http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm4 Y) R7 s& {( v+ t: { G
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
) t4 V7 ^4 N6 k) M7 i0 q5 mCoughing 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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3 i1 q4 F7 T/ rConsiderations7 M' b+ w9 ?* _
. b% d- s. o, R$ I2 `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.) d1 X+ \# E- u. P" ^- I
" y" W% ]: {) s- _& nCauses
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( o1 q( F1 |& oA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:& y; y. L0 c7 x) u$ p( d( v
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Blood clot in the lung
& v8 ^* R1 S) e! r) v7 ^& WBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration). _! F2 ]) b c1 X
Bronchoscopy with biopsy9 d9 H n! ]5 x6 y/ Y6 p1 b5 S& ~
Bronchiectasis7 T2 O l0 D! L
Bronchitis
! I* D9 |/ |0 k* b$ E/ D' R5 pCancer* W, Z7 u8 \: z' a% a5 P7 A; v
Cystic fibrosis
( P0 @5 d* y2 ]: S6 nInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)7 w) w3 H$ D" v) S2 o5 z
Injury to the arteries of the lungs, K1 I$ N; N/ J
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)1 ~) S! _7 X) `2 O/ l
Pneumonia or other lung infections( r% d: N& ]. o8 m/ n, x7 R
Pulmonary edema4 S7 a3 K( a( U! X+ k
Systemic lupus erythematosus
# N; u! h; q0 \" v& FTuberculosis7 j6 I# i0 s3 P+ P7 z& G% O, G1 n
Home 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.
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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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" g$ z. V8 A6 ?8 j5 t3 uWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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* O- M; y' _4 ]) EGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:$ H% E3 i: A* W: e, C# P' ~
8 a3 G+ G2 q$ |, |A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
. }2 O" m1 ~/ }- _7 z q. nBlood in your urine or stools
2 b1 `$ M- P1 k: m1 _; N- pChest pain+ x7 w" n0 A8 c+ z" I, t l+ g
Dizziness! |: I+ }( W5 b
Fever
# A0 v$ a1 d- f- t/ ZLight-headedness1 T6 L$ W1 C3 A# k* H
Severe shortness of breath1 \! c' Y& p1 f% j, W, F, y
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:# j- r& d/ C: J5 X4 k; N
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Type
) J T9 V8 [! G& y4 YAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?, ]2 c; u1 z' K3 K: o7 ~# T" G* m& S
Can you see blood when you cough up something?& v# Y, f. ]7 z1 m+ g: f N% d3 F/ i
How many times have you coughed up blood?, s" N: M; P' W% \
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
' x5 Q$ M7 S. S; f! w! N' I2 {$ dTime pattern
3 j* l, e/ k$ d8 F3 ]% pDid it begin suddenly?% K! ?$ k4 G- z1 Z& z( ` E
Has it increased recently?
% a7 t! }6 T+ T3 V y, W5 M; N% Z6 uFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
1 X8 c* s5 P! uIs the cough worse at night?4 v: q8 P& O- K( S% S, h
What other symptoms do you have?
; r6 H+ T9 t) n2 D+ U" 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" O! ]* m" p/ O* u. C
Chest CT scan3 Z1 S4 [) S0 W/ h# R
Chest x-ray
" c; g( D9 t/ _, f g% c1 @" EComplete blood count
; I, b. u8 }, [ Z5 W) f8 [Lung biopsy
% F! i& }* e0 B# CLung scan5 c8 _8 P& k9 |" _1 |
Pulmonary arteriography) E! R- q7 h* ~% q# ~7 b# D1 W" `
Sputum culture and smear
7 T' l7 J3 n c% y6 `0 p2 E9 o9 ~2 yTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |