http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm- y8 Z7 o2 K: n, u, r/ \
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
* \ e, `7 ]- i) uCoughing 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.: k7 M0 S0 J$ p% J
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Considerations
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. u# b3 F3 i8 v* U; pCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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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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+ B* y& n. r( ^Causes4 E2 A, x& }# y5 p$ E! I
! b- u" }! K1 m" p T6 i$ O9 BA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung0 x' q" Z% ^8 `) G* d/ p# {5 V
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)/ N3 I1 E9 ~1 a% P, I
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
# B% N% v+ D4 f4 X6 yBronchiectasis; o' M* o* v# ~
Bronchitis
0 r) ^2 _$ F+ N$ J; s5 vCancer
% l7 B& s2 J( T7 _Cystic fibrosis
) R3 T7 `3 Q# k) g- fInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
7 Q$ H. L6 R( s) ~Injury to the arteries of the lungs+ a( s4 k5 ^4 G- k2 ?. L7 P. r9 J
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)/ [( P6 e7 C0 k$ G/ Q6 n
Pneumonia or other lung infections& K2 z6 ~/ @! K1 N+ ^# P8 g! P
Pulmonary edema7 d! Z: G; i9 K; z. M) o
Systemic lupus erythematosus
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Home Care
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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.; C! j1 l6 h3 J4 y3 d. k$ M
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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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/ i' ~ I6 o7 r5 ]! |9 jGet 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- Z. Z) s L0 J& V
Blood in your urine or stools
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Fever# b: {; ^- l4 D! V
Light-headedness
m/ E5 z5 B: j9 X, ySevere shortness of breath
4 Z8 O! ?$ b7 w) Y C; h$ dWhat 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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5 D1 M8 w, J5 ~7 t' z4 z1 tType$ ^* ]6 c6 h/ a1 C7 n# _0 W" n
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
' T) }" i1 J r5 UCan you see blood when you cough up something?
" _5 p) F+ L) o* \/ s% eHow many times have you coughed up blood?
+ K: [- E# b% R# o/ PIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
3 x% N2 U c) W- J& |, {Time pattern
$ @. S4 k/ t. m: D( aDid it begin suddenly?
* y4 P! K: p$ d, v0 ^Has it increased recently?
+ L; ?6 k* L. v; Q. W' ^9 j- D9 MFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
$ y) E7 A. f4 r9 s+ h! n$ IIs the cough worse at night?
: i& {7 F2 |. iWhat other symptoms do you have?! n. s6 Z, T, n2 R
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:( [# T& _( c. [3 z% X' }
. J2 x# B, v* ~Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
1 Z4 K+ y; p- E& ^Chest CT scan C/ d3 K* m* \" s" d# i
Chest x-ray
9 B" i5 z: ]7 wComplete blood count: U) [+ p; _9 o! h* [; P3 U. x
Lung biopsy {6 g$ G- i N% Q+ t1 n" K
Lung scan/ P! K$ Z0 K7 _ F
Pulmonary arteriography
1 ~: |0 S$ z# C8 nSputum culture and smear9 D- T( {4 W: q, {& y
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |