Coughing up blood, or hemoptysis, can be caused by various medical conditions. In healthy individuals, it is usually a symptom of a mild bronchial infection, while in smokers, it could signal a more serious condition such as lung cancer. Treatment depends on the underlying condition, and the prognosis varies depending on the severity of the condition causing it. Hemoptysis itself is usually not a serious health problem.
A cough up blood occurs when an individual coughs up mucus tinged with pink or red blood. The blood an individual finds in their sputum could come from the lungs, passages that lead to the lungs, throat, nose, or mouth. Also known as hemoptysis, coughing up blood can be alarming even when it’s not associated with serious illness.
Coughing up blood could occur as a symptom of several medical conditions. In a healthy, non-smoking individual, a cough up of blood is most commonly a symptom of a mild bronchial infection. The infection causes the blood vessels to become irritated, and a persistent cough might cause some of them to burst, thus leading to blood in the mucus. In an individual who has a history of smoking, however, coughing up blood could signal a more serious condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer.
A cough up blood could also be associated with tuberculosis, benign lung tumors, or congestive heart failure. It could also be associated with pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, or some autoimmune diseases. To determine the cause of a cough up blood, a doctor may order a chest x-ray to check the lungs for tumors, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism. Also, your doctor might order a complete blood count to check for infections or signs of lupus. To diagnose congestive heart failure, your doctor might look at blood test results, do an ultrasound of your heart, or do an electrocardiogram.
Treatment for a cough up blood usually depends on the condition causing it. If the underlying condition is a common infection, some types of pneumonia, or tuberculosis, a doctor might prescribe an antibiotic. If a lung tumor is causing the hemoptysis, or if the cause is congestive heart failure, surgery may be needed. Autoimmune diseases can be treated with blood transfusions or vitamin supplements, and pulmonary embolisms are usually treated with blood thinners or clot-dissolving drugs.
The prognosis for individuals with hemoptysis depends on the severity of the condition causing it. Minor conditions, such as mild infections, usually get better with treatment. More serious conditions, such as lung cancer and congestive heart failure, sometimes lead to death. Hemoptysis itself, however, is usually not a serious health problem unless the individual has a bleeding disorder. Very few patients who cough up blood experience serious complications due to the symptom itself rather than the condition causing it.
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