http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm1 _6 J* P8 P2 m. N
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version) V8 k- u+ ?& Y8 \# l
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract)." S" K5 E' `) G! H0 M* Y
% W$ N1 @" x" w) b
Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract., Y4 b h8 o: y9 U/ m) J) D) g
7 n# g" a5 x+ _) D! @Considerations
, @" Z) H( `8 }( I+ u( J7 [6 H7 E- W u' z/ X% Y B
Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
7 c, f/ p3 l6 i9 M7 B) w. I+ i, K; U \% g: j' E
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.
* [" @" Q; O. c2 x$ y* n
" _/ y2 ]! C3 Z6 M: zCauses; S% [9 Q7 X' |, o1 D
5 g( Q+ ^3 b1 B0 r% K1 V% q! K
A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
) l$ Z4 D" W- X4 I1 _, d0 w7 v7 b9 p7 C: t* S; K
Blood clot in the lung0 G! g; U7 \3 _5 b) q% C! d
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
' k+ \" Q1 y% i1 wBronchoscopy with biopsy
) w2 |) A8 q! z: w( L+ ^Bronchiectasis
# y3 O* o i4 w. b) ?7 r% vBronchitis
8 J4 p3 O$ S N( y2 k, C+ `! m8 @$ S. rCancer! u4 ?1 m# E [: y! s$ L' W
Cystic fibrosis% B% o5 r* C: B+ }8 U0 R- h
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)7 ?' ]3 r7 x9 [$ a$ t
Injury to the arteries of the lungs0 z. w! a- X' _* L7 K. Z* u4 w$ `8 q
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
4 c3 W* T! b7 j* V. uPneumonia or other lung infections
x# G% h: H& i1 S5 A9 o7 TPulmonary edema
% c3 s( \5 F0 k9 `: k7 |Systemic lupus erythematosus% I8 b1 [. D7 v$ W2 ?
Tuberculosis
0 Z L( N/ r& d6 S0 i6 W" m$ D" O* UHome Care
0 U8 a3 |5 L% T) L! o/ ?3 n- ]; t" O1 |6 {8 }' B; t9 m. Z- _
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.
) t; g" p1 z# ?. r! X$ s3 ?: c, j8 c4 H/ u/ T3 T
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.
0 [. Z ]+ u' Y- A# L* W% S* \2 p+ V! c* r. S5 Z" ?8 D5 `$ j, _
When to Contact a Medical Professional+ F( M: I% ?/ `" y* H
9 H( S! |4 X3 h8 y# G# i- W; eGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
1 v+ R7 J' w2 c& r& P% s2 V1 J- M1 o( P( N* o
A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood, u8 `4 e& g8 n1 ~
Blood in your urine or stools
' z% f0 v- I" Z% }. ~* n8 L6 g9 OChest pain5 a L# K" w: U9 @
Dizziness
, ? ]/ B2 j4 o7 y8 I! n4 |7 |+ AFever. f7 }# m2 y/ B7 {
Light-headedness0 G: Y1 ^6 _, {* I: b
Severe shortness of breath
) {* b/ [- d% Q5 X: c% R" O2 N4 n% ]What to Expect at Your Office Visit; u* a% u. m7 ^: i/ G
( s; O' o! v$ sIn 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:5 ^) y+ @4 x( g: ~5 P- e
9 l& D6 d, s- l
Type
R2 F9 m3 C4 Z& yAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?# x. S3 @, [( g/ R- O! a
Can you see blood when you cough up something?# w% s1 @3 g9 w
How many times have you coughed up blood?. ^9 A& r- T( d" e( e0 P6 O+ s: A
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)? a2 u# h& a) x' m3 Q4 ^* a9 [
Time pattern- @& @3 b( ?# c) Y, d, u
Did it begin suddenly?
9 \" G3 o- q% v2 n5 H$ z) aHas it increased recently?
9 T: G$ D# w2 t3 n* A, KFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?9 B, V: {8 v, z3 T" Q( D
Is the cough worse at night?
7 Z. N9 E0 h @5 uWhat other symptoms do you have?
1 V a) w3 A' hThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
8 w, {- t' n- } w6 [8 l
U6 Y$ z, z6 \' qBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
* I9 @+ @$ I" c- q2 gChest CT scan, _7 B4 `1 u) g
Chest x-ray
1 ^1 S9 b& z- D: R* E% c9 WComplete blood count
3 d2 p8 T2 d, n1 y: U' fLung biopsy* ]' @: }- m7 T8 L/ f* o9 Z4 k7 T
Lung scan
8 n h0 u8 Q8 d- ]9 [' ]Pulmonary arteriography
( O( |$ c3 \( @+ LSputum culture and smear
$ O' H; H" [( ATest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |