http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
4 D. {" P% k/ [9 s5 R/ _( GCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
8 c7 v4 w' ]0 m% G QCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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0 {3 W7 R5 E6 @% `' _, R" tHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract., D: n3 @: P; w+ T4 {
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Considerations X" I( s% a! ?* S6 s2 K& Z9 [, A/ U
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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& t" ~7 K7 a" g$ r( P0 jBlood 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.6 D: Q! {1 k$ {& s7 j
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Causes
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8 n3 {* d2 u) `3 I/ K% n" oA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:1 | |/ Y/ N# f5 F1 n/ Q
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Blood clot in the lung
) \& Z' y: A' P q* w; U8 D( K3 xBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
& O! v# |0 u+ S) K/ c, jBronchoscopy with biopsy
6 x8 J) M+ ~$ u5 K7 n4 W9 K3 tBronchiectasis) Q# N: p* k2 B7 d3 [
Bronchitis0 t# s* X( x7 s) K
Cancer
% O1 z9 G' m- j: |4 @3 B5 y4 yCystic fibrosis; }1 o0 I% ?& }7 J
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
4 K# c0 x) z5 hInjury to the arteries of the lungs
O s1 G; H1 U: P: T, sIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
9 l" H$ B2 {$ q8 @! xPneumonia or other lung infections1 }# }& A$ z: r! Q
Pulmonary edema0 h- p! e+ Z5 ^. Q* D
Systemic lupus erythematosus
, G/ B' W3 q# d/ ?8 d3 kTuberculosis b; e" l: B) j. l$ x2 e
Home Care( O0 Z; N* P, s7 K& w- ~7 `, q" y
* W: ^8 c# ?0 a" MCough 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.! D& L, C* h7 O# L
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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.9 ~8 I* o* h2 S9 f6 {
6 b( m$ L8 H) a# q7 P" c t3 AWhen to Contact a Medical Professional: \6 o" }$ E: ~ f1 u
6 _$ q1 {) k" v$ ZGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:, Z# C' B1 [1 L: X3 a( ?
. ~' M& N8 c8 M' _; O. gA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood8 `3 G0 R5 _8 m- ^
Blood in your urine or stools3 n# f; a; Q4 }$ u7 T- \( k
Chest pain
) Q1 e# M; v# t# S- |Dizziness" l, H1 U+ A8 S* f; x9 t$ z& [
Fever
1 N) o# r4 Q- |+ m' |/ w% C2 TLight-headedness
: b3 U( }5 W2 M" n4 HSevere shortness of breath7 ~* h; S3 f$ n) A& i, [) Y
What to Expect at Your Office Visit# ~9 F% S6 i" @0 H' ?1 ]
3 j6 u1 a5 P# c; OIn 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
& V4 w% T- H2 n" Z$ ]5 K7 e; z, X: ~Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?( @: u2 m. k2 [1 E! [0 Z& V! l+ o
Can you see blood when you cough up something?8 i* o# j- \4 W- b( X9 p7 [
How many times have you coughed up blood?
9 r* a) J* p$ G+ ]Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
& a3 o; ^/ _' N+ i! Z" }$ gTime pattern1 q1 V/ O8 j) H. \6 p" y
Did it begin suddenly?% F# y9 |3 u* M4 O R. j; n
Has it increased recently?3 J" H1 ~: c( q& {) [
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?' ~ S4 H& [/ J1 o
Is the cough worse at night?
$ X6 B' E c" J5 ]% G* ~What other symptoms do you have?
5 C+ G9 y5 e/ e4 |% y# o; ]/ e; f6 qThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:3 K1 I/ V! X( I- u" z) f
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways h0 b4 Z: e3 v( K/ H
Chest CT scan
' {4 Z$ N1 j, @( h/ mChest x-ray l+ q( h" D/ F T4 G: m' L9 @
Complete blood count
: p( |/ S- d( L u5 [! G# WLung biopsy# l% j# d O1 P: U4 |% `) D
Lung scan( o% h: [2 w+ l$ B0 Z( T8 g5 G
Pulmonary arteriography E. g) ?5 Y$ A) e
Sputum culture and smear1 }2 F$ d& p8 ^2 h% j, o
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |