http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
6 r0 E S7 {5 z5 g1 S( w2 XCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version4 [. y/ @/ z. O
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).: G3 Y& U) s8 K
. {2 |; P5 T+ U) hHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations) s4 ]8 q% @4 D9 ?- \) J
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.% P2 E# e8 x: V2 z. k: ?2 k
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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.
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1 u T. H/ z4 VCauses9 @; q1 B% P, m) N
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:. S2 q+ n9 c2 C: r M0 S* I
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Blood clot in the lung
7 Z2 C4 _" V) {6 P4 tBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)9 N, I8 o+ M( I- S( M8 E! y ]# ~
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
2 l3 Y2 a+ F7 T+ O" N2 T. ~7 wBronchiectasis
5 y3 u2 a& n' |Bronchitis1 v+ c+ b* C; G, a
Cancer2 b u; J! R. ~6 q* j( r
Cystic fibrosis
4 } W2 e* @- l7 w" l; ~+ J6 X( fInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)$ c1 Z- }' L$ l1 ?9 Q1 W
Injury to the arteries of the lungs7 X; N" c6 c. v9 e4 l
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
: M. N. r- f9 y5 K$ O sPneumonia or other lung infections3 [+ p7 V: L; g
Pulmonary edema
7 g7 S, T- ~2 v+ |. VSystemic lupus erythematosus
$ n0 E A% z1 `, mTuberculosis& E, I: }0 c9 W# ~0 M
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.$ H& `2 \, Y( h
9 b# e, R+ H/ QIt 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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& U" \: j# D- H* TGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:, m5 e% z* k+ o7 X# @# h5 y( {6 Q
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
) y2 z* i. z. a% g8 z, hBlood in your urine or stools( R* z( \- A4 d8 W# E9 {* C1 L
Chest pain" y( |0 t U k& d; ~* c
Dizziness
: V& O; ?/ Q+ i5 T2 N. yFever
) `* g9 V. Y( X( S1 S% pLight-headedness
3 i* d9 k( b8 u% Q: m" a# f0 h1 NSevere shortness of breath
! _/ r$ H+ a8 M; v* B* T: LWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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1 O8 B8 r( Y ^! E% 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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Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?) c* ^6 Z* h+ u9 i7 F5 R* F
Can you see blood when you cough up something?
) e: @9 {# m. }4 }( n: ?How many times have you coughed up blood?
) d* [6 V- | K1 w# KIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
- _1 d N" r3 _( P& s0 tTime pattern* H6 g$ ?" T" }9 C
Did it begin suddenly?
# e8 b# q* p7 X- y; fHas it increased recently?3 i- e. q3 c" M$ i& v
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
2 {4 r: X* C' F# `Is the cough worse at night?
3 l, g# H3 J" V) {% OWhat other symptoms do you have?9 |+ d, t: G( e; d) O. x* K
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:0 a7 \- j; k& p2 d! b. N
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
8 [" e) @5 q, r2 kChest CT scan2 e+ i7 p- Y X+ Q+ X" M! I! M, R3 g
Chest x-ray) u# m2 e+ F/ w
Complete blood count
$ B: k; f0 w1 T/ j SLung biopsy
" N% i0 K F0 S7 |7 E! B' OLung scan( c4 f9 c9 k# o, P# A8 ~8 o
Pulmonary arteriography
+ d* |. o2 [* c% u8 T4 b( x2 Z& i gSputum culture and smear
5 C& v2 F5 k" F1 V w2 S4 {+ yTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |