http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm+ ]/ L5 H# N x! u! Z, i8 t
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
) d; k3 a# r: R' j* HCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).% t" V A L4 N4 R+ g- |( l- Z
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Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.5 [, l/ \" R7 [8 T! ^, v. l& d
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Considerations( H: }$ o m3 V# ]$ e
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.9 i9 |- u1 _6 }+ v8 j/ n
, o! l0 W. Y3 FBlood 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.9 d" e% m1 M; j& T* K& Z: q" {. g
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung9 A, u6 O4 A0 n4 _7 q
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)3 Y' a3 n9 A: u: @6 S
Bronchoscopy with biopsy9 A5 X. u4 {6 p9 l* B$ u
Bronchiectasis) V( I' w+ g, t0 D
Bronchitis. z6 v, u/ \+ }, R% c
Cancer
* z3 g( e6 ~( u% z+ iCystic fibrosis
( \1 G0 r& k/ I3 }/ N' N+ d- eInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)/ ` K" F$ X. D5 o3 `- }8 p$ @. d
Injury to the arteries of the lungs
: r* }% W/ }% H, a/ ?; l" d+ BIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
. e3 ^0 W( z P/ w1 M7 U& aPneumonia or other lung infections( \0 {3 s' z* s3 m
Pulmonary edema3 t( S6 r3 I( H* H: O& Z
Systemic lupus erythematosus
, M' Z$ B& b+ B7 D* C6 @9 XTuberculosis
" T. B) o) \9 _5 w4 S% XHome Care* P) W/ c) _) s% t
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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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( m' C8 J4 z1 d# S1 _+ ~; RIt 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.0 H, f& b/ y- N( O) {
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
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6 f- a+ o) p" m+ G3 a0 hGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:7 f. J6 G6 o; e: x L2 B
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood9 E5 O } D) w: d# Y$ \$ J% O
Blood in your urine or stools. I' C; V" v+ f3 q! a8 s
Chest pain
# T! E8 c) u8 {9 L+ jDizziness
/ v4 c8 n, _3 t& k; S9 |Fever
+ H/ L# e5 V& S8 P, O: c6 lLight-headedness. b& f. a9 H) B6 S2 l
Severe shortness of breath
: c* L3 a6 }" C( R1 h: V7 lWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit' P( a" V( \. t: E' x. p$ Q% F( j
0 j; X" j: J( v# P: w! a5 eIn 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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1 ^8 H7 g5 R( W5 k) U! P$ yAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
5 ^+ m$ @. z6 t7 E2 f! M8 k3 [8 XCan you see blood when you cough up something?
- [$ p8 Z$ P, h0 k" xHow many times have you coughed up blood?7 S8 z( B) v/ x$ ]4 C* }" V& A
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
( ]0 J: t+ V, ]5 XTime pattern
: R/ N k* y: x* ^5 BDid it begin suddenly?
0 C4 w: g, O, [( {1 NHas it increased recently?
9 x2 R d; ?2 i- pFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
& p5 O4 O. x8 B g6 {Is the cough worse at night?
0 t4 t0 v/ `/ r S! IWhat other symptoms do you have?, k$ e9 I$ u: z1 d
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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* Z+ ?& Q$ Z) l4 A5 X7 MBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
) {4 z9 ~5 Q& S7 nChest CT scan
7 f8 m& Y4 i& U9 c* [2 z, VChest x-ray
# f, E2 ?, ~% F0 q4 F% v z+ HComplete blood count
( q/ Y8 i( o2 ^- }Lung biopsy
' S7 `- d, O" [$ v g N$ `1 {1 p* DLung scan
+ `9 o4 ]/ V- a1 q" J/ V# QPulmonary arteriography
$ M9 k, V: l8 C1 K' u) SSputum culture and smear
# b4 Z5 n% W& }" DTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |