Blood Streaks

[lawmommy]

I am a 39 y.o non-smoking female.  For the past ten days, after waking & showering, when clearing my throat & spitting into the sink there is a streak of bright red blood.  Nothing after that.  On occassion, when I blow my nose there is a tiny smidge of red blood - but I don't have a cold, so am rarely blowing my nose.  I had a normal chest xray last week.  My family doctor said it could be the dry winter air.  I am not coughing and am not otherwise ill.  How much, if any, further investigation of this "problem" would be warranted.

[WENDYE]

MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE DOCTORS TOLD US TO TRY A HUMIDIFIER IN THE WINTER MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE DRYNESS.

[lawmommy]

As an update, the CAT scan was normal. :)

[National Jewish]

This is a common problem in the winter due to the dry forced air heating.  The lining of the nose gets dry and irritated and many different types of stimuli can cause small amounts of bleeding. If the extent is as you describe, I would not think there is anything else to do.  If it increases, see your physician, who can look into your nose and throat.