http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
# V5 p! X% Q( M) P- UCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
% K1 y0 c! n0 E6 L1 b" s( ~Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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8 p. C2 C, B- F2 m1 ~Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract." }7 k& B5 V( C% ]6 I# f" N4 d/ B
: B8 W& o7 y3 EConsiderations
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.! _& B0 X8 c- q+ ~0 p
3 s, V/ t9 c" m6 ^7 N- `7 TBlood 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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4 O% ]4 C( L% Q- L* j) Y4 ?6 |Causes! @0 t1 p* T# L% K1 m- F/ h
" L0 j. b; {- ~ V8 B9 j5 L" A vA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:7 U" ^- t9 z! \6 {0 s! U4 D+ a% v' u
/ K! {' q! x6 v e9 ~, Q1 r) o! L" xBlood clot in the lung% x3 c- G, f; }* K
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)- V/ |% u$ l3 @) e
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
5 `7 Z3 l& a- M2 }. TBronchiectasis2 W6 \0 s" D/ P+ ?% I" c s
Bronchitis/ Q* ^9 d" |5 G- c& J
Cancer
+ B* T/ u% H; FCystic fibrosis
4 m6 Z- l L9 K% a. tInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
: X! \! z- O4 [; yInjury to the arteries of the lungs
* C9 t$ Q E: i& uIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
. O- I3 |, m' F" o. LPneumonia or other lung infections
( X* h' X8 U# q/ E1 h' oPulmonary edema5 I* X9 h: F3 b/ d0 f5 m
Systemic lupus erythematosus
4 U1 r* D- J* X) j7 q+ i% FTuberculosis
" O# X$ x0 I4 \) k# A" \5 }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. z# Z. D) |, [# L- q6 _
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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.9 u: Z5 X& }9 z) u
3 P/ T1 a: P x$ ~2 N4 O8 dWhen to Contact a Medical Professional1 O* _5 V5 z) l( M3 P
) Y8 o, I+ N* z5 G2 ^4 b3 kGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:7 m* S. R; y- r" @3 o# w( T# T
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
2 d9 J! `. ?/ Q/ C' c0 @/ \Blood in your urine or stools
6 e: z% n% D" U1 }1 W$ O& XChest pain# L0 j! f. y# ]
Dizziness; m5 ^! c$ H7 n& J1 D
Fever
/ x$ b. r- a, J! N4 h" M- BLight-headedness
3 R4 Y' Z; ] nSevere shortness of breath
[. Y- j+ m$ h+ vWhat 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:& b* X% f7 F( L- |
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Type$ l5 L- I5 a4 a9 i7 [' I V
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
0 O1 ?/ b! R) }) m9 ?2 TCan you see blood when you cough up something?
0 i% `, a5 e6 Q+ e, D8 hHow many times have you coughed up blood?8 G" u" P$ {$ D/ }
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
1 \; `6 L( ]8 I# D4 vTime pattern' }5 a# I/ P$ P) ]# {. l# h
Did it begin suddenly?
* l; E% c) L7 ^! d+ m+ x vHas it increased recently?" A( Q& f: E8 U: k+ Y5 h
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?1 T% f% c* ] \/ X, i- D) [6 v
Is the cough worse at night?; g2 {$ p+ G, x% Q
What other symptoms do you have?
1 o+ ]( c* o: C0 X. ZThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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) Z! s' u( _# _% k% V7 |Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways3 `( c9 t' a5 F$ f2 h. W. y
Chest CT scan
8 r k/ o; d9 `0 sChest x-ray$ U; w& Z6 N8 E$ T6 \& d E4 x) W( |
Complete blood count
; T b2 h0 V0 u NLung biopsy
" ^6 W9 z8 t6 w- \, F; |: E. ILung scan6 E: y4 s6 z7 J* k. t
Pulmonary arteriography! a1 s- v; M5 M1 L$ ?. H T* y
Sputum culture and smear
; c: r) a9 c/ \8 G: Y" T" q# hTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |