http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
6 h7 ?; A- Y4 ?1 @Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version0 [* v5 l) A) a; {0 H0 [1 m, ^
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
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9 I4 v J# S0 t1 e) EHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.: |% w$ x l% o/ I1 Z+ ^
% Q5 s$ Z4 l" F1 B' D$ |. ~* z; q0 c, pConsiderations
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5 |+ f6 f: c( r! x" T, CCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.: m3 e. Q% R( m k3 J4 e; }9 t- V6 S0 F
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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.; }& U+ x# F& ~0 e9 ~. o3 ]# v
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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 lung0 G& ^ s6 Y. n7 P/ C
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)! ^: U; e3 {5 c# x: d+ P
Bronchoscopy with biopsy/ V& I7 v% G: e# f$ g$ V/ L. n
Bronchiectasis- r* \& ]8 B. p
Bronchitis2 a8 t6 \, A( i$ w6 g0 ]: o7 G
Cancer
( D! O: F9 T0 _" G5 s8 VCystic fibrosis1 L7 i. J' i% i: v7 p: z
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
$ _' M6 n( i1 W9 Q6 Y& NInjury to the arteries of the lungs! ?8 }/ d6 d: r' I, z1 ~
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)* S& h2 U7 h' E# q7 r8 N/ u b
Pneumonia or other lung infections' [/ x8 J: P7 u% a2 ]
Pulmonary edema& I$ {' }) p9 Y& a3 D
Systemic lupus erythematosus' S' \, Z" U( M" Z% f) m+ M3 @
Tuberculosis
! q x2 { S. C/ e& r6 Q8 E4 f. LHome Care
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: {; s7 h% X8 g. bCough 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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( x* e3 E" g4 {: yIt 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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$ \/ B9 m. o6 x. H3 K9 \When to Contact a Medical Professional
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Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:0 M( ~3 I8 [2 F9 g" Q5 H. C. L# \
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A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
( a! F: ~: A( _( I& c/ Z1 W& XBlood in your urine or stools* j& m- ~5 d: ?7 C7 I8 a* l+ w
Chest pain
% ?8 |* n2 k, n( m k) gDizziness3 K0 ~+ T: @( |5 ^* y
Fever
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What to Expect at Your Office Visit. J2 j# J) M0 Z0 l( Z$ z
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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:" }& g! ^4 }# [% ^' @$ d) c
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Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
4 M3 U/ i6 i3 M. s0 ~5 g& t3 zCan you see blood when you cough up something?/ H2 ~; G( A3 s1 P3 k) \0 x
How many times have you coughed up blood?0 v& r, A% _0 i, t' O
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
9 V, a! U6 }0 o/ T, ^$ w3 ?Time pattern. l6 C9 p8 w+ r
Did it begin suddenly?
. _, }7 R1 _8 {! iHas it increased recently?
) t2 z ? B# @$ w& F7 hFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?$ {: C3 G; L+ ?; l
Is the cough worse at night?
( I+ [6 D# s, [2 c) Z, L( AWhat other symptoms do you have?& A5 P; g- g0 G! q! C8 M! Q
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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+ F8 D# O+ M: I6 GBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
d% B# y$ j; Z5 X" nChest CT scan
6 M! I2 C) U! k4 K( S4 }Chest x-ray& `6 A& d. ?2 [; Y: v: M
Complete blood count
* n- A) k5 V3 X! r9 u- C; yLung biopsy
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Pulmonary arteriography P$ N" h% x, R. W% ?& ?
Sputum culture and smear& a6 z) M( M- o) D* Y1 Y
Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |