced nutrition. The diet should be enriched with trace elements and vitamins.
- Strengthening immunity. Hardening may be recommended.
- Complete cessation of smoking or a significant reduction in it.
- Treatment in sanatoriums for patients suffering from ailments of the bronchopulmonary system.
- Minimize visits to crowded places during epidemics.
- Fight colds at the first symptom. It is recommended not to bringillness before complications.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment of ailments that can cause a cough with blood in the sputum. It is mandatory to control clotting.
Remember that the treatment of diseases directly depends on the causes that provoked it. At the same time, the prevention of unpleasant symptoms is completely in your hands. Proper lifestyle, timely treatment of ailments, strengthening immunity will save you not only from coughing up blood, but also provide you with good he alth for many years.
