Bleeding from the Airways: Medical History

The medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of bleeding from the respiratory tract.

Family History

  • What is the general health of your family members?
  • Are there any diseases in your family (e.g., lung, tumor diseases) that are common?

Social history

  • What is your profession?
  • Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?

Current medical history/systemic medical history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • You are bleeding from the respiratory tract?*
  • How long has the bleeding existed?
  • What color is the bleeding? Light, dark, mucus, food components, etc.?
  • Is it bleeding from the nose and/or mouth?
  • Has the symptomatology occurred acutely?*
  • Is the bleeding continuous or does it occur in phases?* Are there triggers for the bleeding? Stress, etc.?
  • Are there other symptoms such as nausea, pain, fever, etc.* ?
  • Do you feel dizzy?
  • Did/do any disturbances of consciousness occur?*
  • Did you injure yourself?*

Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.

  • Have you noticed any change in appetite?
  • Have you lost body weight unintentionally?
  • Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
  • Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?

Self history incl. medication history.

  • Previous diseases (cardiovascular diseases, infections, diseases of the respiratory system, tumor diseases, trauma (injuries)).
  • Operations
    • Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) – method for the treatment of severe emphysema.
    • Lung biopsies (tissue removal from the lungs).
  • Radiotherapy
  • Vaccination status
  • Allergies
  • Environmental history
  • Medication history (anticoagulants/anti-hemorrhagic drugs)

* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)