Monday, March 25, 2024
HomeCauseCan Allergies Cause Blood In Phlegm

Can Allergies Cause Blood In Phlegm

What Causes Blood In Phlegm

Can diuretic cause allergic reactions & blood in sputum in COPD cases? – Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Phlegm is produced as a natural response by the immune system to any kind of irritant in the body. As the phlegm passes through the respiratory tract, it may get tinged with blood if there is any lung infection. However, this could occur anywhere along the entire length of the respiratory tract. Hence, this is a symptom that is not adequate to base a diagnosis on it is merely an indicator of something being wrong somewhere along the respiratory tract.

Blood coming from elsewhere, like the stomach can mimic the condition that arises from the respiratory tract. Hence, it is necessary to examine, or ascertain the site of bleeding, and then find out the reason for its presence.

Causes Of Coughing Up Blood

Although hemoptysis can be frightening, most causes turn out not to be serious. Blood-streaked sputum is common in many minor respiratory illnesses, such as upper respiratory infections and viral bronchitis. Sometimes the cause is blood from the nose that has traveled down the throat and then is coughed up. Such blood is not considered hemoptysis.

How Can I Clear Phlegm In My Cough

Getting Basic Care Clear phlegm or mucus from your throat by coughing. If an excess of mucus has made its home in your throat, its okay to evict it by coughing it up. Gargle with warm water and salt. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of lukewarm or warm water. Drink plenty of liquids during the day.

Also Check: Does Twix Have Peanut Butter

You May Like: Claritain

How Is The Cause Of Coughing Up Blood Diagnosed

Since coughing up blood can range from mild to serious, it’s important to diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms so that you can be properly treated.

Your healthcare provider will begin an exam by asking how much blood you have been coughing up, for how long and how much is mixed with mucus.

The following tests may be done:

  • A computed tomography chest scan.
  • Chest X-ray to look for tumors or fluid in the lungs.
  • Lung scan.
  • Lung biopsy.
  • Bronchoscopy to check if the airways are clear.
  • Blood count.
  • Pulmonary arteriography to see how blood flows through your lungs.
  • Urinalysis.

Why Am I Coughing Up Bloody Mucus

Excessive Coughing
  • Why Am I Coughing Up Bloody Mucus? Center
  • Coughing up blood or hemoptysis refers to the spitting of blood or blood-stained mucus from the throat and lungs . Coughed up blood often looks bubbly and is mixed with mucus. It may be red or rust-colored in appearance. It is often small in amounts, unlike vomiting blood where a large amount of blood is expelled or vomited from the mouth.

    Coughing up blood may be caused by certain benign conditions such as a throat infection or very severe conditions such as lung cancer. Due to the possibility of serious underlying conditions, coughing up blood should not be ignored.

    Some of the causes of coughing up blood are as follows:

    You May Like: Can Allergies Make You Feel Flushed

    Can A Sinus Infection Be Contagious

    The great thing about bacterial sinus infections is that theyre not contagious. This means you can run into them at any time and theres no need for panic since the infection will go away on its own within a few days or weeks, depending how long it takes for your body to fight off these pesky bugs!

    A related condition called chronic rhinosinusitis has been linked both allergies and environmental factors such as pollution levels in air outside buildings where people live together close.

    What To Expect At Your Office Visit

    In an emergency, your provider will give you treatments to control your condition. The provider will then ask you questions about your cough, such as:

    • How much blood are you coughing up? Are you coughing up large amounts of blood at a time?
    • Do you have blood-streaked mucus ?
    • How many times have you coughed up blood and how often does it happen?
    • How long has the problem been going on? Is it worse at some times such as at night?
    • What other symptoms do you have?

    The provider will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:

    Also Check: Cetirizine Allergy Relief

    What Does Brown Phlegm Mean

    Brown phlegm is commonly caused by:

    Bacterial pneumonia:This form of can produce phlegm that is green-brown or rust-colored.

    Bacterial bronchitis: This condition can produce rusty brown sputum as it progresses. Chronic bronchitis may also be a possibility. You may be more at risk for developing chronic bronchitis if you or are often exposed to fumes and other irritants.

    Cystic fibrosis: This chronic lung disease may cause rust-colored sputum.

    Pneumoconiosis: Inhaling different dusts, like coal, , and can cause this incurable lung disease. It can cause brown sputum.

    Lung abscess: This is a cavity filled with pus inside your lungs. Its usually surrounded by infected and inflamed tissue. Along with cough, night sweats, and loss of appetite, you will experience a cough that brings up brown or blood-streaked sputum. This phlegm also smells foul.

    Differentiating A Cold From Allergies

    Which blood investigations are required if blood in mucus is noticed? – Dr. Sanjay Panicker

    A cold is a viral infection that affects your nose and throat, or the upper respiratory system. In order to catch a cold, you must be in contact with someone else who has oneoften times your kids, spouse, or someone else in your home. Common symptoms of a cold that dont usually apply to allergies include:

    • Body aches and chills
    • Fever
    • Sore throat

    Allergies, meanwhile, are often associated with the spring and summer, as this is when you are exposed to pollen, grass, and other common allergens . Common symptoms of allergies that dont apply to a cold include:

    • Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
    • Watery eyes
    • Post nasal drip, or excess mucus that forms in the back of the nose and throat

    As previously mentioned, you can experience a runny or congested nose with both a cold and allergies as well as a cough due to post nasal drip. Furthermore, a cold can lead you to develop pink eye, an infection or inflammation on the outer membrane of the eye and inner eyelid, which can be confused with the itchy and watery eyes you experience with allergies. In these cases, try to evaluate your other symptoms to help determine whether you have a cold or allergies. Make sure to speak to your doctor if youre still having trouble differentiating the two.

    Donât Miss: Can Food Allergies Cause Facial Flushing

    Also Check: Claritin Childrens

    What Are The Types Of Rhinitis

    There are several types of rhinitis:

    • Allergic rhinitis is caused by allergies to substances called allergens.
    • Seasonal allergic rhinitis is sometimes called hay fever. But, people with seasonal allergic rhinitis do not have to have a fever and do not have to be exposed to hay to develop this condition. It is an allergic reaction to pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. This type of rhinitis occurs mainly in the spring and fall, when pollen from trees, grasses and weeds are in the air.
    • Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by allergens that are present all year long. The primary causes of this type of rhinitis are allergies to dust mites, mold, animal dander and cockroach debris.
    • Non-allergic rhinitis is not caused by allergens. Smoke, chemicals or other irritating environmental conditions may provoke non-allergic rhinitis. Hormonal changes, physical defects of the nose and the overuse of nose sprays may also cause it. Sometimes medications cause it. Often, the cause of this type of rhinitis is not well understood. But it is common in patients with non-allergic asthma. The symptoms are similar to allergy symptoms.
    • Infectious rhinitis is possibly the most common type of rhinitis. It is also known as the common cold or upper respiratory infection . Colds occur when a cold virus settles into the mucous membranes of the nose and sinus cavities and causes an infection.

    When To Go To The Hospital

    Coughing up blood can quickly become an emergency. Coughing up more than one teaspoon of blood is considered a medical emergency. Coughing up 100 cubic centimeters of bloodonly 1/3 of a cupis called massive hemoptysis and has a mortality rate of over 50 percent. Don’t try to drive yourself or have someone else drive you to the hospitalcall 911.

    You should also call 911 immediately if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness, even if you cough up just a trace of blood. The problem is that coughing up blood can quickly cause airway obstruction and aspiration of the blood into your lungs.

    Read Also: Non Drowsy Over The Counter Allergy Medicine

    When Mucus In Throat Can Become A Serious Issue

    The color of your mucus in throat is a strong indicator of how severe the health problem is. Generally, thin and clear is the safest, and other colors could indicate a particular infection. Here are some guidelines to know when mucus in throat is a serious issue.

    Thin and clear: Sign of cold or allergies, it could also be a sign of medication side effect or a reaction to certain food.

    Thick and colored: If mucus is very thick, it could be a sign of dryness, which can be caused by heating systems. If mucus appears green, yellow, or brownish, it could indicate a bacterial infection.

    Rattling sound in chest: If mucus is dripping down to your chest, it may be difficult to swallow and may cause a rattling sound, which may be pointing to pneumonia.

    Burning sensation: If mucus is burning, it could be a result of a heartburn or GERD.Paying attention to your mucus can help offer insights into your overall health and give you indications on how to treat the mucus.

    When To Visit Your Doctor About Phlegm

    Asthma Blood Phlegm

    If you are not feeling unwell, and the phlegm is clear, yellow or green then it is safe to wait to see if this clears by itself before seeking medical advice. However, if you see bloodstained sputum, or any shade of red, black or brown phlegm then contact your health professional. If coughing phlegm up is associated with or weight loss, seek urgent medical advice.

    In general, see your doctor if you are not improving, having thick, dark or bloodstained phlegm, have a persistently raised temperature over 38 degrees C, have breathing problems or feel generally unwell.

    Also Check: Is Zyrtec Good For Allergic Reaction

    Is A Little Blood In Phlegm Normal

    You may get little streaks of blood in phlegm due to reasons such as excessive coughing. Blood in phlegm, however, may be due to serious conditions such as lung cancer, pulmonary embolism, and heart failure.

    You must seek medical care for blood in cough/phlegm if:

    • The coughing up of small amounts of blood lasts more than a week.
    • You are coughing up more than a few teaspoons of blood.
    • You feel light-headed or dizzy.
    • There is a presence of fever.
    • You have rapid or excessive unintended weight loss.

    When Blood In Mucus Needs Medical Intervention

    It is a relevant question you may wonder yourself. When do you need to seek medical advice? The answer is, when you encounter some circumstances, you need immediate medical care. So, the conditions that require proper professional medical assistance are:

    • You see a large quantity of blood in the mucus. The alarming amount of blood signifies some severe complication that needs doctors attention.
    • When you see the blood in sputum at frequent intervals.
    • The blood you cough up appears dark in color. You can also see food particles in the blood. It means you have some severe problems in the digestive tract.

    So, you need to see your doctor immediately to avoid further complications. Apart from the above-mentioned scenarios, you need to take note of certain signs that indicate serious problems. Therefore, get a doctors appointment when you see any of the symptoms mentioned below:

    • Sudden loss of appetite
    • Dizziness
    • Shortness of Breath

    The symptoms mean you need medical treatment as soon as possible. So, get an appointment with your doctor to get the issue sorted out. The professional help can help you detect the actual health problem leading to the blood in mucus.

    Also Check: Latex Allergy Food To Avoid

    What Is Allergic Rhinitis

    Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is swelling of the inside of your nose. The swelling is a reaction to allergens in the air. An allergen can be anything that causes an allergic reaction. Allergies to weeds, grass, trees, or mold often cause seasonal allergic rhinitis. Indoor dust mites, cockroaches, pet dander, or mold can also cause allergic rhinitis.

    How Would I Know Why I Am Coughing Up Blood

    Coughing Up Phlegm

    Coughing up blood may be caused by various conditions that may range from mild to serious. To know the exact cause of coughing up blood, you need to consult a doctor. Your doctor may ask details about coughing up blood such as since when you are having it, how much blood you cough up, and whether you have other complaints such as breathlessness, fever, and chest pain. They may also ask about your history of taking any medications or smoking.

    To diagnose the cause of coughing up blood, your doctor may ask the following tests to be done:

    • Computed tomography scan of the chest
    • Sputum examinations such as microscopy or culture to look for infections
    • Lung scan

    Dont Miss: Tannin Allergy Test

    Recommended Reading: Clariin

    What If The Snot Texture Changes

    The actual texture of your snot has a lot to do with its moisture content. Nasal mucus that flows freely has more water content than snot that is hard. In some cases, drinking more water may help thin your mucus. Changes in texture can happen throughout the duration of an illness.

    Watery discharge from the nose may be a warning sign of a cerebrospinal fluid leak. A leak happens when theres a tear in the membranes surrounding your brain, likely from injury or certain medical conditions, like .

    Other symptoms of a CSF leak include:

    • nausea
    • sensitivity to light or sound
    • positional headaches for example, you may feel more pain while sitting up versus lying down

    If you suspect you may have a CSF leak, seek medical attention.

    Read Also: Generic Allergy Medicine Names

    How To Diagnose The Cause Of Coughing Up Blood

    There are many tests that can be given when someone is coughing up blood. The main goal of the test is to determine the rate of bleeding and what are the risks to breathing. The first step of diagnosis will be to talk with your physician about your health history and what you are experiencing. A physical examination is usually completed as well. Your physician may then recommend a chest x-ray to see if there are any changes to lungs. The chest x-ray may show a mass, fluid, congestion, or may come back as completely normal. A computerized tomography scan may be requested if the x-ray does not show everything. A CT scan will give the physician a better view of the lungs. A bronchoscopy will help the physician to see directly into the airways and lungs, which may help identify the root of the problem. A complete blood count may also be requested to see the number of white and red blood cells that are in the blood. A urinalysis can show any abnormalities that are in the urine. A blood chemistry profile will measure electrolytes and kidney function. A coagulation test will show the bloods ability to clot, which may contribute to bleeding and coughing up blood.

    Recommended Reading: Can Allergies Make You Throw Up

    Can Allergies Cause Mucus With Blood

    Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

    Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

    HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

    When To See A Doctor

    Blood In Mucus Baby Stool

    A person who is coughing blood in large amounts, or at frequent intervals, should visit a doctor.

    See a doctor or seek emergency care when coughing brings up a lot of blood, or any blood at frequent intervals.

    If the blood is dark and appears with pieces of food, go to a hospital immediately. This can indicate a severe problem originating in the digestive tract.

    Also, see a doctor if any of the following symptoms accompany blood in the sputum:

    • a loss of appetite
    • blood in the urine or stools
    • chest pain, dizziness, fever, or light-headedness
    • worsening shortness of breath

    Don’t Miss: 24 Hr Zyrtec

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

    COPD includes several lung diseases that can make it harder to breathe, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes and more mucus, both of which make it harder for your lungs to work. COPD is generally caused by long-term exposure to things that irritate the lungs, such as cigarette smoke, but people with asthma can also develop it.

    Continued

    How Long Will The Phlegm Last

    The duration of the phlegm in your system depends on the cause.

    • For bacterial infections, even without antibiotics, it can be self-limiting and will go away in 10 to 14 days.
    • Viral infections can last a little longer, so sometimes up to three weeks depending on the season.
    • Inflammatory conditions like asthma and COPD typically dont necessarily get better unless the disease is treated more aggressively.

    Remember, your body is doing its job when phlegm is being produced. It shows that its addressing some sort of assault, be it an infection or an allergy or an irritant thats in your lungs or your sinuses thats how your body fights those assaults.

    Dr. Jonathan Parsons is the associate director of clinical services and director of the asthma center in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

    Also Check: Are There Peanuts In Twix

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular