Bloody mucus

The snot blood usually appear suddenly and significantly alarming to most people who suffer, however, its causes are so diverse that may be associated with benign conditions or major diseases. In medical parlance bloody mucus is known as hemoptysis .

Do you have blood in your snot?

In general, the nose bleeds after a strong and involuntary stimulus occurs, such as coughing or sneezing, which is why many times the snot with blood is nothing more than the consequence of the rupture of one or more blood vessels , which generates a temporary bleeding that disappears after a short time.

However, when the bleeding becomes recurrent, it is essential to see a doctor to diagnose the cause of the condition and treat it properly. If you want to know in depth what are the causes of bloody mucus, read the following eHealth article carefully.

Causes of bloody mucus

Respiratory infections

Respiratory infections are the cause of a series of symptoms that we often do not directly associate with diseases such as bronchitis or pneumonia . However, these manifestations are usually the main responsible for symptoms that appear unexpectedly such as bloody mucus or mucus in the throat . Why?

The lower and upper respiratory tracts are interconnected and this facilitates the transit of bacteria and microorganisms through the entire respiratory system , making it possible that, for example, the discomfort of bronchitis also affects the nose and larynx.

That said, it is very important to identify whether the presence of bloody mucus is accompanied by symptoms of respiratory infection such as difficulty breathing, coughing up phlegm or dyspnea , since in these cases it is vital to treat the disease to avoid unfortunate complications. Among the main conditions associated with the appearance of bloody mucus we find:

• Bronchitis : is the infection that takes place in the tubes that carry oxygen to the lungs and is characterized by causing the following symptoms: dyspnea, fatigue, fever , cough, shortness of breath and mucus in the throat . If a bronchitis is not treated in time, it can become chronic and considerably compromise the state of a person’s health, especially if it is a smoker.
• Flu : it is the most common respiratory infection that occurs due to the penetration of different types of viruses into the body through the nose or mouth. The flu is one of the most common causes of bloody mucus, as its symptoms include coughing and sneezing, actions that can cause the blood vessels in the nose to break. A badly cured flu can turn into bronchitis.
• Pneumonia : it is the most dangerous respiratory infection, since its progress can be fatal. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that have infected one or both lungs causing pain when breathing, very high fever, excessive mucus in the airways, coughing up phlegm and chills.

Very dry climate or environment

Did you know that excessive exposure to dry air can inflame the upper respiratory tract? The sinuses react to the lack of moisture by increasing their size and often breaking, which can cause the presence of bloody mucus.

During very cold seasons such as autumn or winter the weather becomes much drier, which usually causes nasal dryness, if you want to combat this condition it is important to use humidifiers at home and in the office to combat the lack of humidity.

People with respiratory conditions such as sinusitis , who regularly use nose drops, are more likely to experience nasal dryness, and for this reason they may be more likely to witness bloody mucus. Also, conditions such as asthma , flu and bronchitis tend to worsen during the winter, becoming complicated and causing inflammation of the sinuses.

Trauma and scarring

Scarring or rupture of the nasal vessels due to surgery, blow or simply blowing your nose very roughly can also be one of the causes of bloody mucus.

In these cases the symptom is usually very temporary, which is why it is important to be vigilant if it becomes permanent to go to the doctor. The healing time can vary in people depending on their health and pre-existing diseases.

Bloody mucus and lung conditions

The respiratory infections are not the only conditions that can affect the health of the lungs and cause blood in the mucus. There are three types of conditions associated with nosebleeds that must be taken into account:

• Respiratory diseases : they usually directly compromise the functioning of the ducts through which oxygen passes. In lung cancer, pulmonary emphysema and asthma are some of these diseases.
• Conditions that affect lung tissue : These conditions make it difficult to obtain oxygen and prevent the lungs from fully expanding. Pulmonary fibrosis is part of this type of disease.
• Pulmonary circulation problems : they inflame the blood vessels in the lungs and can also damage the functioning of the heart. Among these conditions, muscular hypertension stands out.

Another cause of bloody snot

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition that affects the mucous and sweat glands, which is why it can compromise the lungs and sinuses among other parts of the human body. Cystic fibrosis can significantly increase the mucus in the nose , which can eventually cause blood. Also, those who suffer from this condition are at greater risk of developing respiratory diseases.

As we can see, hemoptysis or bloody mucus can be caused by various conditions, however, it is essential to be attentive to the symptoms that accompany it so that the doctor can have a clearer idea of ​​what its origin may be.

Therefore, it is vital to pay attention when bloody mucus is accompanied by vomiting, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough or dyspnea. Before any of these symptoms it is vital to visit the doctor immediately to receive a diagnosis in time.

Treatment of hemoptysis

To properly treat bloody mucus, it is vital to go to a medical specialist to carry out a thorough health check of the person and, based on this, offer a diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is obtained, the objective will be to treat the condition that is generating the mucus with blood and stop the bleeding, an action that can be carried out through the following treatments:

• The embolization is a treatment by which a drug is injected into the blood vessels abused to stop bleeding and accelerate the healing process. The improvement is usually immediate.
• The antitussive drugs help reduce episodes of chronic cough and can reduce the risk of breaking blood vessels to coughing.
• In more complicated conditions, the medical specialist may assess whether it is necessary to perform blood transfusions or oxygen supply.
• The postural drainage is recommended when bloody boogers are caused by, excessive mucus in the upper respiratory tract, it helps the person eject the accumulated mucus.
• When the cause of bloody mucus is a lung condition, treatment will require the consumption of bronchodilator medications to expand the respiratory passages and facilitate the passage of oxygen and the expulsion of phlegm or mucus with accumulated blood .