http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
* ^ F% Y8 d! J/ e7 i6 {Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version: Y: A5 z% G8 @4 e, ~
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).- Q9 b4 {& w/ U0 Y/ j2 ?) X
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Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.0 v2 y5 v' T0 G; T/ B. i
: F+ b* \' q# d# h! m0 X* o5 qConsiderations1 U8 ^0 E2 ^; k2 y, r2 |/ m0 z. `
8 V5 T) x% G1 r: y) v+ z& xCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.+ o& [- c( j7 Z- j5 s* T5 o
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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.: D0 P8 I. ^( e& s: s" e7 ~
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Causes; q; ^' _8 X# j2 z0 X) Z
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A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:
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( y' R# A& H: L. R2 ? _Blood clot in the lung) D7 A' \( c4 n
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
0 }& T2 p$ m( X4 X/ z, uBronchoscopy with biopsy
* L- ~) i$ r/ w, M# v) hBronchiectasis
4 s+ L& x3 @& n* SBronchitis
4 V. v1 Z* L7 d& g# x+ [9 a1 zCancer7 J8 d6 r$ A: M. _$ R. h8 G+ }% v! h
Cystic fibrosis3 y$ c/ H8 i2 W l3 [- u
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)5 E) G7 a& @1 \5 d
Injury to the arteries of the lungs# H7 C% p; s: _* f$ A7 M3 W8 Q
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
: J+ k0 y x; V5 P9 I8 I" V9 uPneumonia or other lung infections) T$ i) w" @# u* a) n& Q
Pulmonary edema
1 q- B* V! f/ D& J j* ASystemic lupus erythematosus/ J' ?- R! r" F K9 J
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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- h+ C& O' d/ P* x8 ]0 R R5 dIt 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.; f3 e+ `3 x8 A' F- G
: U, ^) h- ~6 E8 IWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
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5 z. s; @3 Y! ?) K3 s' gGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:8 |, z9 K- O4 @" n5 A( I) ?6 F
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood: m. n0 v8 @4 G, B) w0 J9 M/ y7 \
Blood in your urine or stools. I; z1 H& r, L W, a
Chest pain% U" \% { { o1 V8 h8 Y
Dizziness
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Light-headedness2 s" f0 _! o# Q( a! u
Severe shortness of breath
6 E4 u, e0 u8 x4 |/ B% X2 j8 U) XWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit
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& g4 a& }; g$ j4 tIn 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:& |7 }3 ]& B N. E: j; G
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Type
; y1 s4 b0 D8 \- m3 n: A. QAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
( r: @6 A s* l+ S6 x/ o- xCan you see blood when you cough up something? L0 I! l; X' m# w' _+ E
How many times have you coughed up blood?: C# j1 U- ?( d5 _9 b1 ]: z/ O8 j) i
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
7 ?( I( J/ i0 j9 q1 TTime pattern6 W4 f( e0 P$ A
Did it begin suddenly?
/ H0 Q+ z0 n ]7 V N% ]& fHas it increased recently?5 H0 _2 H; i$ c Q" l- G4 v( _7 R- y# n
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
2 q1 L& ]/ [- I/ i/ k8 c2 IIs the cough worse at night?
# H. O4 {' u6 K0 IWhat other symptoms do you have?
' n# b$ P' H; E h0 r" h( zThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:& D2 ] _( q+ n7 @6 C: a! e+ `; G1 l8 P
" `" L* {* \3 ]6 l, u4 ~8 kBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways4 N( [; e% x: W. u7 W5 i: i
Chest CT scan6 O! |( V _7 R: C- X
Chest x-ray3 G3 ]: ^! p/ F/ A3 A
Complete blood count+ S3 Y& g: _; |: ?2 N: Z! f( y
Lung biopsy
5 s. K$ k w- }) W& a( M; x8 _, z( OLung scan8 C% s! _5 G- x1 R- ^ j F& r
Pulmonary arteriography
/ W e% w( u2 ]! MSputum culture and smear1 v. j5 Q5 i! a& [- [# O6 d+ M
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |