Hemoptysis Causes

Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood, or sputum streaked with blood, from the respiratory tract. Blood or such blood stained sputum can come from the nose, mouth and the throat, as well as from the lungs and the airways. Sometimes, the blood or the sputum may be bright red or pink and foamy, while at other times, it can be rust and coffee colored. Sometimes, the color of blood can indicate the source of bleeding. As for example, bright red and foamy blood usually comes from the respiratory tract, while dark or coffee colored blood can come from the gastrointestinal tract. Generally, a number of lung conditions are associated with coughing up blood or hemoptysis.

What Causes Hemoptysis?

It is normally classified as mild or massive, depending on the amount of blood being expelled. Massive hemoptysis is characterized by the loss of a large amount of blood, which can interrupt breathing and cause asphyxiation or lack of oxygen. Massive hemoptysis is a medical emergency, as asphyxia can lead to even death of the sufferer. Mild hemoptysis on the other hand, is the condition where only a small amount of blood or blood stained sputum is coughed up. It can be caused by a number of lung conditions such as bronchitis, both acute and chronic, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, aspergillosis, bronchiectasis and pneumonic plague. Sometimes it can also be associated with lung neoplasm and bronchogenic carcinoma.

Apart from lung diseases, heart conditions too can have a relation with hemoptysis. Heart problems like congestive heart failure and mitral stenosis can be some of the important causes of this condition. In addition to these, some other possible causes of hemoptysis are trauma or injury, especially chest injury, influenza, lung cancer, lung abscess, blood clotting disorders, aneurysms, Wegener's granulomatosis, drug abuse, especially cocaine, and vascular disorders. Out of these, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary infarction, pulmonary embolism, bronchogenic carcinoma, lung abscess and mitral stenosis are the most common massive causes.

Symptoms and Treatment for Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood can be accompanied by certain other symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, nausea and vomiting and fever, depending on the underlying causes. Determination of the exact cause or the source of bleeding calls for a systemic diagnostic approach. Many times, it can become quite difficult to distinguish whether blood is actually coughed from the lungs, respiratory tract or the gastrointestinal tract. If the condition is caused by minor infection and blood loss is also mild, then it may not require any medical intervention. However sometimes, antibiotics are used to treat hemoptysis in patients with tuberculosis, aspergillosis, bacterial pneumonia and bronchitis. If lung cancer is the root cause for coughing up blood, then usual cancer treatment will be required, while recovery would depend on the stage of the cancer.

Massive hemoptysis can prove to be a life-threatening condition, if not treated immediately. If left untreated, it can cause death of the patient by obstructing normal breathing. For effective treatment or control of the bleeding, it is very important to locate the source of bleeding. After locating the source of bleeding, physicians may opt for surgical resection (if abnormal tissue is responsible for causing bleeding), or bronchial artery embolization, where certain substances are injected to stop bleeding. Another common method employed for controlling this health problem is bronchoscopic laser therapy. So, the treatment depends on the causes, which can be determined only after evaluating the condition with the help of a physician. Therefore, one should talk to a physician even if only a small amount of blood is coughed up.