http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
" l) m/ H' A7 A% |% M( [* H vCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
5 Q8 S# `' X, K I' B, h- P/ lCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).. u* `& J) {( S$ G" K/ H
7 J! x$ ]! G' e; p. X+ G: [Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.1 k4 [$ x5 h2 B) s; e. \ l
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Considerations
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.0 w# s1 A+ Z1 M, B1 {5 h
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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.
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5 M$ |7 R9 Z4 z G5 h; e* DCauses- x* N( u, x8 D3 V* v
* A- @' r/ |! R' _' R9 l$ fA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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, K8 U3 o/ _0 r$ v% |) lBlood clot in the lung
6 n9 \, v. n$ E) S% ?3 ^: m; `6 O8 OBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)7 k% K" P1 z& {) r( D/ I8 G
Bronchoscopy with biopsy! c' ?4 j% u1 q; J
Bronchiectasis
& e# B0 N+ A) M' c) X) ^Bronchitis) |) Q. A6 v! G0 ^" }3 M
Cancer$ T- n* Y( @* J7 }4 C1 H
Cystic fibrosis; K! j3 k' ~! M
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)3 ?% @6 t. z2 J
Injury to the arteries of the lungs5 N n( @% E2 |) I
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood), @* Y9 J: i" }/ x
Pneumonia or other lung infections
D1 ?' l0 P- N9 hPulmonary edema& ]5 N ^/ Z+ @* p8 I4 X: g. V
Systemic lupus erythematosus9 t+ H6 W: S% K& T, P: S6 l& d( k* j
Tuberculosis
+ @5 }. k7 U8 J7 e* f) ~Home Care0 C4 |4 G. H U* V0 o( \9 ?+ ?, j0 D
+ y/ t) V* {. p2 g9 o9 n: H5 tCough 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./ X6 q3 ~) G" @ [" H( V7 X
) g+ G* p8 c5 [. U/ Y9 vIt 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.5 j5 U) l8 D! S; o0 y
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When to Contact a Medical Professional M0 L$ n. ?4 A S3 E4 d
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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% x t# ]' c1 @4 V5 S/ nA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
\1 ?" | s* t( ], ?Blood in your urine or stools1 n% e) d. y+ f2 q; s$ i. P! d
Chest pain6 s) i! u4 B6 N: `+ A6 X2 ?
Dizziness4 Y \7 E2 v7 b. j
Fever( }2 h4 R, W7 v4 m) j+ X
Light-headedness
: |8 V5 C6 \* l$ M; w3 P( VSevere shortness of breath4 U! z' g2 y8 B# Z8 i
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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: l* u* v7 S/ o5 i/ m/ w7 Q' NIn 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:+ @' [+ U1 ~* m- ]
, k! z1 f8 _5 N/ n! }! VType
& i* U( o6 B0 OAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?& F7 J5 N# C) B. r8 u. h" g" @: Q
Can you see blood when you cough up something?' D& A5 G/ q; L6 i' ^6 z$ ]9 _
How many times have you coughed up blood?
H) T; |3 q" U! G* P' @7 hIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?# Z: [0 H0 K! j0 c' |
Time pattern/ z U+ k! J/ u! d8 L4 k0 C+ H
Did it begin suddenly?
( f5 g& k# N) y# c. r4 fHas it increased recently?
0 X4 `' H/ N. F% P; y* iFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
# A" w/ ?2 E* e% d4 q/ D, ^Is the cough worse at night?
0 I' ^% `" _. g/ \* XWhat other symptoms do you have?
3 U+ L. E1 p+ w* |; kThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
& G$ d6 F2 D7 Z3 N- XChest CT scan
, S* y5 e) e/ kChest x-ray
* O4 q* n: ^( a$ bComplete blood count8 f- Q2 @: L+ d0 N4 V* C- D
Lung biopsy
" v( \( M: g& Z( A _Lung scan
8 U: g5 V4 G' v. p, ~3 y& cPulmonary arteriography F- t9 w' ]* \" r, w# v0 r- m
Sputum culture and smear
, M% D7 _. ~% i; ^% P% u* g6 k; pTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |