http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm0 W& F/ B0 w; u4 U0 E
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version. k$ H8 O2 f% X3 ~: |5 n
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations
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- h- p) [" d# `2 N6 H% ~Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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- ^: M t, t' R1 Q1 @) {7 J3 sBlood 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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+ h2 i4 c( A1 d$ D: G2 K: l4 jCauses
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:% g8 F n0 K) F2 v9 r2 ?! c% v
& U3 j; o( ^5 P$ VBlood clot in the lung4 r3 b- m) W/ h% x
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)1 u. v$ z* n3 m( O# C
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
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Bronchitis7 i* |; u' j% B6 L$ E; D( c1 L7 c
Cancer
0 J$ T/ O% u, i$ h1 G) a5 fCystic fibrosis0 h2 M7 F% S3 \- O' ~2 Q
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
6 B* ~2 r0 I- P' I4 [8 QInjury to the arteries of the lungs
g/ O; q- q [! E5 l: ?0 TIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
C' J+ G9 J8 APneumonia or other lung infections8 T4 [7 Z, E! o$ ?1 A! ~+ T
Pulmonary edema
. ~ u( m; f3 q+ r8 h1 y. I& W8 ?Systemic lupus erythematosus
9 F! O B2 I0 j+ g3 VTuberculosis
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, a5 B! P0 g) J. P6 t( U6 m% y. uCough 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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5 u$ V4 @( T, n6 pIt 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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9 B; r8 K+ s/ p% S' T0 j$ }; T( BWhen to Contact a Medical Professional) a5 a' z* q% x8 @, Q7 m
0 y4 d2 m, r! B; O/ g+ D/ h. QGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:. w; B) a5 _# z5 O" b( ]4 B. O
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
1 k1 }4 y ^$ P9 z2 `5 NBlood in your urine or stools, s8 P8 o" \. V* i6 U f; H" s$ @
Chest pain
! a$ i z2 [, a6 @7 NDizziness
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Light-headedness+ C- I8 R& l a5 T
Severe shortness of breath/ a6 p5 F3 J1 P- Y" r
What to Expect at Your Office Visit$ ?1 q# q, h8 t- j
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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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Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?/ @8 o3 m' c1 h% k0 t; t4 X* f
Can you see blood when you cough up something?5 P8 f# T) h/ d' q
How many times have you coughed up blood?
& G$ X$ y n; e! z/ }$ T- E/ ?Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?- i7 h4 n" W: I+ [1 X* k; K
Time pattern! x3 y; P P( B+ C* g
Did it begin suddenly?
; r2 h2 @& Q- a% ?1 w) g5 kHas it increased recently?
' U K5 A+ s; U- |9 zFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?3 [4 u* k! `) `1 `7 B
Is the cough worse at night?
1 b# e/ h% P4 yWhat other symptoms do you have?
% X: G9 S2 o9 m5 y" xThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:0 E F6 X& D0 u- |
: \% ~; K: l( C: n i2 |! ?" Y# I$ LBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
6 ? ^. \8 o( R* aChest CT scan
3 W6 m& U! D2 q8 V# Q% iChest x-ray
% w6 k% `" [9 [$ eComplete blood count7 g+ h7 A" o: I1 E4 b; O
Lung biopsy) m5 t# E; ^, o# E+ ?. R
Lung scan
( T- e( n; n, a1 v" Z' UPulmonary arteriography [* A1 u/ y- C
Sputum culture and smear
F) K. E& z% I9 ^# N" Y' _! @; S3 hTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |