http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm9 o l. C# C1 ? Z
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version
r4 L3 I. o5 P8 C2 R( lCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).* K5 q( R. ~! I, `
" \9 S1 Q) q& T* w$ E. gHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
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5 n; Y9 |; n5 i3 @% I- {$ xConsiderations
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Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
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& ?! O9 B/ c9 h% k; jBlood 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 A8 Y2 X( }7 T. `' T
9 i% @3 R1 y+ y2 w. B4 vA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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Blood clot in the lung1 \" {( ^! p9 L3 E( n
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
9 d+ \. h( z7 F% @! ]Bronchoscopy with biopsy( u9 |) Y( `. h0 ?: T8 b
Bronchiectasis
/ B0 r3 H' f# x. l! ~Bronchitis
: Z% T* B# ]& W7 C, d/ BCancer
9 |2 Q5 G7 y, }' F6 sCystic fibrosis" Y. z: Z' p$ u
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
& c1 j1 u8 {7 v& qInjury to the arteries of the lungs$ i- k+ w k3 e
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)0 K& U5 u( W) ^
Pneumonia or other lung infections- |) M9 |6 y( y0 K+ g7 L7 Z. ?. K+ A
Pulmonary edema2 _: z; r) |6 l3 l+ [/ p
Systemic lupus erythematosus) F! L, P* h; X, H( A* [
Tuberculosis7 r* e1 t7 `# ?' Z+ y9 ^5 z1 l
Home Care
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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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It 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.' n; n; |. @( B. o4 n# K9 }
+ u+ `- p- U0 X( q% k- Y8 GWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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4 m" ]& o; }4 a, g3 d! H6 JGet 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 blood9 v9 _, n3 v7 S) J8 A* u
Blood in your urine or stools
3 R3 g( X- v- m8 g+ B9 U+ GChest pain
* S1 G' V' v1 ?) f( K( h- SDizziness
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Light-headedness5 J4 Y0 B8 [+ H2 Z& u! {+ Z; f
Severe shortness of breath
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- U3 y. J9 Y1 r, {6 \, f; z% GIn 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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4 c. B Q' Y8 ~7 S; [2 K( h+ KType
3 l/ ]; L+ U9 f3 c5 T' ^Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
) t" T& q3 r2 d, [Can you see blood when you cough up something?8 l# Z2 a' M# r, s+ j! W
How many times have you coughed up blood?
4 U' F" m4 ], |" BIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
, z& q/ K5 ^! O( \4 A* eTime pattern
2 D. u5 \2 X3 MDid it begin suddenly?
7 @1 M) f- e$ i' e3 |8 X5 cHas it increased recently?
% c0 D* Z$ H. ^2 h. i, F& vFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
: K! }4 K" O# X6 HIs the cough worse at night?$ `. A; S7 }" Q! d1 z5 ]
What other symptoms do you have?* u5 b. L5 z1 f6 U
The 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 airways
$ G' j; x3 x7 j2 \; H/ `4 yChest CT scan
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Complete blood count% d; X- u) g/ @" ?0 J; F1 p& w
Lung biopsy, N' v9 h9 f1 p) p0 i
Lung scan. r% J3 B" B, L& [5 j: z
Pulmonary arteriography
/ ?3 n g0 l" X% l9 X% H3 DSputum culture and smear _6 w2 E' h3 m' p; |) Z1 ~9 R8 x& b
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |