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Coughing up blood?!
Hi I've got a bout of flu and last night had several coughing fits (with mucus discharge). At some point it may have become blood stained but I didn't notice until this morning when I coughed hard and ejected reddish brown phlegm, about one inch in size. I thought it could be due to coughing too hard but I'm worried it may be something serious. Can someone help please?
Yes, a steamy bath will help too.
Stay indoors and keep warm. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you do not feel like eating. Whilst you have a congestion problem keep off milky drinks.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and good holidays.
Stay indoors and keep warm. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you do not feel like eating. Whilst you have a congestion problem keep off milky drinks.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and good holidays.
Thank you it is late at night where I live and my parents are tied up. Therefore I will just try the steam inhalant. I would think hot baths would help too as well as putting the bowl in my room. Also school just let out for me anyway. May not be possible to see doctor tomorrow but my parents are definitely taking me the next day. I greatly appreciate you giving up your time thank you so much.
Yes, it is more urgent that you see your doctor. Ask your parents if they can get in touch with your doctors surgery to see if the doctor can see you when they come back from work.
And NO, you cannot use normal vegetable oil. But you can do steam inhalations without any menthol oils. The menthol type oils help with decongestion, pine oil, eucalyptus are fine. You can get vapour type products from the large supermarkets and from the pharmacy. You can also get a vapour rub to rub on to your chest and neck (and get someone to rub some on your back). Ask one of your parents, as there may be something like that in your medicine cabinet.
Because you are 14, take extra care with the steam inhalations. You can also put in a hot bowl of water in your bedroom with some Vick or other type of menthol oils in the hot water. Make sure that you do not knock it, put something on the furniture so that you do not damage anything by putting the hot bowl on and if you have younger sisters and brothers, make sure that it is well out of their reach so that they do not get scalded by the hot water in the event they knock the bowl. Get a parent to help you with this.
If you have cold remedies in the house, make sure that you read the directions for use on the packet to make sure it is safe for your age group to use it. Some throat lozenges are soothing and have menthol in them to help unblock nasal passages and you have some of these in the medicine cabinet - again, read the directions to make sure they are suitable for your
age group and that you do not exceed the dose.
Keep warm and wrap your mouth and nose with a scarf so that you do not breathe in any cold air. It may be wise to stay home from school until you start to feel a little better. But no doubt your Xmas holidays may have now begun.
Hope you get better soon so that you can enjoy the Christmas festivities.
And NO, you cannot use normal vegetable oil. But you can do steam inhalations without any menthol oils. The menthol type oils help with decongestion, pine oil, eucalyptus are fine. You can get vapour type products from the large supermarkets and from the pharmacy. You can also get a vapour rub to rub on to your chest and neck (and get someone to rub some on your back). Ask one of your parents, as there may be something like that in your medicine cabinet.
Because you are 14, take extra care with the steam inhalations. You can also put in a hot bowl of water in your bedroom with some Vick or other type of menthol oils in the hot water. Make sure that you do not knock it, put something on the furniture so that you do not damage anything by putting the hot bowl on and if you have younger sisters and brothers, make sure that it is well out of their reach so that they do not get scalded by the hot water in the event they knock the bowl. Get a parent to help you with this.
If you have cold remedies in the house, make sure that you read the directions for use on the packet to make sure it is safe for your age group to use it. Some throat lozenges are soothing and have menthol in them to help unblock nasal passages and you have some of these in the medicine cabinet - again, read the directions to make sure they are suitable for your
age group and that you do not exceed the dose.
Keep warm and wrap your mouth and nose with a scarf so that you do not breathe in any cold air. It may be wise to stay home from school until you start to feel a little better. But no doubt your Xmas holidays may have now begun.
Hope you get better soon so that you can enjoy the Christmas festivities.
OK thank you very much for your information. I also have been coughing up some blood through mucus occasionally. You are probably right about it being an infection. I will definitely see a doctor in two days as I am 14 and my parents are working tomorrow. Also I am willing to try the steam inhalation. However if you think it is more urgent feel free to let me know. My symptoms have gotten worse and it is getting harder to breathe. Thank you for all your help.
I know your question was to mimimia.
With what you describe, you clearly have an infection and should make an appointment to see your doctor.
The blood that you can you see when you blow your nose is likely to be an infection in the sinuses.
As well as making an appointment to see your doctor who will decide whether you require an antibiotic, also do steam inhalations.
To do a steam inhalation, boil up a kettleful of water and poor this into a bowl (taking care not to get scalded). Put some Vick or olbas oil or any other menthol oils of yor choice into the hot water. Bend your head over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel. Breathe in the steam for a duration of 10 minutes, by breathing in through your nose (or trying to) and then out through your mouth. Try and do this 4 times each day, but any will be better than none. You can do this for as long as you need to without getting any side effects.
Some decongestant remedies can cause blood pressure to rise, which is not very good if you have hypertension already.
Drink plenty of fluids - warm hot drinks (avoid milk because this encourages mucus formation). Hot honey and lemon is nice and soothing and you get your Vitamin C from the freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Take pain relief medications as prescribed on the packet to help with any aches and pains and reduce any raised temperature.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
With what you describe, you clearly have an infection and should make an appointment to see your doctor.
The blood that you can you see when you blow your nose is likely to be an infection in the sinuses.
As well as making an appointment to see your doctor who will decide whether you require an antibiotic, also do steam inhalations.
To do a steam inhalation, boil up a kettleful of water and poor this into a bowl (taking care not to get scalded). Put some Vick or olbas oil or any other menthol oils of yor choice into the hot water. Bend your head over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel. Breathe in the steam for a duration of 10 minutes, by breathing in through your nose (or trying to) and then out through your mouth. Try and do this 4 times each day, but any will be better than none. You can do this for as long as you need to without getting any side effects.
Some decongestant remedies can cause blood pressure to rise, which is not very good if you have hypertension already.
Drink plenty of fluids - warm hot drinks (avoid milk because this encourages mucus formation). Hot honey and lemon is nice and soothing and you get your Vitamin C from the freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Take pain relief medications as prescribed on the packet to help with any aches and pains and reduce any raised temperature.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
I have virtually the same problem with the flu and mucus except I have shortness of breath and pressure near my chest. There is also blood in my snot when I blow my nose. I noticed it last night and I was wondering if yours cleared up or did you see a doctor.
Glad that things have settled down now.
If you ever do experience a problem and not sure what to do, as you are in the UK, you can ring 111 and you will get through the NHS help line. They are open after your doctors surgery closes. They will take your information and will either put you through to a medical person that will advise you straight away or if they are all busy, they will phone you back.
If you ever do experience a problem and not sure what to do, as you are in the UK, you can ring 111 and you will get through the NHS help line. They are open after your doctors surgery closes. They will take your information and will either put you through to a medical person that will advise you straight away or if they are all busy, they will phone you back.
Thanks, very reassuring! It seems to have cleared up for now, so I think it was just due to coughing too hard.
Coughing up a touch of blood in your flehm is actually fairy common. Your throat can become slightly raw and spots can crack and bleed slightly. Most people when they have a bronchial / larynges infection will cough up yellowish flehm.
coughing up large amounts of blood on the other hand is very bad. You will generally throw up blood though as it doesn't sit well in peoples stomach.
medications that contain a cough suppressant may help over the short term to help reduce the irritation. However it will generally clear up for most people over a few days of rest and tea and chicken noodle soup.
If it persists longer than that or if you have trouble breathing see your local doctor.
coughing up large amounts of blood on the other hand is very bad. You will generally throw up blood though as it doesn't sit well in peoples stomach.
medications that contain a cough suppressant may help over the short term to help reduce the irritation. However it will generally clear up for most people over a few days of rest and tea and chicken noodle soup.
If it persists longer than that or if you have trouble breathing see your local doctor.
As it is the weekend now, you can still telephone your doctors surgery. You will be transferred to the out of hours doctors service where you will be asked questions.
You will be asked to come and see the doctor if they feel that you need to be checked out urgently and will be prescribed medication if the doctor feels that you need this.
You may have a respiratory infection, so do phone up and get seen to.
You will be asked to come and see the doctor if they feel that you need to be checked out urgently and will be prescribed medication if the doctor feels that you need this.
You may have a respiratory infection, so do phone up and get seen to.
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