http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm. w6 U, z! C4 N/ e% K/ M
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
( x% k' t3 g: F4 V7 D5 G9 V/ W7 NCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.' h* p6 c+ D- A/ m$ z( e5 Z6 ?4 V
- @; _ ~! y0 n0 s: W3 ]Considerations6 R: O& [) ?6 j8 F0 e o
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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1 A% @4 Q* K+ NBlood 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.+ x+ y" H5 [1 H
; F( L; s3 c9 t5 A3 uCauses, ], k" G. y8 N) A* m
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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9 m' T; j& ?6 I9 r% o TBlood clot in the lung
; x$ T$ w# X: ^/ E1 UBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
[& Y# I9 t6 j8 `5 ABronchoscopy with biopsy4 f! ^; A2 b5 [2 v* W$ g4 ?$ a
Bronchiectasis
) e7 e/ u; A2 o# x3 ]6 W& A# g$ yBronchitis
% V% i+ v2 e& u8 mCancer
X& I0 C d) d! j# x' lCystic fibrosis
5 x4 U% O: u+ q1 iInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)" R' n5 B) c" Q6 q. g' ?
Injury to the arteries of the lungs
6 e4 s. C8 f: H4 o/ nIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)% \9 X" x3 |1 H# _
Pneumonia or other lung infections
7 u6 |- @% N( F& N, M( c9 lPulmonary edema
: p0 O7 R. ]+ vSystemic lupus erythematosus, F% E; V4 y/ a1 ? N* F
Tuberculosis: b7 Z# { g2 b; w" N$ C
Home Care
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M. k6 }$ ~* Y9 g/ m5 ICough 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.% _2 X* I+ j0 z; V$ _
& ?6 z/ X$ t) L5 O4 e( J. P$ C& {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% Y9 {- e* @1 x( `: |6 K: ?9 @( T
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:! x3 y0 D X3 s6 |" S
# O+ u, r9 r0 ^0 B$ L! }8 o Q9 JA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood4 j0 q( r; R/ m3 @
Blood in your urine or stools
' }8 l& _* ~) {' c" v6 P: Z' M0 YChest pain
/ g# Z% q5 ~6 V! [9 W1 D9 aDizziness
4 o8 _! o7 B# I3 z1 @; F6 SFever
5 i; J3 x# f) v% ^9 uLight-headedness
2 b/ ~& K8 t. V( A' G# I: dSevere shortness of breath
& r e. ]8 Z7 u" UWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit" G0 A& S% o5 b; g( r9 x
1 }) J3 x. ]$ t0 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:" f6 I, S' Y7 K2 }
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Type
( _8 B& q& {4 sAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
9 g; E: m5 u& n* d, j" c) g9 }! xCan you see blood when you cough up something?- @* u T7 ^1 {; G( I; v" o7 R
How many times have you coughed up blood?
$ A" W$ ~0 C9 k" h8 dIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
" W9 _1 m4 U9 a* L+ mTime pattern
, F: }( E5 ]" k3 RDid it begin suddenly?
' c1 a! c) U+ \1 }1 v! |Has it increased recently?- ?1 r' D" M5 u- x" F
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?4 g6 Z: Y! P5 j& Y9 s
Is the cough worse at night?
' E! p* y5 I/ F" o! b h/ t CWhat other symptoms do you have?
7 J# Q( x% h. \* s0 k$ UThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:/ s; d- I' w: }0 ]
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
p/ o# x) p% D+ w6 w- h) Q( LChest CT scan/ S( z9 R: U/ r) X
Chest x-ray
- [8 g$ @ Z: L8 E- S; [) r" h7 \6 ]Complete blood count! W$ b* h- S7 G# _& G9 {* Z; {8 Y! g
Lung biopsy6 g7 r7 M# z+ F3 P" _8 t" u
Lung scan" B- ]; Z% ` K4 y
Pulmonary arteriography
, U+ z* J _& U4 KSputum culture and smear
/ s$ G" @! @/ |$ _Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |