http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
& \0 L1 x' f8 Z' |- H+ _Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
, S: a2 ]# d6 {+ |' v0 i9 x lCoughing 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. Q: J/ n9 V1 Y' }$ b: j
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Considerations
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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1 A* r2 V2 g! p+ F, j1 K1 kBlood 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./ ]$ t' ^; s# ^- {# {/ _0 p0 J
0 y3 D9 l" x1 a& D8 ECauses
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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
5 ~% v8 W+ n/ L( F0 wBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
" |! ^: X* m8 A$ R) O2 j4 i2 J) iBronchoscopy with biopsy& l% w- `0 z: f9 h
Bronchiectasis
6 i4 y- y. V/ l( M6 QBronchitis
5 `% s4 B6 a; a' ?# J4 ]Cancer
T! F8 i7 |6 Z8 vCystic fibrosis
. F3 h. Z8 j# u% P# tInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
* E& S8 I9 ?$ |. l, M$ AInjury to the arteries of the lungs
, c2 S; N. _5 l# q+ O+ ]$ }6 mIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
% ?7 O4 x$ ^! S: N' e4 }! m2 mPneumonia or other lung infections
2 i% |# f) [$ Y) G; LPulmonary edema
[" T7 l! F( Q+ mSystemic lupus erythematosus
+ W4 K; Z6 y+ d5 Y3 VTuberculosis4 s, y0 W- Z$ e3 T; D
Home Care: h; f M5 }% b. H/ P* S
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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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+ {) ]! T- j6 M5 o6 n7 p- X9 L* rIt 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.; j- n3 U# a9 W- z% g
% k4 b! F3 t0 WWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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4 n6 A6 L/ k/ I; r$ D6 z7 lGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:* T- z9 Z' e( a* G7 E
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood( f3 \! q2 C" Q, f& x3 p
Blood in your urine or stools) _2 d/ \; a* Y' f( C( C) o6 N# T
Chest pain7 Y$ {2 R, T# f5 c' {$ z
Dizziness& L1 p% D7 ?# [' @
Fever; y, Y4 b- [, G) X2 s3 f3 v& d. m
Light-headedness
6 ^1 o+ I/ p& q/ d6 d: Y5 sSevere shortness of breath
% {* m* l: W3 sWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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& N9 c! J: K: k( @2 W- N. cIn 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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Type2 {1 g3 Z: G$ H, u% h8 \( K3 K
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
( s( U! @1 X2 b9 K) j: rCan you see blood when you cough up something?
3 i; h$ ~- e \$ O8 r5 qHow many times have you coughed up blood?
* {7 Z0 \, ^; r7 u* Z6 gIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?; v' U( \/ O& }# H
Time pattern: ?' T o4 G# ^8 Y, ?
Did it begin suddenly?
9 v( w2 H, T1 T5 g4 NHas it increased recently?
+ K; ~1 x9 s8 X8 j* cFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
0 M! ~) Z, \7 F' U7 D/ D ~& gIs the cough worse at night?9 j2 I& `4 G1 U3 F- c
What other symptoms do you have?5 q6 [0 B7 E" p3 j
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:( Q- z2 [2 P/ S7 a* S
8 U. }# w" d. U- ?0 TBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
! p% ?' M9 s+ i3 sChest CT scan$ Y' w7 C y3 J. D; O
Chest x-ray$ |( z4 `0 Y7 n. m$ o" H
Complete blood count" {: |- S8 Z2 r( E+ Q2 s7 d
Lung biopsy2 h! V/ W6 F6 S8 q& G2 E- S
Lung scan
$ B& W, e* {5 p9 v# nPulmonary arteriography
% T! U/ o# `2 p+ s! W: H7 |" CSputum culture and smear
5 x+ P- f) s! T/ U G: CTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |