http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm ~( n/ G" Y5 a K
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
, w i6 ^7 g+ d! t2 G/ vCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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" {' S6 m! Z& y# V1 v* XHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations
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$ U0 _) Z8 m8 V' ACoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.5 X+ _6 X$ N4 K
4 B: M0 O, d GBlood 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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2 d [& |: F" N9 F3 Y { S' o# B/ fCauses' T) M. k+ l$ x8 N
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung
3 Q4 ]6 f Y5 G1 YBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
3 \2 U# e; h9 }6 ^Bronchoscopy with biopsy
, ^4 k% K3 R9 h: [$ gBronchiectasis
: L7 V* p2 }: ~& _# e. _9 o, ZBronchitis$ k. b4 T6 U" j0 M, W( B8 f$ i
Cancer
- W2 u! k) [/ w4 nCystic fibrosis
- D& T( J" k/ }6 ]. t, Z# t0 HInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)4 _; W! Z# U8 z8 u
Injury to the arteries of the lungs$ c5 P0 J( y( x/ { P
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)* H @" w P O9 E4 X" d
Pneumonia or other lung infections# V8 R8 j7 Y" f. Z
Pulmonary edema6 A% {0 x8 p6 Z$ a. x
Systemic lupus erythematosus
# s' I5 r# i$ S* h5 rTuberculosis% q$ J- t( @; O' E% D6 ^6 z
Home Care9 [# s5 S; R4 z3 `+ M, O
# C) }: D. }0 TCough 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.# ?; q4 Q/ x. c5 G# M4 Q
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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.# k& e9 l( t1 @ i* u
& E( P7 T0 a" ?. [6 N9 vWhen to Contact a Medical Professional; J5 r5 Y! s4 v, v$ J4 t' f
6 k% A5 L1 R0 x4 f' C1 h6 K* e- kGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:1 f9 f) k# Q9 f6 q9 R
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
4 d& J- q2 b" w' w" y- n# ^8 KBlood in your urine or stools
7 ~3 c2 z7 R/ A* q1 j; zChest pain
* h- m# ^4 j+ JDizziness
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Light-headedness x3 |. J9 c- s1 b: c
Severe shortness of breath8 b* W, X' w6 _* m c' Q* j, d
What to Expect at Your Office Visit7 n B u% I1 w" u6 V7 `1 `
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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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4 w$ W9 H u% n% |5 e9 @( WType
: Q5 c( d3 I' @; G: CAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?) ]6 c) z4 w0 k$ E
Can you see blood when you cough up something?2 l. Q/ V/ ]% O! p
How many times have you coughed up blood?& ?+ ^! D1 m- \3 q" [5 u3 z
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
* k6 W3 b9 ]; f0 hTime pattern: F x6 P; c8 L1 r
Did it begin suddenly?
) p- C3 L2 l4 y2 y4 Y+ L5 _9 MHas it increased recently?
9 T6 Q9 e5 p+ G; f2 @For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
1 p8 P' W' O/ a7 LIs the cough worse at night?8 ] w2 c/ Z/ B1 a7 ]" T3 L
What other symptoms do you have?
$ d6 J8 E" ^# ?The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:8 a% R _9 Z! ~8 ~
* i# g* q/ x! E3 uBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
~8 B- s0 Q6 hChest CT scan# T! {- A9 w4 N9 @) ]7 I
Chest x-ray X1 o6 q8 S* y5 ~8 X; J% x
Complete blood count2 f; C H: v' o1 P7 k' N: E* z
Lung biopsy
8 D5 H8 M2 r; PLung scan
2 N3 u2 ^& b5 U* \) ]! E! jPulmonary arteriography6 V; H( y! l2 g: S
Sputum culture and smear
. O& L5 O6 `0 h& G- hTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |