http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
2 B! ^6 K9 C& `+ B4 c- xCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version; \: Y5 d2 C# c; J2 Y
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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+ Q. D' t) F/ O+ T; q! v& l1 ?Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.2 ?0 @+ F \1 Q" }
2 ^& y6 X% j+ F: B5 Q) @7 u0 R5 }Considerations) O, z% S- J8 T1 `
6 ?$ L1 d0 K/ U. k4 \: W, a0 \" mCoughing 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.; E, P2 P3 f. a, s8 P# P
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Causes' h& J) x) a* a- Z
2 e% C( G% e; `* u" U4 o$ XA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:0 F0 h3 V+ U1 _" U9 m
3 @/ p0 o6 `$ x# G4 L5 ~Blood clot in the lung
5 z. a# o! [% d& a2 cBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)* @+ ] a+ J4 C* T# L. h
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
; A: B5 F- c' J' E- vBronchiectasis
7 K" M; E$ a1 u1 r n- N% @$ K. ]Bronchitis
1 ]) p, H7 ~" z& s2 z; S% nCancer, l+ b4 k3 _' Y; m) u
Cystic fibrosis
$ `# M5 c- x% eInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)2 A. k% j4 i" P3 h! k f
Injury to the arteries of the lungs# M5 d' X9 ~1 ^
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
! ^. h9 ^: u4 s& hPneumonia or other lung infections7 k7 _. O3 b: r$ n1 f! c1 a
Pulmonary edema1 X2 J( k" d' E! k3 h
Systemic lupus erythematosus0 k4 I; k# ~4 H, J' N
Tuberculosis* `. m1 f6 ^0 |
Home Care* ]) Y7 T7 k$ D' z, W& F
+ ^/ ]+ v& c6 W# P/ @5 N; t; 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.; E6 U: L& [, I0 k# L
- Z( ^* v; m( P# q# d; @+ @3 i: y$ BIt 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.2 m {, F$ ^ x) z' ?; e3 a
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:! @" J; E L3 R" O% Z2 Q' A
- {; M/ j2 |( Z S, x2 v2 I% nA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood* _7 c8 @! I1 x9 P& k* c
Blood in your urine or stools
& P0 m# d6 X- h: e4 O! S2 Q+ n/ E+ RChest pain6 ^, `$ j- }. m+ r7 C. p$ N! {/ w) T9 B
Dizziness$ R3 d) `/ r: Z; c+ ]
Fever
3 y( ~) G7 `, lLight-headedness
% _7 U* W& r6 v5 Z& ?' nSevere shortness of breath$ \3 a$ V# x/ u X% F& m. G0 s& k
What to Expect at Your Office Visit8 [; [5 H2 r3 g) x
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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)?
3 k! F- [9 Z8 \# X% JCan you see blood when you cough up something?
0 v" M I* P6 h% S* b* @How many times have you coughed up blood?" j; n9 Z, F7 o/ l
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?2 A a. }7 |2 V6 @, ]" v* V
Time pattern
) `( G1 D Q6 O6 K! I0 VDid it begin suddenly?
! C9 T& v4 v: Z1 C8 a2 n/ q7 }0 IHas it increased recently?
2 T3 Y9 h& H3 ?/ j6 a* qFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
( @9 V+ j `$ l% F) F y* tIs the cough worse at night?& p" l2 k* v4 y# \
What other symptoms do you have?
( t0 A" Y9 j5 s: l$ J- c0 fThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:) O T/ ]9 E) Q6 P) }( m
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
$ t( H; O6 M6 m h) T1 oChest CT scan0 p- [# a6 ~, W, V {
Chest x-ray
. j- K. _9 n, v) Y" _9 i9 T- f yComplete blood count
. W3 d) e. T. C) v* P( P1 lLung biopsy' W( h% w9 Q' u2 x R
Lung scan
1 l! N X" `" W8 z- p( {0 OPulmonary arteriography
# u. j6 z$ O4 {8 M( z: r- H6 v- \Sputum culture and smear# B9 A) \) {! L
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |