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What Causes Severe Cough With Blood In Sputum?
Question: Hello. I've had a lot of congestion for the last two weeks and attributed it to sinus, however just today I started having blood in the phlegm that I coughed up. Just pink streaks, but it made me a little concerned. I normally have sinus trouble due to our weather, if I get chilled or if my allergies are aggrevated, so I wasn't too concerned about all of my congestion until the pink streaks started appearing. I've had pneumonia before, years ago, but never coughed up any blood. Is it necessary to go to ER? I don't go to a Dr. very often and I do not take any prescription medication. Thank you for any assistance.
Brief Answer:
No need to go in to ER.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Traces of blood in the sputum can be frightening, but if they follow a known reason such as having sinus problems, then it is not serious and no need to go in to the ER.
If you start to cough up larger amounts of XXXXXXX blood, then yes, you should go in immediately, but that is not what I am gathering from your description.
When people have a lot of coughing, or if there is considerable irritation in the upper airways from allergies or infection, then small capillaries can break and then you see the flecks or streaks of blood or pinkness in the mucus.
Coughing up blood, in any amount, is a concern if there is no identifiable cause (i.e. no allergies or obvious infections) because of the chance of malignancy or other significant underlying pathology.
For the congestion in your sinuses, as you like to avoid medicine (which is reasonable!), consider saline sinus rinses, such as with a nettipot, saline packets, and boiled (then cooled) water. Or buy pre-made saline such as Simply Saline - more expensive but convenient.
If you want to go the conventional medicine route, the least overall troublesome medication would probably be to use a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase. This can stabilize your sinus mucus membranes and thereby decrease congestion. It works locally. If you do add this on, don't use it within a half hour of saline rinses or it will just end up dripping down into your stomach. And it takes a few days of daily use to start working.
If the problem continues or gets worse, then do go in to see your doctor.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
No need to go in to ER.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Traces of blood in the sputum can be frightening, but if they follow a known reason such as having sinus problems, then it is not serious and no need to go in to the ER.
If you start to cough up larger amounts of XXXXXXX blood, then yes, you should go in immediately, but that is not what I am gathering from your description.
When people have a lot of coughing, or if there is considerable irritation in the upper airways from allergies or infection, then small capillaries can break and then you see the flecks or streaks of blood or pinkness in the mucus.
Coughing up blood, in any amount, is a concern if there is no identifiable cause (i.e. no allergies or obvious infections) because of the chance of malignancy or other significant underlying pathology.
For the congestion in your sinuses, as you like to avoid medicine (which is reasonable!), consider saline sinus rinses, such as with a nettipot, saline packets, and boiled (then cooled) water. Or buy pre-made saline such as Simply Saline - more expensive but convenient.
If you want to go the conventional medicine route, the least overall troublesome medication would probably be to use a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase. This can stabilize your sinus mucus membranes and thereby decrease congestion. It works locally. If you do add this on, don't use it within a half hour of saline rinses or it will just end up dripping down into your stomach. And it takes a few days of daily use to start working.
If the problem continues or gets worse, then do go in to see your doctor.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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