If you are coughing up blood, it is known as hemoptysis. According to one 2017 article, “Hemoptysis is defined as the expectoration of blood, alone or mixed with mucus, from the lower respiratory tract. It occurs in around 10% of patients with chronic lung disease.” Below we review everything you need to know about this condition.
How Is Hemoptysis Categorized?
Hemoptysis is categorized based on the amount of blood you cough up per 24-hour period. There are generally three categories for hemoptysis:
- Scant hemoptysis, which refers to a very small amount of blood, like streaks in your saliva and mucus.
- Mild to moderate hemoptysis, which refers to about half a cup of blood.
- Massive hemoptysis, which refers to about a quart of blood.
What Causes Hemoptysis?
There are many potential causes of hemoptysis, some of which are more serious than others. Potential causes include:
- Infection, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis or fungal infection.
- Certain medications, usually blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin), Eliquis (apixaban), Plavix (clopidrogrel) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban).
- Cancer.
- Pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lung.
How Is Hemoptysis Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose the underlying cause of your hemoptysis symptoms, your health care provider may perform the following:
- Physical exam.
- Blood count lab testing.
- Coagulation studies.
- Chest X-ray.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan.
- Bronchoscopy.
How Is Hemoptysis Treated?
The treatment for hemoptysis depends on the underlying cause.
- Infections are treated with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications.
- If your hemoptysis is caused by your blood thinners, your physician may instruct you to stop the medications for a time.
- Cancer is managed with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or a combination of these treatments.
- Pulmonary embolism is treated with blood thinners, though this can cause further bleeding.
Sometimes, for severe bleeding, a procedure may be necessary, such as:
- Bronchoscopy.
- Bronchial artery embolization.
- Surgery.
If you’re experiencing hemoptysis, you should see a provider right away to ensure it’s not caused by something life-threatening.
For more information or to schedule an appointment about your hemoptysis symptoms, call Advantage ENT & Audiology today.
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