http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
! A; g/ d+ b R" L6 x/ G# k% n; WCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version, d' |3 J6 B3 o& ?5 q
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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, r9 x( ~. \9 j& ?* ^2 N- K) jHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract. i" l. \8 a ]$ K% m! n
, [' e u5 |: j/ O3 q) F5 w8 Z* A' OConsiderations, N- k+ q- y+ r& ^4 c5 @+ N
* M6 I( v; L( q8 X3 q0 R' bCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract., H& J0 r# P" J$ ]8 ^
: z( N5 K5 e3 L2 aBlood 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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Causes
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3 s) V( {* e( c9 d b) cA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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9 p: U. K) X# [5 NBlood clot in the lung/ p/ t/ \2 c6 O" Y# W1 Y
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
8 `* _/ n- z4 P2 `5 y! [5 qBronchoscopy with biopsy4 E3 e: x% W7 f7 C I7 W
Bronchiectasis
7 }7 b/ @$ U) @2 `* E( E: YBronchitis
0 y9 P7 f' ~' D1 |# VCancer2 J0 s8 S: f* X* _
Cystic fibrosis
( J4 Z" j9 _4 \9 ?/ LInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)5 a# j7 m( d5 ?3 k
Injury to the arteries of the lungs1 J4 t7 ~3 m) g2 Q- I. I
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
0 n9 g, u6 Z" K: w. I6 UPneumonia or other lung infections3 \( `+ }0 T; [- C& w6 C/ Z! l
Pulmonary edema
" e: d z2 E) t# h8 @! \. ~Systemic lupus erythematosus
2 Y# e% r5 a! v- r- R4 e: I! oTuberculosis
7 r# p% x7 L n; m# T5 s- IHome 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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When to Contact a Medical Professional- W& P f( g. v
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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" O3 R2 z# w& n1 s7 zA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood5 j6 L$ r( `6 V* O( N1 r/ h5 |3 n
Blood in your urine or stools0 ~5 @) P& \, `+ @
Chest pain
0 D, S1 X! B8 V8 S: b/ YDizziness* k, V/ V7 }( S d, T; Q
Fever
9 G2 r5 w4 ~' A# C3 U4 uLight-headedness
+ p( l, z2 |1 }# t( vSevere shortness of breath
5 B' [; e, z% s* w6 TWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit+ [: W4 Q' a( T* Q- F
& s L4 b, x& i# f* Y* n; fIn 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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Type$ T& y. U0 O/ G: z4 j
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?3 y& q2 P* @9 P" E5 d$ t
Can you see blood when you cough up something?
- c: S" B# ?! H2 z% VHow many times have you coughed up blood?
. U' i- b& w& l4 m: Q$ d0 ?Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?2 V1 q$ \' }3 V
Time pattern' p& U6 N& f+ i0 ~4 Z
Did it begin suddenly?
( w4 `0 s: P& Z7 A9 uHas it increased recently?
$ {/ M Q2 K8 s# ^4 J6 UFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
* i+ n! ^8 q( @3 N) h7 l% RIs the cough worse at night?
* t1 c) i1 J/ m1 l. f0 K+ D: RWhat other symptoms do you have?; ^/ M0 F# |4 H
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:6 I0 Y6 q7 ~( P6 ^- _ K! o
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways3 q' { z4 F3 O0 a% q2 s
Chest CT scan
9 P, |1 p) P* `$ v( |Chest x-ray
, t6 d3 \1 A( G# Y, `Complete blood count
. e0 r" `4 q# N$ L; d. \Lung biopsy5 Y* f% m- S4 P' t
Lung scan/ U7 \4 u& T" T! s2 Z# m- a) Z
Pulmonary arteriography2 Z$ q! {$ N* ?
Sputum culture and smear
5 _. W! m' t5 n$ u7 G2 ETest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |