http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
9 P, E- N7 w9 ?* B8 Z( cCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
4 J5 H1 F: D# n& n8 k* }( {2 jCoughing 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.) L6 h. y! A; t$ }5 i) h
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Considerations
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: T* T. E0 ^: }1 @2 |Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.2 Q, R: u. Z5 ?. T
$ I, ?+ P- |& n' p$ UBlood 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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Causes" l S$ w* W5 M% \" B9 g5 g
1 v, t% q9 Q0 P: B# ]A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:$ h$ B; x6 ?2 H3 ]6 N
8 w, ?" q# k% [$ h. s. DBlood clot in the lung
' C% L5 l# E8 lBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)8 g0 x, y$ @! ?+ a: s+ {0 k
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
0 R5 n" _$ v% C% [( \. X5 MBronchiectasis9 M' e- {( B# q- z3 i( \" M& y
Bronchitis2 _6 p& z# ~5 A! c% u
Cancer( n' i' P' Z) m: a) Y* i- x2 I
Cystic fibrosis" x D7 I$ H0 r6 j* _: N3 d" q
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
) l5 w5 a% b; j0 h5 b; KInjury to the arteries of the lungs; X B+ g+ L# w3 o& [
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood) h% g8 u4 a! l4 G2 V' O4 F! @! m
Pneumonia or other lung infections7 b' I! C8 O c2 O0 H$ T
Pulmonary edema; y# n C& m" ^! o7 @- r
Systemic lupus erythematosus6 N+ @* J% c' v0 w* u
Tuberculosis6 `1 Y' J. o! p* o1 o6 `/ |3 K# [: s- B
Home Care
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- U h0 ~7 r# a/ t- O& }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.+ \, j& K1 \2 L+ b2 O
" P0 J1 |) U* ~7 i: e; yIt 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 m/ p3 R" X W6 v6 \
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When to Contact a Medical Professional, |; B( N. `0 F3 g
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Get 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
2 t" X. ~1 D) u# f& l' b5 F7 EBlood in your urine or stools
6 {0 a2 U: P/ E8 Y4 i. p8 TChest pain
' [: O# Z0 I7 A; c4 r a* u( O/ GDizziness
, S9 n% w1 t- P" @& WFever! G: h* d9 n5 Z+ q7 e2 J& |7 Q
Light-headedness; K* s. H9 s. j" u' m* {
Severe shortness of breath
! }( ?0 Y2 V" E/ B9 F5 OWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit" E& o/ K8 m/ M4 d( P4 N
; k F2 V3 o- j1 HIn 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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Type
, X. U( o3 U) v5 {! m lAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
6 ]* v9 R% ]) d& s% DCan you see blood when you cough up something?
% [; ^( t& N& H1 C+ N' `# s/ lHow many times have you coughed up blood?6 u9 g8 H3 n1 d% o6 L
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
5 X8 }4 h* _4 V; x$ _Time pattern
* g$ }4 j$ a" m7 BDid it begin suddenly?- I! L/ e1 ?* e: l9 M5 \
Has it increased recently?$ ` U- `! t5 S! K' E3 z- t
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?7 K/ R* w0 W, `# y& z6 c. \! G- k1 K
Is the cough worse at night?
j3 M' Y' F8 `. H+ n z3 \: RWhat other symptoms do you have?
3 e4 d, y( E& d1 r" l/ b( hThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:! P4 v9 v2 `% m* I
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
0 e% \+ o; b& eChest CT scan
8 ?" X5 d& J0 ^3 m. X: ?Chest x-ray
4 Q: Y8 B+ T( n" AComplete blood count
1 @1 r3 Y K8 O3 @6 }: B, ILung biopsy
D: d! y+ O. m8 A2 jLung scan$ c! T% K+ x8 }0 M
Pulmonary arteriography* u& O, R: [( ?* ~, W9 F7 _
Sputum culture and smear* y7 l) H4 v# ?9 J4 }" Y% x
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |