http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
1 f6 G7 `. c, j9 y* z& d: t2 u3 FCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version, g+ M$ r# \1 K) U# f3 u
Coughing 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.: _$ |) E4 X; z: y1 r, x
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Considerations% o# r2 T0 B: y" E- G
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.. o) C- k6 F4 T' _0 f& v) t: ]
* k/ ]( ?( y0 b, m! g1 WBlood 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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% Z: H: y& Y# U* }& xCauses
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7 w! I9 E7 J! jA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung
9 i: [* e3 s' a) |3 w- I0 ^) \Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)& j9 t4 ^4 t. ?! O
Bronchoscopy with biopsy% P% \- @5 `! y. m( x6 y7 s7 d+ D
Bronchiectasis9 F# I# n, K$ N4 O! l, x y* U
Bronchitis% r) q# f9 x! M0 D d- m1 o
Cancer9 N1 \1 Z+ ]" ?6 N: ]* z9 U% _
Cystic fibrosis* O0 D: J9 ], f- W
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
8 r n2 ]; F8 g0 e) h2 F: q' fInjury to the arteries of the lungs
7 b2 u& J# h* S- F1 x9 u, `6 AIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
0 j7 ^* L4 c/ J iPneumonia or other lung infections m% z- u+ H# q7 i2 Q" B% _2 m# _9 t
Pulmonary edema
`! ?# m3 h QSystemic lupus erythematosus
4 h _5 g$ j Q6 }Tuberculosis" p" |2 u+ D+ g! Y+ K( e2 n
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.
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5 i3 O/ B+ r& ]; X4 d# o! H2 ?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.2 \0 F% b- ~0 d1 g7 D u
' X9 V2 B$ V* ]When to Contact a Medical Professional0 c. _9 |- d1 Z9 r( ]4 ?
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:# o7 W! W# n* Z4 F
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood; ] V P- t8 Q
Blood in your urine or stools
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Dizziness
8 V e, w# [4 @$ U5 v! ~Fever2 p( N7 T5 j/ a4 ?7 [( H
Light-headedness
" X! K9 `: T( M0 g' SSevere shortness of breath7 C8 F7 |: b4 Q
What 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:
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4 I. y! T) B4 i, NType
' L. j5 y& m, LAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
' x4 Z% c9 K* b3 Q4 R% |; w) uCan you see blood when you cough up something?
7 m n7 p% o7 k: H: K! x, w! IHow many times have you coughed up blood?+ g0 b- V8 a& K0 `8 i
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?% H; ^0 C. G' T: r
Time pattern8 i: z* B$ ^" z3 c8 r
Did it begin suddenly?
$ W3 z; \( {' B" }8 H* ?7 aHas it increased recently?
7 g( B' T+ v% v6 W) BFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
# D2 I$ R$ W: q1 U3 u0 l. C3 gIs the cough worse at night?
Y H% M8 ?. S+ t# CWhat other symptoms do you have?) [6 [ i1 m/ h3 v! G, z
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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4 ?: {2 B7 a# j' A& N9 b5 SBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
0 n& P+ s/ m/ a( i! S" wChest CT scan2 ^+ K( E G- a8 R1 X
Chest x-ray
, R- ?/ W. u0 D; B+ D; GComplete blood count
# V' g& f, f" v7 R h1 eLung biopsy
A% C( k) c S. P* [# xLung scan6 R/ C! n% I6 h- `9 e4 j' f
Pulmonary arteriography4 K$ @* D6 x P3 i! Z: O
Sputum culture and smear
9 f. m7 ?. _0 {Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |