http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm6 M9 z( ?. Y! P9 @
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version' `' d$ @* y: u; ?. V* n
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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1 P' e7 ~7 _. l2 R9 @) s, o2 m( u2 `' bHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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1 W/ T+ y0 n( B' n, sConsiderations
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1 k, d! X U! K& s5 t% TCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.% U" {/ C$ m, ^+ S
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Blood 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.: j4 { v$ Q) i/ H( J: [' F
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Causes
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:( Q0 F$ J" E u% P( m
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Blood clot in the lung9 ^6 O8 E7 C4 x& A6 }
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
/ I1 S1 m8 G, ?9 n _ H0 BBronchoscopy with biopsy
, D. Y4 m8 k& VBronchiectasis! F" j' J4 m2 w, k1 l) y4 F
Bronchitis
1 X4 |' `) @# u( v4 R6 ACancer
+ R& o& g/ U d d& h$ X2 M9 MCystic fibrosis- p: S. u' j D3 I, ?# {# `, H
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
2 s" \" U: o$ N# r( x$ r6 }Injury to the arteries of the lungs( J9 \- K y7 P/ K( k2 J
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)' J6 M v8 y: h( T
Pneumonia or other lung infections
J7 c1 @$ C4 S: b& F8 H* G8 ?Pulmonary edema
7 _+ Y" C j6 l! m! Q' P; t4 FSystemic lupus erythematosus
4 }9 ]2 n: }. Q; H. P1 _* lTuberculosis. w ~( t& C! W9 ?. o3 A9 |" B
Home Care7 u3 l. q5 \1 y" O
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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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* N: y8 `0 m& S/ K& _3 nIt 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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When to Contact a Medical Professional
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% H {' p% B) J- Z2 bGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:" S$ Z' U, ?3 Z v I# q
' q# F9 E2 w7 s/ @# P5 pA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
1 U4 X M5 }& v! rBlood in your urine or stools/ T& d- u4 q! ]; t, S9 ?
Chest pain
|7 b3 j6 Q$ ?2 S9 ]Dizziness" |1 I+ d- z9 l& Y9 {% A
Fever- J K4 B* V8 s9 V' `
Light-headedness
* T& b1 h( g& t' i( ESevere shortness of breath
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; B x0 R9 D3 g+ QIn 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:/ g) K/ z- z" K$ i ^
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Type3 S$ p2 ]# I, `1 M# l) r; X
Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
6 I: X; J* g- `! I' _* DCan you see blood when you cough up something?$ }5 C5 B0 t: s- q' Y
How many times have you coughed up blood?
: Y/ p$ l k! m+ G9 nIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
& Q7 T# r6 L- n {/ v1 |: UTime pattern
8 l2 X& _& M7 Z' uDid it begin suddenly?
: o$ Y" w1 v3 JHas it increased recently?( ?6 N' z% Z# a3 u4 a) b) D
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
$ B8 B- Z9 ^' F' I% G% B( H1 d* WIs the cough worse at night?* p& H y! p; ]* ^
What other symptoms do you have?' a7 D! W2 g4 ~, d* F, _
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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7 O3 i! F2 [1 } p; s$ R. e% Z; aBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
7 M0 Z& ^, M4 ~6 ]Chest CT scan
1 x& Q i$ L$ U% [Chest x-ray
: |2 l% Y3 \" A- U3 IComplete blood count
, y: w. z7 r K! }Lung biopsy; D: V w& c; O" `$ ^4 T
Lung scan, o6 Q3 f$ l/ r; |: C9 ?
Pulmonary arteriography
3 X2 O+ K6 F5 y, q' _Sputum culture and smear) w1 l, }2 y# A
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |