http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm( a1 c" C9 f1 g# H
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version3 `* j" F' _& [4 Y+ F" n# E% s
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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5 E0 ~6 @" U! u+ C' ~* A0 R; dHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.# d' p9 n- T9 ~% y( U
/ z$ i4 Z7 A E: |Considerations3 g5 D$ w: V" A. K( g
/ j4 H# q. O: s2 G4 F( OCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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# ]$ ~1 u' C6 x3 U* p& i. `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.4 x$ v, g1 A/ B. i8 L/ t* O; q
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Causes
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5 |6 v( V2 _# L2 O) z6 O& d9 cA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:! H$ s) X# a3 J* o
* X5 j) \* x+ s7 J# ?Blood clot in the lung
6 x9 ~) H: k" a: l* ?$ YBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)/ N" r2 s1 ]7 `
Bronchoscopy with biopsy1 S6 X* q7 R. I' S$ ?
Bronchiectasis$ K# N6 h( P- R I9 k
Bronchitis5 `$ |) q+ @' A! b/ X) s
Cancer; ^: r* j% W0 w2 O5 z+ J
Cystic fibrosis$ T% j& O7 x* E7 B! h
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
2 P* J* p" n/ o0 B+ TInjury to the arteries of the lungs& U% G; x1 B" Y1 l X! `
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
/ A2 o, ~* O/ v) w |: n8 j: xPneumonia or other lung infections7 k) K# ^, l. t9 v
Pulmonary edema! a% w$ H0 Z+ A7 [) O
Systemic lupus erythematosus
4 J3 k# v7 i5 s4 C- j2 f& zTuberculosis
. A) B/ H* w4 @9 R7 U+ Q. ?Home Care
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8 t* j+ B6 x! r' L5 kCough 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." ~6 Z: O9 T1 x
5 N" o: Q; `; o2 I$ q* V, vIt 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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1 q4 V' ]! _; b; O, r! XWhen to Contact a Medical Professional, O& v2 q/ X# A
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:- X& `+ |6 ]& Z% K2 L- M
5 I) }1 C+ o& I. WA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood( T1 R( n& u& n# i5 I$ o: T
Blood in your urine or stools P; ^5 V8 e* C9 z& V! D2 X
Chest pain$ o) E g1 u6 l1 X' i
Dizziness; r: k1 z) B- z9 a4 q! z' R
Fever
# H8 c# _* q+ p/ w: S7 G$ t+ WLight-headedness
4 p$ y `2 l7 V: n+ vSevere shortness of breath8 t$ V/ L1 x7 V) a. l, a/ s
What to Expect at Your Office Visit! k. v7 S- ^: S. |6 T+ ^: e" @
2 q0 |6 Z' s7 ^' ^' u8 U8 JIn 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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% Q9 I5 z, [9 d5 S8 @# ?Type& e. r9 c* x& m U1 K3 N
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
: O$ ]# Q" B7 lCan you see blood when you cough up something?2 N9 Y0 z' I# ~
How many times have you coughed up blood?
" r/ `; u# W; S2 L- N' Q$ rIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?" C: d% l8 V' ?% Y7 q4 n5 d
Time pattern7 Q. M9 `& I! p
Did it begin suddenly?
- f$ @# E2 f7 q1 G `2 hHas it increased recently?8 i( y, N! R4 A% x4 @+ v
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?$ \4 F4 Q" O% [/ ]+ u7 b- Y9 [6 b
Is the cough worse at night?* u0 J: J# k" M; b) R. B4 i2 M
What other symptoms do you have?4 \" R8 u1 h" ~# W1 v7 r
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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5 q7 y/ x1 J+ i' Y' N: h. |Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways, ^7 K# a9 \. v G; V g! e+ |; l/ o: q
Chest CT scan* Y: E; P o8 I' [8 D( K7 g
Chest x-ray
7 K7 Z8 C& L8 p& |) |9 aComplete blood count
' A/ [3 @* t8 e, H) |+ iLung biopsy P+ J V0 L- e. U! P
Lung scan! W8 {+ |" F* u+ A! j# \& w
Pulmonary arteriography
- [- e8 y0 r) m9 ISputum culture and smear3 p( Y- V% z5 t7 z
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |