http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm% @. i# m' N2 V3 @$ _0 r
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version5 J7 o1 g/ k) A6 h q1 T
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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' _% o5 m3 G& U/ A: [Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.' f# t! B. s3 p9 H' q1 E
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Considerations
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: {5 m& c* ?0 _% \) |! VCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.8 j( h9 n" a- K( U% h2 X. G
+ U! V+ ?3 D3 l- TBlood 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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+ ~1 \8 W1 x% a! k; Z3 qCauses
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" W- I! [* a$ V* w4 a( CA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:# o. I) Z. F5 \( G" \& e q1 s
! E* r+ E# ^% u5 {8 z5 VBlood clot in the lung( H9 C/ S2 ]* Y, h& l& ]3 i
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)/ e5 b* J8 s. D& m% x( W" W
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
) {3 z# U7 T o; ~( m4 p5 b4 KBronchiectasis
9 W+ ~: `6 Z& e% R7 P0 SBronchitis" X! k9 O I7 p4 D
Cancer c; r. E6 I0 ~" B+ l) I
Cystic fibrosis
9 y0 t/ }- i: ~Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)5 l8 [0 f0 {. F* A& j
Injury to the arteries of the lungs
" p: x$ v2 e9 T6 U& ]9 V! vIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
6 L+ m3 {, Q9 b5 ]; oPneumonia or other lung infections
( A, H# u/ z7 {' S+ r$ {6 [3 |- G2 jPulmonary edema6 U% d4 c& U$ a/ C
Systemic lupus erythematosus+ C- q3 F" E2 b1 E' b
Tuberculosis$ V- M d& O6 d, s# `# W
Home Care
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# R) m$ n3 q% m( s# QCough 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.. z" N: `+ q5 _* }# L' s1 @
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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.8 p( }+ e6 j% `0 z
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When to Contact a Medical Professional1 I3 w/ U( M, v. l6 y% ~/ H
3 Z7 S+ _. @9 B* L0 e2 Q$ eGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:2 z2 y [6 v- R9 A3 J) K
C9 d K$ z: C5 C/ a O5 K ?0 l( gA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
$ u2 [6 ~7 w8 T# A8 D& cBlood in your urine or stools
% ]4 u3 {' l( [& }Chest pain: n3 h$ q0 `: Y+ N3 F% |* H
Dizziness. @% K7 t+ h" _/ t0 d: M8 C! V
Fever
+ T f6 [: v4 m% Z$ ~Light-headedness9 R1 m3 j }# Y; e
Severe shortness of breath
) H* o$ o8 F( [% ?& E: O1 e" VWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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* ^4 V6 w5 u) ^! v" }% VIn 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:2 d# a/ o3 r1 h8 g3 y; e% v
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Type
' X% e' r. p2 F! G: dAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
& A6 u8 X0 H4 y: m8 D) P, NCan you see blood when you cough up something?" g4 x5 \. q" _$ m+ h6 a3 o
How many times have you coughed up blood?
1 U+ ?6 P/ f; n! c( @ e- UIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
' D- ?: i# Y$ T9 n2 W; o: P) u- u+ UTime pattern+ t) S: \( _) P7 W
Did it begin suddenly?( f' C. F2 q$ {3 E3 ]
Has it increased recently?
, J' V3 r2 G; R a7 D9 M) ^For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
( p& [+ y6 z. x1 OIs the cough worse at night?
: j+ U8 M6 L# I' }! }8 ~5 N! FWhat other symptoms do you have?: @3 d* B& K. R4 \ O+ c
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:2 I4 |+ e' s+ i6 e
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways: u+ v# A4 F+ y) S1 S% M
Chest CT scan2 q8 I& D6 E/ B* I( W
Chest x-ray9 p8 Y1 k$ n; H9 i+ b; s! ]4 b) s
Complete blood count
4 P! F1 K) x) {4 @& H( w6 rLung biopsy
7 b' q. ~" R0 @Lung scan
' D$ [9 e1 E7 L6 F1 z3 p) _7 kPulmonary arteriography
4 O. u. ]& C' d" M# l; M4 TSputum culture and smear
, `" D7 I' ?/ w6 w$ TTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |