http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm7 n/ C) {% y$ d) j% p2 R
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
* P M2 w4 t+ s, V8 |, mCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).6 Y" |* A: x+ G) |9 _# F
. O( D" S% O* W3 @Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations
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. V1 o! f+ I* o$ n* \9 G8 L9 cCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.7 B, J* R* N2 s3 A* O Q
$ f9 c0 g8 |) b. ABlood 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.7 K% S& J7 {* W2 D* S
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Causes
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:1 \9 |0 G6 g$ o2 Y3 L4 k. c
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Blood clot in the lung
& e( m: B( V2 V# j; `' EBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
( j& P* I+ B& h3 T9 iBronchoscopy with biopsy( k( L1 q8 T( G$ J- n
Bronchiectasis9 v3 y1 T; d5 b7 N
Bronchitis* ? @& K% h% w
Cancer3 W7 S) ~# j% `* g
Cystic fibrosis
! I% V6 P$ _" d5 p( DInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)! ^7 i" v8 L- h* s4 R+ K
Injury to the arteries of the lungs
$ w7 W$ Y& r6 Q5 C, GIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
" p( s( f, J6 X% K) R8 F5 gPneumonia or other lung infections( O9 N; w" m* X, q8 |$ i! I: |
Pulmonary edema2 ^+ X9 q$ h& ~! L9 F" n( D1 W% C& ?
Systemic lupus erythematosus! F3 \8 j" j3 L. A4 N
Tuberculosis
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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.
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( K) ]) a5 h p) {( {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 Professional4 N: C3 C6 a; v2 ^, Y: e
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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. U5 V2 U& f. Y+ S( K7 B3 MA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
' J- x4 ?+ G4 q& bBlood in your urine or stools
6 m) F o; d- I+ q0 oChest pain
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Fever# f2 g) H/ u7 a/ P, e9 O$ q, k
Light-headedness4 X4 W8 U, L+ [- ]6 A/ Z" a; V. Z8 y& K
Severe shortness of breath
" Z3 D9 y7 y9 h8 ]2 ], eWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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! d# u' P! |, N/ ~In 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:- D& Q" o: e- ~/ ?/ [( N1 r( m
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Type6 A7 u/ n: P2 Z
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?4 H- L( S1 D& f$ a5 V) f& H
Can you see blood when you cough up something?6 n4 {/ O. g( g& Q! a0 p+ X; q. `2 G
How many times have you coughed up blood?
9 ~3 }0 \2 h6 d: ?$ |Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
) f" R3 J6 ~8 i. B3 ZTime pattern
, w u2 u2 X4 x9 ZDid it begin suddenly?: G$ f/ O+ M! R+ m& G7 s7 r
Has it increased recently?
. j8 A7 {) F' O% RFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
/ k. b" w& g% L" e6 z1 sIs the cough worse at night?9 L1 y% {- ~' P, d# @
What other symptoms do you have?
. X( v: P y" ?5 s9 M% w6 gThe 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
! \2 z, \! m' W: H: A2 q: yChest CT scan% Q& Q& O8 s, _- { k7 q
Chest x-ray( ~2 p! B, p; o8 d( @8 @" K' ~1 o
Complete blood count ^. E( V3 _" a3 C: l1 r' o
Lung biopsy
6 J+ U' m' m' M, ULung scan# e \8 r/ i( F$ r( ~1 o+ y9 N P* W' a
Pulmonary arteriography6 {; c- D) e7 Z
Sputum culture and smear8 g W8 _; L- N
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |