http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
3 [9 v) q) S# N, e0 ], I% xCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
" r, m/ T. d4 V' b2 V$ V. \' FCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).# E# x# o) M$ R I8 q
* R" M8 {, x8 P% LHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract. v* n' \' e8 J2 I% B) H- m7 u+ F
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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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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.& Z2 Y* Y2 D8 t ]/ H$ a
3 |) v" R2 ?) q- J+ sCauses
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:; ^# m1 f3 ~$ P8 m( f- z
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Blood clot in the lung
, [; N+ o3 S. g, qBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
$ |( d( g& s0 R5 ZBronchoscopy with biopsy J$ \. x" s' I/ o) v
Bronchiectasis
# e' T* f! w7 S3 p4 B) C, BBronchitis
) Y$ `, {% Q Q: ICancer
" s" t; Y* e; W nCystic fibrosis( W5 e$ v) d2 @' O# i
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
: P+ }9 f/ C3 `$ U1 {4 M& YInjury to the arteries of the lungs
5 t, ^1 P9 `; q, e1 mIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
8 g0 h. N! {# l( N& m! d) GPneumonia or other lung infections
y% g2 W; | w( ?# P* IPulmonary edema
" c% o# o# l! q6 z& c. xSystemic lupus erythematosus H3 P3 X4 ?( v' |$ d* Z
Tuberculosis8 F4 d) Z7 ~( U x- Y
Home Care
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' v" D, T ?. I m. `; ]* H1 x$ ACough 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.$ g7 }4 G @7 i; G) V. G
7 [6 v4 d- V: j0 b* |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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7 w9 h5 _0 Z- Y/ q9 AWhen to Contact a Medical Professional& I% _ A6 Y; Q; L x. @
1 \, B# Q; M9 A0 CGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
! F9 w& n, |% V5 F2 SBlood in your urine or stools
7 h/ J7 F! W) P/ M$ Y, o5 MChest pain
: _7 h' p" Y) |- r4 a- i; ?; UDizziness
7 t4 G3 \+ u+ ~" Q" q, IFever
( T1 v2 E$ X& j, x: I/ x6 L$ [6 V& oLight-headedness
6 e* D. b/ E+ _) @3 E% P: ZSevere shortness of breath% O: [2 h' t8 t( \
What to Expect at Your Office Visit4 V7 ?) H/ C8 z v1 j5 B6 a$ d. M
2 V* y& }1 D) l# QIn 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:, m5 k2 h9 \: [# s5 h5 L: R( n( f' G
7 R9 C$ j" e+ e4 IType
( x# S3 T; B0 Y) f$ z9 c" e& XAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
0 q7 \+ h/ T9 \# q; ?" x$ f: BCan you see blood when you cough up something?1 w) t2 \* |- [5 z5 W
How many times have you coughed up blood?: {+ ?7 L$ d! q' x- M `
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
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Did it begin suddenly?+ I/ j; @1 y( L
Has it increased recently?
: T5 U: F6 z* l8 b ?" p0 p+ tFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?% ^- a' d6 W1 [7 _
Is the cough worse at night?
) ]( U( C6 ?6 aWhat other symptoms do you have?
5 K' w1 H L- G( KThe 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 airways; d3 l$ Q: F& k _$ g+ ~) Z
Chest CT scan6 Y! |! `: z' Q" Z5 V" m
Chest x-ray
) R: U, U) o& u& G+ @3 @5 |3 @$ oComplete blood count
6 @+ l8 g( r0 Z1 S) cLung biopsy' @0 F7 h; x0 N' H3 F
Lung scan, x% `/ a; H, Q4 T! K
Pulmonary arteriography! \1 o- a; P. a; G1 c
Sputum culture and smear
5 e% P3 l: n c$ n5 iTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |