http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm' {( a* t8 K0 P8 Z# j
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version& v6 Y9 e$ s+ d2 O( C
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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- k% s0 G; D4 Z( [2 u. ~9 @; D# qHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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Considerations
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3 \3 W- l C! R0 J/ P* f! ` P* K" cCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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- C& o* I& F( |7 h9 F5 ]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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4 c; x6 v# v) @% w( _5 [Causes
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" r$ W& x' q' h J. C9 yA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung; m4 b) t5 V& z1 l
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)3 X: @* h1 k; D
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
, ?* ~9 o/ f3 kBronchiectasis
' v) y5 i3 l& q) M/ U8 e0 Z9 sBronchitis
+ I8 X* F, d8 V: P; L) iCancer( W( `' [ N8 _9 H, G# f
Cystic fibrosis
3 }. C1 q0 J! A/ y0 f7 }( ~Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
( B, O+ l( u+ I. p/ n$ IInjury to the arteries of the lungs
/ i$ @0 f. u+ A- b! ~Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
2 u7 U0 c' x& Z8 m: xPneumonia or other lung infections
( ? V* m- e: i R* fPulmonary edema
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Tuberculosis
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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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- K7 ?1 w% |( 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.
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When to Contact a Medical Professional7 v6 l* C: V; v" |. t
9 R* s4 z& y6 hGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
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; f. q) W7 Q/ ~* \* P2 W! s+ PA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood" ]6 R* g$ L9 S" R6 S+ ^4 o) P
Blood in your urine or stools
n2 J' |$ Z# T5 T; X5 \Chest pain
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Fever
2 K4 H' X3 e" O" w. }Light-headedness
+ ]- k, C5 o7 M2 P/ h2 a: MSevere shortness of breath2 ~. L2 b' y3 \8 p. a
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
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: k! E, H1 D! ]6 W) n$ lIn 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)?" n' l* q7 K# @3 Z
Can you see blood when you cough up something?" x4 e3 O, E V+ K) h5 ?- k5 D5 n5 Z, f
How many times have you coughed up blood?
/ r, o) V5 l- b+ yIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
/ z% F# D# d/ d; sTime pattern
4 u ?, u9 m1 a# @( e( M% }3 vDid it begin suddenly?3 N- Q+ Q/ @( d9 C- x( K7 ]
Has it increased recently?
4 }5 q/ T9 e6 t/ A+ e$ f( nFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?4 ^, r9 R' }7 {* Y; L
Is the cough worse at night?
7 c! c, P, z+ Z$ ?What other symptoms do you have?
% L ?1 h& I+ B1 W$ Y% DThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways3 p, ]4 k# t6 {3 n" z* \& k& J) a
Chest CT scan9 m" [3 A6 m" o9 Q, I# s
Chest x-ray! K( ~( C) r& y2 P. P8 M: F6 O
Complete blood count8 T4 h4 P5 g2 U6 Q$ C. c
Lung biopsy( d6 h9 ?: W) g* S1 c0 V7 w4 k
Lung scan
; u$ v: \0 H3 m3 BPulmonary arteriography4 Z. g, s+ G7 k# f5 J
Sputum culture and smear9 f8 Q& `, ^6 S$ s& J
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |