http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm+ O- X) s+ S* b+ v
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
: {1 k. a# w! ^+ W; `Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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5 s7 B: g7 r; O9 h# |Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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$ w+ Z" t7 w/ D- S$ n* T) T! SConsiderations
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.% d# v! D8 U0 d) J; _
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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.' `; S/ g* E, _+ j/ K5 r# n1 M/ G
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Causes. k2 Q. j) j7 |& L( ?
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:0 h* Q5 N3 d1 p9 Y8 }" T' L
# o+ e! I9 g2 U7 J6 d* j2 RBlood clot in the lung2 p( j/ Q" z& I- w ?
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
, C# [0 g( Y) W0 m' e7 nBronchoscopy with biopsy
, K$ Y4 W" [ m; DBronchiectasis9 {* i" F9 x( ?( x) P* T" l
Bronchitis; q% c, O' K# X' z% c
Cancer
! p2 t' N5 O0 E' X4 MCystic fibrosis5 }4 L, [2 S; G! N5 J% T
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
2 ?9 C- S1 `5 e9 _$ T, _* D. ^, mInjury to the arteries of the lungs0 F- u: C0 T- T
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
: E3 r0 X7 v5 q, }( B& J2 ?Pneumonia or other lung infections
+ c/ _6 T2 B6 E1 { ^. R# ^% B- m* ?* }4 xPulmonary edema
3 }9 }5 \1 @$ V$ RSystemic lupus erythematosus* E8 N/ N# ?! b: {' Z& }$ n/ J
Tuberculosis
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. Z* j7 [. b, D8 _- t1 z2 s0 ^+ rCough 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.+ R2 l* h# ?2 y7 x
9 C3 o# p7 K9 V6 n' MIt 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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( R9 C! I6 s; ~0 x- ~0 w$ k9 hWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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, S4 K! X- D' zGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
, W% A& K) W. Y8 S2 aBlood in your urine or stools
9 G0 |' n6 J6 L7 @) p- LChest pain
* ]8 D7 {: N$ E8 _Dizziness! Y' `* _& n8 l r O; h
Fever2 X: u( u: Z" D9 M) P
Light-headedness
" s1 ~' [* z/ ZSevere shortness of breath
8 R9 C" X! X+ b$ x7 ~* |& n% L( E' QWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit8 S# Y8 j- Z2 G, K. G5 Y
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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:. N$ k& L, r9 N1 b2 x6 R+ K% a
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8 ^8 E" `+ h& T1 dAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
& g1 a0 [0 j, w# K, X: ~' FCan you see blood when you cough up something?7 O) [" `7 P' e% d# P8 M
How many times have you coughed up blood?2 Y3 u! D( a4 k0 C4 ~) g. ?
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
* g. a! j3 N8 H- vTime pattern* E5 Z* v% [, e! o2 r1 s2 X
Did it begin suddenly?' u7 a% M/ t- d" n
Has it increased recently?# F+ i- I1 L; k# F- g! R8 B
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
& U) l$ L( t, ~/ N Q6 iIs the cough worse at night?6 J2 |( W A# m* b/ u
What other symptoms do you have?
4 p! M! a3 _" S& s" \: N8 _% tThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:3 b4 T( f5 A# M
$ X2 D/ z- x3 R/ ^# KBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways. ^2 Q- A. G1 ]" Z2 S
Chest CT scan
: n+ S$ r$ V6 r8 A! ^Chest x-ray2 U9 m3 U9 ~. D. q" z+ j6 J3 E
Complete blood count: R( a$ q' d4 T# |9 z/ Z
Lung biopsy Q# R" i$ G7 U! E0 ~/ C7 b8 X8 c
Lung scan
; t3 T) B$ F1 V9 uPulmonary arteriography
1 D' B7 |8 Y3 D5 BSputum culture and smear( P3 N S' a5 @0 l( ^3 z, z
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |