http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
* F- ]' _9 A, E$ R2 c+ S, b8 jCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version; u9 e! b4 L' o6 T; h! v+ j
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).% N7 G, k" \& F# a( r1 ~* l
# g5 `8 h( _4 v3 g0 @8 T( _Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations; f7 k4 t0 R/ }4 A1 l/ y) c5 b
& I. y7 M2 [' t- i& O4 ~Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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Blood that comes up with a cough often looks bubbly because it is mixed with air and mucus. It is usually bright red, although it may be rust-colored. Sometimes the mucus may only contain streaks of blood.5 n m" j; O8 q) d( P
1 l$ B# _0 b7 F- [Causes, G. |2 A' _2 C/ J, S
2 z% _6 U5 W& ~& H" eA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:& [" l9 t3 }, O& v, e
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Blood clot in the lung
1 l% q6 M" M: G) a8 ]- QBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
! Q( W4 ~, O e3 {! ]' W0 `Bronchoscopy with biopsy3 X8 x) X: ^! K0 [* @' a
Bronchiectasis
% L' R8 [# t, ?/ T# i+ F2 SBronchitis
# a# R0 h; b6 k, E. ZCancer8 Q2 Y, }2 o4 |4 _5 }
Cystic fibrosis
+ e+ ?, Z& C# [0 n2 r4 DInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
1 J/ Z4 W2 U6 W }9 s, vInjury to the arteries of the lungs
0 B2 n6 ]# P$ \- a: `5 gIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
" ]) I5 W! M$ a8 zPneumonia or other lung infections
; l$ G! z! m0 p2 K9 Q7 cPulmonary edema
9 S0 s3 {& h9 Y; m bSystemic lupus erythematosus
" X2 T" l/ J+ K3 i7 N, X* u7 ATuberculosis
; v8 S7 t/ _7 S: {- [& YHome Care
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( j- y7 F0 M. `Cough suppressants may help if this condition is due to throat irritation from violent coughing. However, cough suppressants may lead to airway blockages in some cases. Always check with your doctor before using them.- f; e. q' u4 b# w# r: |& y
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It is very important to note how long you cough up blood, and how much blood is mixed with the mucus. Contact your doctor any time you cough up blood, even if you do not have any other symptoms.
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" f: w. \0 p( y. Z8 H: f0 tWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:3 }1 E1 y* Z" p+ { a! t3 J. {! e
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood& J8 D% d7 ~" i$ C- N
Blood in your urine or stools
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Dizziness1 l3 o3 F+ s% Q1 f; V
Fever! _. z# n- S9 e; n0 V; @; @* d' W* n
Light-headedness
/ J1 f. r0 p0 S* L( wSevere shortness of breath% q9 ]* u6 u! H& [* W. g7 j, V
What to Expect at Your Office Visit1 T7 A' z; _5 r/ S4 Q1 O+ W" M
; }3 u5 w1 O- U1 A0 ZIn an emergency case, your doctor will give you treatments to control your condition. The doctor will then ask you questions about your cough, such as:
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Type
' e- s7 x+ g4 @$ _Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
, C+ m6 H$ V+ r7 }4 xCan you see blood when you cough up something?6 L7 P4 n9 T; d' V7 K+ D \0 g5 y
How many times have you coughed up blood?
+ I$ b$ m% Y7 P- J4 aIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
" a- A5 ?2 B8 Y9 J/ M# f( ^Time pattern
6 y' |+ A( d. v3 oDid it begin suddenly?
) a6 c3 g: M$ W7 HHas it increased recently?: S) P3 g. k+ [6 k8 H, @9 l$ m1 d
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
9 S9 z( q$ W2 w0 N9 qIs the cough worse at night?
9 u5 |9 o' T" ? c/ nWhat other symptoms do you have?# J7 c+ ]6 @* B
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:: b/ T' F- Y& P ]4 O
( A% u. M/ [! u2 CBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
5 m8 i7 K. g+ C0 UChest CT scan" h, @6 q" @2 Q8 W
Chest x-ray
3 ]% E4 ? M$ {' g3 c' A! ^. f9 ~7 }4 _Complete blood count
: U' C" z* Y5 [( QLung biopsy" q9 k9 t& T+ t3 t4 E
Lung scan
$ H2 [* a# E' m% b6 {' g# KPulmonary arteriography) W& M8 o( k+ _; V
Sputum culture and smear! l8 W0 T. Q* o
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |