http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
: O5 j% a/ l+ q$ H# ~8 MCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version3 G) H$ N. P4 U
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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- j3 |1 Q3 L! X5 q; `, ?6 X$ JHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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) ?. o) p7 w8 P) l' S/ dConsiderations. T9 J5 m, }+ j) T& a/ [
% d! k- u: C' Y; r s# {Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.9 v- V( t( x/ G% q! g1 Y( g6 p
7 z2 f9 L3 d5 d/ w# U0 G' [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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, a9 z; R6 l$ i3 f9 N" uCauses( h$ Q2 }+ I" _$ q$ x# t; ~9 u5 s
" L- ]' B6 }6 L( d- B* e+ sA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung
8 I+ g' b$ t2 R* s. a8 t3 TBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
( p' I+ }; k; O" H! d4 J2 E0 M3 TBronchoscopy with biopsy
: t: D1 I6 b- c! B SBronchiectasis/ O% z4 D; D5 j |+ K7 _
Bronchitis. x1 R$ Y; Q' P8 m5 C
Cancer) {9 D4 x! R! t
Cystic fibrosis; G0 N. l+ U4 a: U: u' B0 _
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
8 u U; o7 Z0 F4 K" v0 O' Y- EInjury to the arteries of the lungs1 m a _3 X4 K) S8 [
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
6 A7 S, o$ E$ W* { U5 V' cPneumonia or other lung infections# P0 t0 ?. Z# U% z
Pulmonary edema6 G8 Z+ d' i: V
Systemic lupus erythematosus
) G* Z$ D- [1 c) C9 g% tTuberculosis
# U. [6 q' z- X- l$ |Home Care! W7 s. Q; Z/ m, W0 O9 ]& y# M
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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.6 ~' Q+ Q4 G7 |% W9 N
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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 o- G! L$ u+ E' K" l- I" O% Q% G
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:+ n# G; O( ^+ r3 J! i0 s* N
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood* O# N- k! E. r. V6 g6 }
Blood in your urine or stools1 D# U6 @0 c) a- K6 y& {5 ]- P
Chest pain
% P% [3 y/ s1 GDizziness, c8 }+ t' S S) |, O" p' t
Fever7 s6 X, y4 x9 H3 C" j7 |+ S. A
Light-headedness# V9 ~+ k8 V7 s
Severe shortness of breath
1 o, G* f7 m9 t l2 O( CWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit7 l0 ~, C5 v8 D/ t5 w! ?% a
6 }3 ~/ R; R7 G$ hIn 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
$ o8 K2 k) s w3 uAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?. ]: i2 j: }( z9 v- B" V& m
Can you see blood when you cough up something? v6 V/ W5 V0 ]- m: P- |) w
How many times have you coughed up blood?
$ i0 R! i& K0 M, W& R4 E5 CIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?0 L9 A5 y5 V$ k. t+ n& q
Time pattern8 d5 B& j+ ]" @6 r. _3 u) u# V
Did it begin suddenly?1 u' T8 [4 Y0 \9 i* G$ C) A
Has it increased recently?# B! p- u9 c- |1 i
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
) h% R0 Z1 @: I2 f u2 K/ `# cIs the cough worse at night?8 B8 C- J; [: P
What other symptoms do you have?3 M$ x4 b3 {- ?6 y, s4 u
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:( ]! h1 c ~& D8 a8 V
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways9 p8 b1 \; a- i( `/ I( v6 H3 {
Chest CT scan
- P9 V3 Q* v3 {" b% u$ w" RChest x-ray
! |4 z u. ?+ M* pComplete blood count: V% P9 w7 b7 W0 u6 q
Lung biopsy
( E# n k% _5 i M* {; eLung scan
/ e2 @7 J1 Z9 |7 I* L: YPulmonary arteriography
( m3 d$ l& V$ b$ h: P& nSputum culture and smear
0 U1 c# R/ e. UTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |