http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm9 p4 _' R8 W9 i7 E1 H9 g
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
, F' ^0 i. Q, ?9 @Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).' ^: Q1 [4 m" \+ M- l
, O, j- U$ J6 j8 O- o. s+ gHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.) g1 A: ]1 o, \+ |
! d q9 Z! W4 v, S' M0 {Considerations
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5 n5 {5 }* B1 s- o z; ~Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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% t7 b+ M: e9 hBlood 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.$ W7 ?# c8 _: X" x
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Causes
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3 S+ D7 c$ S& z8 J9 CA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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: t4 F" ?; C H; \$ Y- T5 GBlood clot in the lung1 _- e. A5 }6 N u( y) k
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration). \4 G7 o. p% G& J' T
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
% L. i# J) n6 L9 Q' {4 tBronchiectasis# K% o) t- v4 W7 O8 J8 Y4 {
Bronchitis& v, i# f% K% d: |. w4 U; p
Cancer
& X, m+ N' l) ~7 }9 x+ cCystic fibrosis
+ h3 {: Z: t8 D" M4 {Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
2 v% d ^2 t9 Z2 x# @# NInjury to the arteries of the lungs
4 V7 p9 {- f% P3 Q5 v' eIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
$ m' w1 b+ O7 L6 {7 Y- CPneumonia or other lung infections: l. Y- w7 a8 I3 i- [
Pulmonary edema
1 {8 H5 M9 }( `+ KSystemic lupus erythematosus/ |7 f8 T3 x, i8 k
Tuberculosis
4 V1 d2 R E7 _$ e, uHome Care
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" L" b2 u0 b( m" \: m6 d* }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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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.7 D' ]& f4 \ ~5 k: I; k' P% c
/ ~: |2 i. Y8 c' t: k3 E8 A$ hWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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+ }, j* `, b3 C9 `) q( _Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:3 {1 o, S7 S) n" c. }; Q( y, U
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
7 O0 b0 n7 R* E9 LBlood in your urine or stools/ X [ G/ a8 y9 r" b
Chest pain
! X4 T, B0 c M) S' pDizziness% W1 F5 Y, }, S, u; B! d: A7 O2 `! _
Fever, @: T* P/ D& f+ }! k9 E
Light-headedness
6 x) D# d* X bSevere shortness of breath, @1 z* L4 v7 g1 O# e, S% o/ ~
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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+ R. e: u8 l' e# r4 CIn 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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5 q6 t' o! ^- a" Z7 a0 b& N7 H4 kType
9 ^" Y4 V3 }$ [/ z, M K ?$ rAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
% k* F+ A$ U8 u* m4 |% OCan you see blood when you cough up something?9 u# v) P& m! \ a' b7 S
How many times have you coughed up blood?
+ m% y1 s l, T8 b3 C# F; u# `9 [Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?0 G. j* e# f) l, y% B3 }0 w5 j7 S
Time pattern( X& I8 c$ ~2 R7 j/ t
Did it begin suddenly?
* y; h' s' l" P. y8 Z, V( HHas it increased recently?4 b3 ^% ]" ~7 e+ u
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?" b# D0 n" h o. a1 r" c, D
Is the cough worse at night?
$ f) i) }: z" ~3 e( Y5 p% D J7 x; x YWhat other symptoms do you have?0 \( T: G$ U5 d o" Z( ]0 d9 L
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
" u, M( x0 v! {# j. ?4 xChest CT scan4 x# G" z. g# Y6 {
Chest x-ray
0 L+ F+ b5 Y yComplete blood count
' q+ A; K1 b8 d0 U% K/ vLung biopsy
# M! s% m1 H+ d7 B1 V% {Lung scan
0 j3 J7 e8 M; h, OPulmonary arteriography1 Y: t* K2 T' [- h$ R; U
Sputum culture and smear
4 j( B* F( E8 _2 K( l/ GTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |