http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
' {9 v& x% O; ^1 y/ j3 ]Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version& [% o& N! l, c5 v |% c
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).2 c, L% | s# c4 _
9 H7 J$ p# }0 J. w! HHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.; @( v7 l2 R4 }, o* Y; T& B8 m- L y
5 p$ w- Q+ [3 }% N5 x f/ WConsiderations
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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2 w5 U8 h4 Q& K) _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.
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; E8 a: n: a4 K6 x6 H4 v1 ICauses4 V0 y9 O9 C5 C) y4 [* O' f3 p% T
3 l( {5 F, w) F1 j" Q0 YA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:0 N9 `. h" {: O' ]* j
/ W$ b4 U5 V7 Y2 MBlood clot in the lung
0 Y- i" @1 G4 a$ G9 xBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
: k6 Q7 \9 Q' X9 o% z2 pBronchoscopy with biopsy
9 x9 e/ M; c: j# N' i+ \Bronchiectasis& ~+ P, Z6 ^3 D& L! O
Bronchitis
+ }; F8 F. `4 @5 I( U0 |Cancer; H9 p% D k" h7 h5 i* z, B9 Q
Cystic fibrosis* z0 a/ F8 s# V3 P; q1 S( K
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
* j8 h) u% @5 `9 f1 ]0 j7 VInjury to the arteries of the lungs
0 Z' _9 d- C6 G1 q: dIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
1 K5 ~5 Z' g) E4 u- a: d" e- d- |Pneumonia or other lung infections
! V, R* C6 j% s* k; pPulmonary edema
/ A- o0 A) K& I/ R9 ISystemic lupus erythematosus8 x, K5 V) ] I2 h: V3 t: k
Tuberculosis
9 D; T& x+ \/ R, y$ XHome Care! m. F: k, ]7 }/ @3 x
' H" `( R5 B9 G# B. mCough 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.% _- b# z% ]0 V3 H$ y. r
! E+ F% y- @) I- w1 T& h% x# f9 oIt 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
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: O6 ?7 ~: F8 JGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:: M0 F- b& t |8 D
% H" v4 n( Q C8 C% sA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
# `' ^+ ^+ d. c$ X( N/ UBlood in your urine or stools
1 m8 n3 l5 W$ ]9 |' BChest pain6 i0 o3 _- i0 P' K1 M
Dizziness
$ J( x* i. h) w+ H+ @- ~' ?! u* RFever
# y! S3 v; a# Z2 Y/ |$ Y, }Light-headedness6 }8 G+ P* h: e7 l! ~" N- o: U
Severe shortness of breath
7 _* k. P, n) oWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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& Z$ {; P9 Q" X8 p# X' 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
- j) Y- {" l# y5 r) TAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?" S) w* N1 D4 x- l7 ?
Can you see blood when you cough up something?
# d- X5 M7 l4 I5 k' A j8 n( J* kHow many times have you coughed up blood?
* C6 n; Y# C+ n( uIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?, O* v! w9 P3 e! i8 {! d2 ~' H/ c
Time pattern1 G* a- X- B8 [( h ]7 M
Did it begin suddenly?3 t6 x9 w3 W* d' Y( M
Has it increased recently?
- q( o' z5 m2 M' ~: }# p. RFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?2 y; k/ ^% |0 c$ {0 P% B7 r+ s
Is the cough worse at night?
3 q% _/ ]5 U+ b# _2 p7 O: fWhat other symptoms do you have?
! [) y5 y c0 ~3 A( s+ d# p9 |The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways8 B) @& `, L) D# p* q# i
Chest CT scan
1 p. E# g0 f: G8 SChest x-ray6 Y6 Z+ `; H- m/ z, G% D
Complete blood count' H) Q9 M, z, k1 z7 P+ G
Lung biopsy
: c2 S0 d6 W- R& F% L1 d; t4 {Lung scan8 ?' J' M& v+ M: v8 B+ N7 J! l( ~
Pulmonary arteriography( w8 ]. m6 D2 p' u. P
Sputum culture and smear" p8 A/ g$ I& ~ w0 `! E. m; ^) e: T
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |