http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm: U7 D, ^: ]1 |3 Y
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version4 [! O7 d9 m& m6 D0 B1 q( L2 X, y
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).) y N/ R% P' r) z: ]$ i l
2 K6 t7 i) m, X3 ~Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.% }; V- P \( a' K3 [6 _
5 ]3 F/ R/ j- e+ ~' ~- ZConsiderations) K( [ T* X7 U2 x* Z! D: [
0 e4 n% X8 c. }% h( m6 @Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
# F! D+ b Q, @& a' V8 U) {
$ ]+ r1 _# G' m& A, fBlood 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.
5 `2 t& w' v% a V/ O/ r' ^
2 t* p4 F* `. g8 zCauses
3 k" J! p! |1 s; K; O" I8 c( Y3 z: k6 I+ K$ Q" x9 A: o
A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:0 r9 J5 B; g( Z; }' h% e2 d1 Z
+ A; y9 n' s; z& i! Z/ s* Y
Blood clot in the lung8 N# Z9 E# n: t5 j+ p) ^
Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
; ^+ n. ^1 a# g3 B, l J. z8 hBronchoscopy with biopsy* r9 c2 [1 C3 R1 j
Bronchiectasis' d+ T( D* Q4 K( c
Bronchitis. p3 P U0 O' h& D
Cancer
: b! w6 J: d/ M2 h- ACystic fibrosis
2 p* f9 E6 e5 [( K7 V) eInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)# e+ {2 [' P4 L+ @2 A- Z
Injury to the arteries of the lungs" f; `/ W+ _% w! o" v1 h# S
Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood): M1 f0 f& {% ^
Pneumonia or other lung infections, ~" S1 ~: U' T: z2 q& H
Pulmonary edema
- p5 v# x. O+ k) m8 i# SSystemic lupus erythematosus
O+ b( y9 x3 O# T+ wTuberculosis6 }: P4 o: i+ [, E% |* `& B
Home Care. r' E: \2 T$ g X* M9 g# X) q* k
2 M' |( Q, ^8 N% V9 E3 J0 cCough 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.
# G; k1 ^4 [, P3 R/ C" }# T
! |$ i5 L1 r+ g& A9 q+ cIt 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.
5 i# F5 ^* N3 e! b C7 n) f% z
8 i# _4 j8 W0 a( M1 O8 rWhen to Contact a Medical Professional2 O3 E8 ]1 h' v( P1 S1 i6 F) E
3 L3 g! e. U3 W% ^: Z
Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:
5 Y7 F5 y" H C2 T6 C. i) t
6 F) i; Y" x& F0 S& y3 ~0 @) |7 OA cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
8 s4 N) Z n/ t) e, z' d) WBlood in your urine or stools7 @ \. X* {2 Y E
Chest pain
% ^+ |; J: P) s- r) ?3 PDizziness
) V7 S; v! P7 D2 G7 U" o3 RFever0 e* m ^# ]0 M* m0 N# v7 n
Light-headedness; C0 r& }+ \; g- p) N+ C
Severe shortness of breath
O4 i. Y3 E1 dWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit- E) ]8 n: C6 E
6 X6 [2 r N# |. `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:
5 `% N$ \2 c6 l1 X) \3 k1 _0 T! [% @* U- u1 e
Type
) r/ P5 ~) ?/ H6 C% jAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
8 h/ g |# q" Z' x2 S$ @* ZCan you see blood when you cough up something?* T/ e* j8 n1 `7 |/ N( c: s% I
How many times have you coughed up blood?
( D* H5 Z0 w. M1 nIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
& z# V6 }) z; s0 x) ? p0 `6 lTime pattern0 i! u% Y8 |2 k' {8 b
Did it begin suddenly?
" c1 W- x3 M# T8 |: j2 ]# IHas it increased recently?
9 @$ _6 l( S L( ZFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?
' @) d/ x1 `# p5 |, c/ g4 m5 e3 TIs the cough worse at night?
# j$ d! p7 D# }+ d3 ~What other symptoms do you have?' u# e7 H4 V+ L
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:% M' v0 ^! C: E( Y
9 V+ z X" a$ Q& |/ \6 G
Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
- u8 ~9 O X+ Q; I$ ?3 _Chest CT scan( m/ R& c5 O9 B* N$ o: B
Chest x-ray; T- O9 d( y4 i
Complete blood count# _" D5 {. e: K" J
Lung biopsy( z" o; @* W' b* H
Lung scan+ n4 n+ Q) B% e5 R. W) c
Pulmonary arteriography
* k( h- | r- ySputum culture and smear
* B9 D6 ]0 F# V/ iTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |