Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs. In other words, it is the airway bleeding. This can occur with lung cancer, infections such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, or pneumonia, and certain cardiovascular conditions.

CAUSES OF HEMOPTYSIS

• Bronchitis, either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic)
• Lung cancer
• Damaged airways (bronchiectasis), especially because of cystic fibrosis
• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Other causes include:

• Congestive heart failure, especially because of mitral stenosis
• Crack cocaine use
• Foreign objects in airways
• Inflammatory or autoimmune conditions (such as lupus, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Goodpasture disease, or Behcet disease)
• Lung abscess
• Non-cancerous lung tumors
• Parasitic infection
• Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
• Pulmonary embolism
• An injury like a gunshot wound or car accident
• Use of blood thinners (anticoagulants)
• Endometriosis
• Hughes-Stovin syndrome
• Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
• Sarcoidosis

Hemoptysis vs. Similar Conditions

• Hemoptysis causes sputum (the material you cough up) that is bright red or pink and frothy.
• Pseudohemoptysis looks very similar. Tests might be the only way to tell the difference.
• Hematemesis brings up material that’s darker and looks like coffee grounds. It may be mixed with bits of food.

DIAGNOSIS OF HEMOPTYSIS

• Medical history and physical exam .
• Chest X-ray.
• CT scan .
• Bronchoscopy
• Complete blood count  (CBC).
• Urinalysis
• Blood chemistry profile
• Coagulation tests.
• Arterial blood gas.
• Pulse  oximetry.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR HEMOPTYSIS

ACALYPHA INDICA :  Useful for Obstinate cases of arterial haemorrhage with burning in chest which is accompanied by emaciation, slow fever and small, depressed pulse.Given when blood is PURE BRIGHT-RED IN THE MORNING OR DARK AND CLOTTED IN THE EVENINg.Recommended when spitting of blood, brought on by violent dry cough.

ACONITE : Useful for hemoptysis with feeling of fulness and burning pain in chest.There is sensation as if the blood were boiling in chest, and followed by burning feeling under the sternum.There is anguish, restlessness fright and fear of death.

ANTIM CRUDE : Useful for hemoptysis which came after bathing.There is burning and sticking in chest during cough.

ANTIM TART : Useful for Frequent cough, with frothy, bloody sputa.Given when blood spitting comes after the attack which remains for a long time.There is bloody, slimy expectoration.

ARNICA : Useful for mechanical injuries & overstraining constant tickling cough, starting in larynx or under sternum.There is sore bruised feeling through chest.Given when there is bleeding of profuse, dark-red and clotted blood coming with little effort.

ARSENIC ALBUM : Useful for hemoptysis with deep, dry, unceasing cough from titillation in larynx.There is great weakness and fainting, with burning heat in chest and stomach,useful for extreme prostration after loss of blood.

CACTUS G

Useful for hemoptysis , accompanied with convulsive cough.There is profuse expectoration of blood.Useful when there is marked arterial excitement with strong throbbing of heart .There is sensation as if constriction of an iron band prevented its normal motions; (<) from lying in bed; continued oppression and weariness; little anxiety or fever.

COLLINSONIA

Useful for hemoptysis with dark, tough, coagulated blood which enveloped in viscid phlegm.Useful for bleeding which is caused by cardiac affections or portal congestion

HAMEMELIS

Useful for hemoptysis when pure blood venous coming into the mouth without much effort.There is feeling that warm current comes out from chest.Useful for tickling cough, with the taste of blood in the morning on waking.

RL 32 : For All Types of Cough