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The Mystery of Blood: What is the hidden reason behind coughing up blood?
Coughing up blood, medically known as "hemophagia", refers to the discharge of blood or bloody secretions from the bronchi, throat, trachea or lungs. This phenomenon is not necessarily accompanied by coughing and indicates bleeding in the airway. Coughing up blood can be a warning sign of an underlying health problem, whether it's lung cancer, tuberculosis, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
Diagnosis of hemoptysisHemoptysis is medically defined as the discharge of blood from the respiratory tract and may be a manifestation of lung disease.
The process of diagnosing hemoptysis includes analysis of the medical history, history of current illness, and family history. In particular, asking about a medical history of tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, or chronic bronchitis is essential. In addition, smoking history and history of occupational diseases such as exposure to silica dust are equally important. An assessment of the nature of the bleeding, including duration, frequency, and amount, may suggest possible sources of bleeding.
Coughing up large amounts of blood may mean significant health risks and require prompt medical attention.
Common causes
Common causes of coughing up blood in adults include chest infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, while in children, the presence of a foreign body in the airway is often a trigger. Other causes include lung cancer and tuberculosis. Less common causes include pulmonary granuloma, pulmonary embolism, and cystic fibrosis.
People should note that different bleeding colors can indicate different sources of blood. For example, bright red foamy blood usually comes from the respiratory tract, while dark red or brown blood may come from the digestive tract.
Massive hemoptysis and its risks
According to reports, severe coughing up blood can sometimes be fatal, with severe cases reportedly having a mortality rate as high as 80%. But according to the data, the mortality rate among hospitalized patients was 9.4%. Massive hemoptysis is generally defined as coughing up more than 200 ml of blood within 24 hours. Although there is a range of 600 ml in the literature, the threshold for mortality risk is generally set at around 200 ml.
Treatment methods
Treatment of coughing up blood depends on the underlying cause. Treatment options include cold saline and topical vasoconstrictors. Recent studies have shown that the use of tranexamic acid can improve the survival rate of hospitalized patients. For localization of bleeding, bronchial artery angiography can assist in hemostasis.
ConclusionWhen faced with significant hemoptysis, the first-line treatment is usually bronchial artery embolization.
Coughing up blood is a warning sign of an individual's health condition, and factors such as chronic or acute illness may be the cause behind it. In life, we should be vigilant about this situation, seek medical treatment in time, and treat the speech disease accordingly. Have you ever wondered if coughing up blood might be linked to a deeper health problem?
