http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm: O$ u( V3 K7 F* E) y. I
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
( X% I9 F5 m5 b% ^, F1 Y$ MCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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! m2 |" c* q5 ^- f. }Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations
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! x# {9 [! t, h' C) C! [7 wCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.( z2 F" a! O* ?# h
2 U6 C. {* {6 c) NBlood 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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Causes: L" m7 s. y: n) c
1 A) v! w2 A0 n- [1 NA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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7 h; n$ A/ V+ }- uBlood clot in the lung1 P8 h$ W! r# n
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)- d0 s4 ^8 ?- m9 j, F- W
Bronchoscopy with biopsy. Z: u( M* k- y7 T
Bronchiectasis
/ X# x- N3 k3 v1 t/ L3 o7 YBronchitis- R8 x4 L$ i# E B+ {' N
Cancer
$ l& T; b1 O- g: t7 m9 X4 {9 L7 ^8 NCystic fibrosis
' _" J* A: d+ i* B" k5 EInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
3 x* v2 y" z3 _7 j( {1 L% gInjury to the arteries of the lungs) w" H/ l/ H% r5 q
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
) n. J" j& t+ S' \6 [2 o. M/ J' p" YPneumonia or other lung infections
$ V8 C$ G$ `+ f& A8 OPulmonary edema
" a* d* Y: r8 Z$ S+ g3 I/ G7 wSystemic lupus erythematosus
! c; X1 {0 Q. }" z9 t+ A; H/ ~Tuberculosis/ Z) i" N$ P* v
Home Care
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. g! H0 d) X6 b& m. u, ]% k XCough 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.
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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.8 T/ a) D" o% M& H
# m9 s3 ^5 f* i% b6 x' K: q6 QWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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+ p6 W% a4 ?. g) |% `A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood, A% k% S" i- ^! U* X7 D
Blood in your urine or stools
6 c/ i& I1 o& pChest pain% w. k* a- _1 `3 d! h! X5 Z; A
Dizziness1 L. G0 `# H3 W2 t& O0 f
Fever9 `# F1 ?, g6 y- B3 q) X6 K/ M2 k& d
Light-headedness6 R; A2 c9 z b+ ], W
Severe shortness of breath
; s9 x! W4 W2 h8 ?3 A' @What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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In 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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Type2 o# X1 B: @+ G$ W, U) Y$ S
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
! U' r* B& P/ nCan you see blood when you cough up something?
* N# m- C4 e4 Z& D. jHow many times have you coughed up blood?$ d* I, f% u2 ^7 @& D$ H0 H
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
" O3 S, `+ [/ c; r, g4 yTime pattern8 ?" }! J; q! i/ C K
Did it begin suddenly?6 Q1 C; q' h6 y4 ?5 u6 l. w
Has it increased recently?
7 i8 |6 i' D8 O3 oFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
- R' \' U6 ^! |* D! a# i+ N& L% FIs the cough worse at night?
& h8 r8 @3 a: f! ^What other symptoms do you have?5 f6 J% I+ L! k) x! a$ g7 f
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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" P+ l" q8 V% Z$ F. ZBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
9 Q: e1 C3 p- J5 [ l0 K8 uChest CT scan- [ c7 R( Z6 i, b
Chest x-ray4 z9 _4 D l" m+ w2 R
Complete blood count% b, R8 N( \- U8 k8 y- B% r
Lung biopsy
5 U" c* U; u, t N3 w) j9 tLung scan3 i! w% E$ e- y0 _( ]: C( Z
Pulmonary arteriography5 {! q3 B4 t/ W
Sputum culture and smear$ V$ N' D; L, U
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |