What Causes Difficulty Breathing Along With Blood In Sputum?

Posted on Fri, 10 Apr 2015

Question: For the last 6 months my breathing has been really bad, Im only 20 years old so at first I thought nothing of it, but It hasnt gotten any better. I went to the doctor and they took an x ray that came back normal and I was prescribed an inhaler which I used for about a month with little to no improvement. Ive also been using natural herbal remedies but it seems to do no help. Ive also been getting lots of mucus in my throat and some of it bloody when I work out at the gym, since last week ive been getting abdominal pains as well

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Get done PFT ( pulmonary function test ).

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
Breathing difficulty with blood in sputum is mostly due to either infection or bronchitis.
Since your chest x ray is normal, possibility of bronchitis is more.
So better to consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system.
2. PFT ( pulmonary function test ).
PFT will not only diagnose the bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease.
And treatment of bronchitis is based on severity only.
Please let me know
1. Which inhaler you are using?
2. Have you gone through PFT ever?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (30 minutes later)

I am currently using a proair hfa inhaler, albuterol sulfate. I was originally supposed to see a pulmonologist but never ended up going.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
How many times in a day you take this?

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Albuterol is long acting beta 2agonist ( LABA ) and it is bronchodilator.
I want to know few more things because at your age asthma is also a possibility and you ate having breathing difficulty since 6 months. Please let me know
1. Do you have any kind of allergy? Like dust or pollens of animal fur or pollution?
2. Do you have more breathing trouble in night?
3. Do you have wheezing (whistling sound) in night?
4. How many times in a day you take albuterol?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (38 minutes later)

Lately ive been sneezing a lot more so id say its dust related because its happening while at work, and yes my breathing is significantly worse at night, no wheezing and I usually take my inhaler only when I feel like its really difficult to breathe, I use it a few times a week at most

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are mostly having asthma or allergic bronchitis

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
Thanks for the information.
Your symptoms like sneezing, possible dust allergy and night time worsening of symptoms are suggestive of asthma more.
Another possibility is allergic bronchitis.
Please let me know
1. Have you undergone any blood investigations?
2. Have you tested for total S. IgE and eosinophil count?
3. Did you feel good after inhaler use? Did symptoms reappear after 12-14 hours of inhaler use?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (25 minutes later)

I havent had any bloodwork or any tests taken, After using my inhaler symptoms usually reappear id say 6 hours later.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of asthma is more.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
In your case, possibility of asthma is more.
And you need to first consult pulmonologist and get done PFT ( pulmonary function test ) for the diagnosis of asthma.
It will also tell you about severity of the disease.
And treatment of asthma is based on severity only.
You may need antihistamine and anti allergic drug. You should take inhaler regularly twice daily.
Let me know,if your family members like mother, father, grand parents or brothers and sisters are having any kind of breathing difficulty or asthma or allergy or not.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

im the only one in my family with breathing issues, It started as soon as I started working nights

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Where is your work place?

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Occupational exposure can cause asthma and breathing difficulty.
So please let me know where are you working? Do you have any work place exposure?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Im a custodian at the ymca, Im around chemicals every night

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are working since how much time?

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up query.
Chemical exposure can cause asthma and chemical induced bronchitis.
So, please let me know
1. Since how may days or months or years you are working there?
2. What kind of chemicals are used at workplace?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions,so that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (16 minutes later)

ive been working as a cleaner for almost 2 years now, and we use granite cleaners, disinfectants, window and tile cleaners

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Are you using mask during cleaning?

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Cleaning solutions have many harmful chemicals and if they have inhaled then they can cause breathing difficulty.
Please let me know
1. For how many hours in night you have to work with these cleaning solutions?
2. Are you using mask or any other devuce to prevent inhalation?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)

i work with chemicals for up to 5 hours a night, and on nights I dont use them I clean dust. i dont have any masks that i can wear at work

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Asthma appears more in your case.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
So by your history and everything, I have concluded possibility of following 2 conditions.
1. Bronchial asthma
2. Chemical induced bronchitis.
Chemical exposure can also trigger asthma, so I advice you to consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system.
2. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
Always wear mask at workplace to prevent chemical inhalation.
You may require anti histamine and anti allergic drugs. You need to take your inhaler regularly twice daily.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these and start appropriate treatment.
Hope, I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E