http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm. X0 ~+ ]& ?- C
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
" h8 ?$ a( G) g) S& s3 ACoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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0 k" `5 L, d6 r7 J- r7 w. u& }Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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1 X0 q! n4 i1 o) M" Z0 nConsiderations* p0 c/ Q. n* a- j) N
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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3 h' l7 I0 `1 S8 y5 cBlood 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.) Z' m3 w9 Q1 F/ Y
5 e v- n" g0 t, hCauses! w) E/ W+ Y2 F0 ^7 X5 z- K
* i6 X& V2 Z# f% H4 J3 eA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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& j* o- m; r7 Z: jBlood clot in the lung" s t1 ?4 U, m) S L" i+ v
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)- u/ @' N/ f$ y3 m# B( v( D& ?2 Q
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
, s* x% J( p. r' z: ~( cBronchiectasis, m* ^1 r' y9 J% g/ V! W9 ^
Bronchitis( x7 F4 |8 B I7 [" E
Cancer
8 m3 D# I* X& V2 uCystic fibrosis$ _# w8 O) w& G1 K: L
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
: h, i7 d% Q* r% D6 iInjury to the arteries of the lungs6 l q t* z6 N- D( ?+ W6 B# F
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
5 s" \! G3 J) f9 _Pneumonia or other lung infections" \1 P* U+ z5 W( S1 l' U: y% @! D$ [) f
Pulmonary edema& F( L$ n# W$ i9 E5 R
Systemic lupus erythematosus
" c& m) M" d. [. ]2 A: Q/ D, ?7 XTuberculosis6 R+ f$ G6 f* r
Home Care; v( V: m$ o3 a. l, f4 X$ L: P
! h. _6 `" h' `0 b3 [) lCough 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.
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+ q9 o5 A7 P# D3 ^- {# a! Q+ ~8 zWhen to Contact a Medical Professional- I4 Y$ O' j3 F; M% j4 c
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:# z& c4 @! u }$ L
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood( N8 w; l3 q0 I0 V* N2 i {
Blood in your urine or stools
/ S/ a* Y# U6 aChest pain. U- E$ s% ~' G7 s/ s3 C! H4 `
Dizziness9 T5 S0 o; C& P: M$ [
Fever
7 r, {2 ?& R# `: N4 e2 KLight-headedness
% `, i/ a2 K" Z7 {, u( `Severe shortness of breath
- ~7 {; c- V5 u* @6 o: ^What to Expect at Your Office Visit* P, D+ I1 ?8 x& R2 H H- {
, e( Q4 e' X* P0 V1 tIn 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:* K r1 J* V' p% A0 @
0 {1 a; y* p" G+ N) B6 \Type
7 z5 L. v! p, v) d* bAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
1 Y+ x1 { {+ T! u) ECan you see blood when you cough up something?) K! G: b9 @ L- P
How many times have you coughed up blood?& N9 D1 X* O. w
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
4 s6 d% z O. JTime pattern
' N7 I3 r5 u9 b; E, T" MDid it begin suddenly?
0 M e/ Y5 c' e! _Has it increased recently?. \: Q# Z5 G, z9 ^
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
8 O% L0 Z1 Q& m+ Z6 wIs the cough worse at night?
. [6 |3 a* x( X; hWhat other symptoms do you have?
5 z2 m5 S' p F9 r) S5 fThe 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
9 j( X i, W/ P& \8 z3 _Chest CT scan6 d3 k5 g1 ?6 A1 ]0 K. e
Chest x-ray
3 m) |7 C) E& G/ I0 qComplete blood count G( y! e/ l, @6 U& H2 @# F- m6 K0 W
Lung biopsy1 T7 m& U8 ]& k' }* z
Lung scan
8 N' x8 A7 {9 R, {' lPulmonary arteriography
5 o: u+ N" n; T2 XSputum culture and smear; z \# T* X) Z' E% O I% c
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |