http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
/ P9 J3 ~. p2 j1 E `" W6 r* r& Z- rCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version/ g2 }9 e# ]6 L
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).6 m$ o: R8 K' P) a2 V0 |
" I8 e) u0 x; a4 T% ~' YHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.1 J+ u5 J; |0 Z& ^- q0 ~
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Considerations* |! p$ \: i- M
4 S& l) T& K. z* [Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.& w4 Z: ?1 ^4 N" q7 v5 p
, `2 H% O# u2 f# A8 k) F( hBlood 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.8 }4 r1 X w- i4 } P5 j2 i1 t
4 `8 ^9 N0 e8 fCauses0 W- K4 Y( I; \; c: Z
" d% y8 Y8 u3 }A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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5 R8 x- u8 S g( u+ JBlood clot in the lung
( s4 Q9 L) t" _" a# N: N% {; HBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
4 G/ I- _: P9 e0 x( p9 F, pBronchoscopy with biopsy
) j. ~- n) {, |" d! YBronchiectasis
1 w1 Q9 N1 g" [' |& C# [9 u- i6 fBronchitis8 {& e+ f5 l1 i; d" r
Cancer* J0 F, `- e+ S( ]; L- d+ H
Cystic fibrosis
/ j9 N7 u4 v' s! W% d8 M/ A9 SInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
/ h6 R! Q5 h/ ^Injury to the arteries of the lungs0 S) l+ T. N) Z5 @1 a, C
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
! u4 t, }6 C( C# u/ X1 `Pneumonia or other lung infections
$ a0 R/ e- E& f9 i8 b# o; aPulmonary edema
* n4 U% {( p0 l; T4 w5 SSystemic lupus erythematosus
& C0 E# ^0 ~1 h, ~0 kTuberculosis
$ |/ { }# ]7 j% AHome Care
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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.# k1 ^. q' b z
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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.9 X0 s/ K0 Z# Z$ }
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When to Contact a Medical Professional3 n9 I5 W( r* L t' E$ E
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
) q$ Y9 a5 Z$ Q2 ]: b( I: g w: VBlood in your urine or stools
n3 o$ C* p' b/ vChest pain3 P6 |6 U& U" q# m' z) Q
Dizziness; s# `/ ]& b m
Fever1 U7 `" A2 c& m
Light-headedness
9 o' } D& {' LSevere shortness of breath
, Y1 ?- } U& ~( p5 kWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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% s2 z/ [: |0 P+ J% r' j1 s Q5 _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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: B* w8 U+ F; G" x$ |1 Y9 GType: J n" k+ k9 V
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
3 I9 v& W, E+ O5 ?4 h( JCan you see blood when you cough up something?
+ ^8 k4 h- I' m4 |How many times have you coughed up blood?
; M) D4 J, @' {Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?. w( v, i0 f- [5 D/ Y
Time pattern* D% L5 L) \& W! j: j
Did it begin suddenly?$ `6 ?' U5 [8 |# w* ?: R4 y/ E9 u
Has it increased recently?4 X6 j3 S' i# u; V$ x) a
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
( J# N% ^% q& [! w, q( l" c# hIs the cough worse at night?
^# q$ U/ l9 e) Z$ @+ r$ ^- sWhat other symptoms do you have?
0 D; h1 C0 m' R2 h" ]: cThe 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 airways0 g; I# Z. ~( s
Chest CT scan, X/ x8 v# _0 H
Chest x-ray; n8 W2 B. N x! A! {' f+ [
Complete blood count: g( W' | c, s; z6 _
Lung biopsy$ ?$ u# m2 f) l1 u/ F
Lung scan
* Y, O/ a) J" mPulmonary arteriography9 D# e( m# Q4 j F' ^& a' }( A
Sputum culture and smear' s7 H7 B: m' |
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |