Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Hello, I'm 21 And Non-smoker (used To Smoke Socially But
Question: Hello,
I'm 21 and non-smoker (used to smoke socially but haven't touched a cigarette in around 6 months). I've recently found small dots or streaks of blood in my phlegm. I haven't got a cough at all, no shortness of breath on anything of the sort. I do suffer from hayfever so I sneeze pretty much all the time. I have terrible health anxiety so I always spit out my phlegm and check it. I don't have a cough so I check it by clearing my nose etc and stuff at the back of my throat. Sometimes I've found bright red spots or streaks of blood (i assume) in my mucus, sometimes its been in my snot too when I blow my nose. I'm unsure where this is from (does phlegm from the lungs come up without coughing ?) and I am going to see the doctor anyway, but was just asking in case I should be treating this more as an emergency, or if I can be reassured that its unlikely to be lung cancer.
I'm 21 and non-smoker (used to smoke socially but haven't touched a cigarette in around 6 months). I've recently found small dots or streaks of blood in my phlegm. I haven't got a cough at all, no shortness of breath on anything of the sort. I do suffer from hayfever so I sneeze pretty much all the time. I have terrible health anxiety so I always spit out my phlegm and check it. I don't have a cough so I check it by clearing my nose etc and stuff at the back of my throat. Sometimes I've found bright red spots or streaks of blood (i assume) in my mucus, sometimes its been in my snot too when I blow my nose. I'm unsure where this is from (does phlegm from the lungs come up without coughing ?) and I am going to see the doctor anyway, but was just asking in case I should be treating this more as an emergency, or if I can be reassured that its unlikely to be lung cancer.
Brief Answer:
Nothing serious it seems
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in Ask the Doctor
I am sorry for the situation you are experiencing.
First I want to assure you that this is not an emergency situation and you don't need to go to ER and get medical help.
Second in my opinion according to the history you provide the chances to be a lung cancer are very low (your age, smoking history ,no cough no chest pain ).
In my opinion the blood small dots are due to the alergic inflammation of the upper airways mucosa (hayfever).
When you will see your doctor just ask him/her to order a chest X ray for you in order to be sure for the lower airways.If it comes negative than no worries if not you should know that even a bronchitis can cause your symptoms.
I recommend you to see an ENT specialist to evaluate the nose throat and larynx.
Hope to have been helpful
Regards and feel free to contact me again
Dr.Jolanda
Nothing serious it seems
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in Ask the Doctor
I am sorry for the situation you are experiencing.
First I want to assure you that this is not an emergency situation and you don't need to go to ER and get medical help.
Second in my opinion according to the history you provide the chances to be a lung cancer are very low (your age, smoking history ,no cough no chest pain ).
In my opinion the blood small dots are due to the alergic inflammation of the upper airways mucosa (hayfever).
When you will see your doctor just ask him/her to order a chest X ray for you in order to be sure for the lower airways.If it comes negative than no worries if not you should know that even a bronchitis can cause your symptoms.
I recommend you to see an ENT specialist to evaluate the nose throat and larynx.
Hope to have been helpful
Regards and feel free to contact me again
Dr.Jolanda
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
