Coughing up blood, or commonly known as hemoptysis, is not always a dangerous condition, but if it does occur, you should pay attention to the symptoms which could be a serious problem. Symptoms of coughing up blood vary from mild to severe. One of the common causes that occurs and is still considered to be in the mild category is exposure to irritants from pollution or cigarette smoke and viral or bacterial infections in the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is very important for you to know other serious symptoms as a form of anticipation in preventing coughing up blood.
Causes of Coughing Blood
There are several serious conditions that need to be known and include the following serious symptoms,
- Lung cancer: Coughing up blood can be an early symptom of cancer, especially if accompanied by risk factors such as smoking.
- Tuberculosis (TB): TB is a bacterial infection that can cause coughing up blood.
- Chronic lung disease: Chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis can cause coughing up blood.
- Pulmonary embolism: Obstruction of a lung artery by a blood clot, called pulmonary embolism, can cause a sudden bloody cough.
- Blood clotting disorders: Underlying blood clotting disorders, such as hemophilia, can be a serious risk of coughing up blood.
- Severe pneumonia: Severe pneumonia can cause lung damage and coughing up blood.
If you feel you have been coughing up blood for a long period of time accompanied by a history of smoking or other risk factors for lung disease, you need to get more serious medical treatment.
Prevents Coughing Up Blood
Prevention of coughing up blood usually focuses on preventing or controlling the underlying cause. Here are some steps that can help prevent coughing up blood:
- Maintaining lung health: Maintain optimal lung health by exercising diligently, eating healthy foods, and maintaining body weight.
- Quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke: If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is the most important preventive measure. Smoking is the main cause of many respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
- Protection from exposure to air pollution: Currently air pollution causes many impacts, especially on respiratory health. Use a mask and avoid exposure to excessive air pollution if you are in a risky environment.
- Check your health regularly: Make sure you get the right treatment and consult a doctor regularly regarding your lung health, especially if you have a history of respiratory disease, or other risk factors.
Treating Coughing Up Blood
It is important to know that coughing up blood is a symptom, not the disease itself. Therefore, treatment will be aimed at treating the underlying cause. Here are some general steps you can take:
- Seek medical help: If you have a bloody cough that is severe or lasts a long time, call a medical professional immediately or go to the emergency room. To determine the cause of coughing up blood and get appropriate treatment.
- Rest: Getting enough rest helps the body in the healing process. Try to sleep well and avoid heavy physical activity which can make coughing up blood worse.
- Medical follow-up: It is important to follow all treatment recommended by your doctor and schedule follow-up as needed to monitor the progress of your condition.
Don't delay or ignore symptoms of coughing up blood, especially if they are accompanied by other worrying symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or fever. Immediately schedule a consultation session with our doctor via the EMC Healthcare Online Appointment service.
Article written by dr. Taruli Loura Batubara, Sp.P (Lung & Respiratory Specialist at EMC Cibitung Hospital).