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Coughing up blood can be a symptom of several life-threatening conditions. The two most common causes of coughing up blood are lung cancer and tuberculosis in the lungs. There are also benign reasons why one may be seeing blood in the sputum. Either way, it is always a medical emergency.

What is Haemoptysis?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, coughing up blood from the lungs and throat or respiratory tract is a common condition with multiple causes. Medically, it is known as Haemoptysis. 

Blood is expelled from the body through the mouth the same way food is expelled from your stomach when you vomit. If you are coughing up droplets of blood, the origin of it is usually the lungs or the stomach. 

What Are the Causes of Coughing Up Blood?

There is a vast list of medical conditions which cause the coughing up of blood. Below are five of the most common ones:

• Tuberculosis,
• Lung cancer,
• Respiratory infections,
• Bronchitis and pneumonia, and
• Damage to the lung arteries.

Coughing up blood can also occur following certain medical procedures and tests such as bronchoscopy, spirometry, laryngoscopy, tonsillectomy, nasal surgery and upper airway biopsy.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is highly prevalent in South Africa and is a common cause of coughing up blood, says News24. It is an infectious disease caused by a germ that attacks the lungs but can also affect other areas of the body, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, lymph nodes, and spine.

One of the primary symptoms of TB is coughing up blood. Once you have been diagnosed, you will need to complete a full course of treatment to cure the disease. This treatment can last as long as 6 to 8 months.

Seeking Medical Attention

Emergency medical attention at your nearest emergency room is needed if you are coughing up more than a teaspoon of blood or if you are experiencing the following alongside coughing up blood:

• A rapid heart rate, 
• Chest pain, 
• Upper back pain, 
• Breathing difficulties, 
• Dizziness or light-headedness, 
• Fever, 
• Blood in the urine or stools, and
• Severe or rapid weight loss.

When the doctor or nurse in the emergency room attends to you, be sure to tell them how long you have been coughing up blood, roughly how much you have coughed up, and any medications you are currently taking.

The Tests for Haemoptysis

Once you seek medical attention, tests will be done to determine the severity of the bleeding. The first test would be to check your breathing capacity and to enquire about the accompanying symptoms. The doctor’s overall checks include: testing the blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, as per the Western Cape Government’s Triage Scale. 

Additional tests include:

• X-rays of the chest will reveal any damage, clots, spots or clouding of the lungs.
• Blood tests: samples are drawn to check for the underlying causes and to identify the disease or the conditions.
• CT angiography; is a test to determine the cause of bleeding and its severity. Before the CT scan, an intravenous injection of dye is given. The dye shows up in contrast in the scan, revealing the problem areas. 
• Bronchoscopy: A thin tube with a light and a camera is passed into the patient’s nose or mouth, down the windpipe and into the lungs to look for the origin of the bleeding.
• Lung Biopsy: tissue is removed from the lunch for a closer examination
• Lung VQ scan: the blood and airflow to the lungs is evaluated. 

If you are coughing up blood and need an ambulance, send an instant alert using the iER App. Our call centre will connect you to the appropriate emergency services directly to your location