http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm- k0 [ l$ x! M, x/ i
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version% ?$ u- v+ f! `9 S _7 h* H! O
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).0 k* D* V6 O* X- v# ^1 L5 o/ F
* \, U3 f" N. L4 @) X$ _2 q* bHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations
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1 z) i; Q: q* `- R( l% |Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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$ U6 _, r- U5 ^3 l5 K. s; hBlood 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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6 T6 i9 U% s6 A9 [: D3 m$ ]1 BCauses
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:5 }( v1 K" s. }* w2 a4 z2 `
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Blood clot in the lung. x F4 p7 v2 w! N8 q3 o7 ~
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
; x& Q" P* E+ m7 Q fBronchoscopy with biopsy, ~3 B+ U& G o( r1 J" i
Bronchiectasis5 Z: x4 W1 q$ A: q- h/ Y
Bronchitis+ G: }6 z4 j0 m0 T! \- D' R5 S9 j
Cancer
+ O6 F; H, f& w$ ^' ~: K* {Cystic fibrosis& v$ h* M- B( X8 e4 A# X
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
1 D* ]" @- T' h0 j) QInjury to the arteries of the lungs
9 h) t7 \, s7 K2 p5 m; |Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
# G. S( B: p% u( yPneumonia or other lung infections8 N1 _ V( @) j
Pulmonary edema
4 O4 ~! T; h) l. l% _5 _Systemic lupus erythematosus6 d' R. r* x$ \3 y& f) M& b
Tuberculosis" Q$ Q9 l6 M- \1 ]) d4 n2 v
Home Care* j9 G) a/ B( @6 b: W' i3 e
0 E% }% c1 a) _5 W- v! F! VCough 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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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.* q `% z! ~3 |2 S4 `, o, I- o
8 S, y0 e4 a$ vWhen to Contact a Medical Professional4 y+ U9 K E& p- V
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Get 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. N: `; m w" p# b! A6 O* k) b8 i
Blood in your urine or stools
6 R( I# j- C8 _. a3 J+ j: s7 z. NChest pain
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Fever3 x) g9 d* h- t
Light-headedness; U A' h5 n1 h& r; o0 X# K
Severe shortness of breath$ b0 A' ^& m2 U) `) s: s# w
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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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:
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Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?. e9 A; f+ }$ {. Y! |
Can you see blood when you cough up something?
$ C3 h1 r+ U. r7 k7 Y0 sHow many times have you coughed up blood?. f5 O0 |3 m; x$ Z! g) L+ R) v
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)? t) _7 a' l6 L0 H
Time pattern3 G4 ]; l$ X6 f2 G! ^7 L) G6 |
Did it begin suddenly?7 ^( D5 z. x5 `4 W
Has it increased recently?
0 G! Q, ?6 S$ f9 Z y8 aFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?9 ] @6 I% P D; L# D- ]9 z
Is the cough worse at night?( g C6 B( P2 E, h4 N
What other symptoms do you have?
- f7 W+ E$ y4 \0 F. WThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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+ ~* ?# L z HBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways& V2 B$ M( j$ @5 S& B9 |6 O
Chest CT scan0 c- x9 U8 Z) z$ S" h: m
Chest x-ray
2 }# }3 [3 V, ~Complete blood count
6 v/ |+ B# U' t% [& JLung biopsy
, \+ M$ a, Q9 s! X# g& H! rLung scan: u" r+ i3 x5 w8 a7 S
Pulmonary arteriography
# a; N( [: A1 h: MSputum culture and smear
1 o- |: s( L3 X* n `8 R! NTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |