http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
! O1 [& @+ }, x9 r& z/ M/ Y8 D$ YCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
! e6 {2 s7 r' S5 @9 zCoughing 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.7 k! M& h, }2 }6 X5 f
& ^+ ^7 E6 ]# dConsiderations4 z8 C8 c( D$ {7 Q* J; e
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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1 s' H2 F! y% h3 C3 R+ LBlood 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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Causes
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& X+ D4 Q- t4 n9 t w. aA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung
. L0 |! o" f' j z, ?; YBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)% O# G& Z6 t3 O' B! ^ @" C
Bronchoscopy with biopsy; w! D1 e3 f6 `4 \& B
Bronchiectasis$ _- M" N) ]8 ]) c
Bronchitis
* s$ k, M: u; f/ _2 b% CCancer5 N8 y) O# p, U& O" m7 o
Cystic fibrosis
- I, S. I, V/ G1 t$ }: G; w5 q- g M& qInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)2 ]1 w1 n: h. E6 z+ a
Injury to the arteries of the lungs
7 n- T. a& j) v; }Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)$ z' m0 }, z$ ?9 Q; R" `0 C7 V9 R
Pneumonia or other lung infections
4 v7 X5 R$ m: h/ APulmonary edema6 [3 k/ }! y8 Y# u9 ` v. A
Systemic lupus erythematosus
# C! W; s, m; z! X) {2 z) mTuberculosis) V" b" H. r: B8 V3 k; f9 t" Y
Home Care
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; V" E2 J. k- D2 xCough 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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5 U _, d- J! O) K/ ?4 XWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:% p F5 G* h: i1 R3 D) @
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
2 |6 x9 o: W9 B. |7 H R$ hBlood in your urine or stools
% D/ d" g4 |4 U: M; MChest pain# f5 O* V0 ^& O+ h
Dizziness
& g2 u, y X) h0 `1 gFever
1 f' ]9 D' ]- F. mLight-headedness
& U; ^0 h! h) G* a; ASevere shortness of breath) d( _; H" v4 L- \) ?3 {
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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- r6 P/ a4 h9 m- iIn 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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Type7 q; E" c1 h \$ D- @0 F: ~. _+ w( a
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?7 h3 ?& ?8 [3 S; x4 U: V
Can you see blood when you cough up something?
+ V- Y7 w$ G; u7 E2 ~How many times have you coughed up blood?& E9 W. O- ~7 L) w% H
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?0 U3 t8 a; O6 L0 o
Time pattern4 `, \" M" T+ k- C, B! |# d5 f
Did it begin suddenly?
* f# U% I" N DHas it increased recently?0 J& ]. ]* A4 C
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?, x$ g3 U1 z2 g$ o ~3 [9 k$ ?
Is the cough worse at night?
4 @4 e1 a: g$ x4 ~, i5 v; MWhat other symptoms do you have?
! v( ?7 W7 `& ?6 X, C0 p7 pThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:4 K, N% |3 ?% |
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
. z/ s2 I: e: M EChest CT scan8 A6 u7 C! n3 E
Chest x-ray- Y- g! U: P6 o6 Q+ L" ^9 E2 E
Complete blood count+ O1 [. q7 z/ M v
Lung biopsy' {* U$ A. I5 p3 L: R g. z
Lung scan5 w6 _7 W x3 h& p& i' u+ B/ Q
Pulmonary arteriography
$ N7 m" g' g: j3 USputum culture and smear j& b$ p r0 X9 P( b% Y
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |