http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm! r0 `- R, h; ]. _* x
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
. p- w0 g* j4 u0 o8 b0 S8 LCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).! w; _! ~5 {3 R! d9 W+ l- D' d
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Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations9 f0 }# y2 v0 c2 }! y# @
. H0 l% N/ N+ X6 b& FCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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% P! y) _9 a9 Q8 f. q: PBlood 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.- P- S7 x$ y* e
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Causes3 I9 C) U" Y1 H. V- ?0 X" ]
/ u3 u- ]& M2 uA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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' Z7 \- y* p1 w5 X `% FBlood clot in the lung' p' W: {. n% h2 m& l
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)$ D8 m! P: U1 B. i
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
0 y) C5 n+ p- x/ TBronchiectasis
F7 Y* f ?9 c |Bronchitis) |; c. _! h$ i4 S$ e
Cancer
( k# D. H5 G0 o$ }5 A* I* pCystic fibrosis
0 W6 K& ]* T4 E _Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
]1 M- {) Y3 t7 V# x7 yInjury to the arteries of the lungs
B# Q3 W4 w& g6 XIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
[" T. |$ q' i1 F' u7 RPneumonia or other lung infections
2 {) j. K) v& p- w$ DPulmonary edema
' O! p+ J2 o1 Q) O. l) y. ASystemic lupus erythematosus3 L; G9 u; T' p: y T. f( I; R
Tuberculosis5 p3 R/ z( G# T5 ~7 W9 |; _
Home Care/ ^3 h$ f+ C: D+ t
# D: V. G% L" V- d+ f! QCough 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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, ~$ x' b' G `8 u1 oWhen to Contact a Medical Professional3 I& [( }! z& x; D+ j' q
8 y+ h. }3 W4 T F9 aGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:& L+ K4 L* W; s( e/ w# T2 I2 A5 T
7 v4 S4 r/ [+ vA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
( ?* k# Q0 u& p8 f) W/ eBlood in your urine or stools9 W, F7 F9 c, z, T) t# f
Chest pain; L/ N" P; y7 i1 v, |
Dizziness* a/ l5 X: s5 I; z
Fever
: Q7 p7 ?6 e# CLight-headedness
2 R9 z9 u* M# d1 s' }$ FSevere shortness of breath' G6 T% l5 f& s6 G& l# `1 G
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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$ m* o, j, W! l2 NIn 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, q q2 S! [9 o4 a. }* v4 B% I
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
1 V$ R6 ], v( ACan you see blood when you cough up something?0 z# c! \2 L# T) L- J4 ]/ M
How many times have you coughed up blood?
4 R2 _* _) H5 {0 S* _) E& {( dIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
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Did it begin suddenly?
4 j! `# b9 I% l3 q+ zHas it increased recently?# G% k) @7 p" l, q2 y
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?4 w) m9 K7 i9 `+ R$ l
Is the cough worse at night?' h4 i% s2 j5 H
What other symptoms do you have?) ?; ~) E R6 G/ Q
The 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
: |# ~5 E: w4 }& q5 d9 tChest CT scan
q9 v" D2 v1 p2 E1 XChest x-ray, x5 o+ z' e5 J b' d/ D
Complete blood count+ Q \8 [' ~% L% z! K
Lung biopsy) @0 `' V0 f# a. y6 ~( t/ K7 ?6 c
Lung scan" j" Y: `) L) d
Pulmonary arteriography
! m1 l% ^% K" mSputum culture and smear3 v; x) c+ Z/ O% }7 X2 ?
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |