http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
, p5 P3 F. ~2 {4 U1 q8 N, u, tCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version4 Y5 b$ z& Y% d3 V- p6 o
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).# Q. C) O; s* {- r9 j5 c4 W
2 {# K. A. e4 }! c ^7 ~* e7 ZHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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9 U! w+ X( k; SConsiderations/ m6 Q' z; B6 k1 {
, Q( M# t# s0 U% z1 aCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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6 W# d1 f0 u6 y5 R0 RBlood 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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Causes1 |5 Z. B9 P4 ~0 `8 Y7 H9 j
2 H8 t8 f- w4 j5 Q6 z; ~( Z0 ^A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:0 p' |5 B/ p) g. v$ f/ r3 U1 w4 ~
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Blood clot in the lung
+ \" f; q7 h7 i! u, W% U) NBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration): P" P) x7 c$ M% m y$ H
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
8 g: m0 `3 x) O4 t# VBronchiectasis1 t3 n/ M. [/ n$ X& ?6 I6 a
Bronchitis( ]. j2 z* r; k/ j! M6 F
Cancer
0 F5 h2 l. ]( E- P7 D4 Q3 }Cystic fibrosis% I/ n3 j9 ~; K4 Q' j J
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)+ O* K/ H: R1 Y, q2 ^5 [; o
Injury to the arteries of the lungs* H, C2 y7 [# M
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
9 O/ K6 @) D3 A& Y0 u7 c7 `/ `. rPneumonia or other lung infections" e! g' B4 M5 f+ w* @# o* K
Pulmonary edema
7 R# V4 L2 s- W( L J' ~) sSystemic lupus erythematosus
' }7 [" E8 y: f7 a7 Q* d; C. p" JTuberculosis
, }7 ?7 K. _, L9 k1 ] \Home Care! k: V5 J! v+ a5 p- M
* C2 K( x( p9 I8 [% p8 a. 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.
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1 T* Z3 H8 m& V0 ?5 D* Z/ S3 gIt 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 k5 Y; P2 i3 s& y- b& T
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
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2 v# j! g, ~# v AGet 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
4 ]( C) h* s* v# O% nBlood in your urine or stools
9 P5 H, O4 _7 A; \Chest pain& D! n& T" Y! D7 q
Dizziness
7 c* T) c2 W3 d$ t2 Q& N7 IFever& E9 J: a$ Z$ m F8 c3 L0 n
Light-headedness
/ P6 M6 \7 r4 ~: k5 I% k' f1 l8 ESevere shortness of breath
5 `& ^+ k: T0 rWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit& z+ ~3 x/ N5 I# F, c
7 v6 k+ A7 S; E1 A$ }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:
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Type
, A5 ]2 N: z. T* }' A! G; C% RAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?- m; }4 [7 _6 Q# D2 D5 Y
Can you see blood when you cough up something?! @1 n: A7 g, R1 Z8 g
How many times have you coughed up blood?; q0 I, x" M/ p# i0 F- j( Q; X
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
) O" {; i; b! ~ P' V/ xTime pattern
4 [4 C3 @: Z- S& O+ tDid it begin suddenly?: c m9 z+ b8 w
Has it increased recently?
( F3 }3 c' \, o c/ OFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?# H4 n2 D% {: _
Is the cough worse at night?
9 _+ g( P- m; \2 AWhat other symptoms do you have?( e* y, [; o. S# X: m9 B }) Y
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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- {& U+ Z7 W+ W( gBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways a( v6 a! a" g/ |& M
Chest CT scan0 g1 q( u! ~$ T+ `) O- V7 _
Chest x-ray
- ~) o" l7 d4 oComplete blood count$ p% F5 @1 t/ {. P/ L
Lung biopsy7 E( C4 J$ H" I8 y* F8 Z" b
Lung scan
* h8 p! g! _4 k: T2 KPulmonary arteriography
4 |8 X, ?% Z+ o+ lSputum culture and smear1 j( ?+ N7 e$ K' z" |+ W
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |