http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm
( r) t& \* F4 M; _: g0 o, S) q) ZCoughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version2 n, ~9 r, o3 A% y
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
x& r4 l( p+ ~% z) k; I
3 w V: i6 s% q& T1 mHemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
5 S/ V5 s8 @% X6 i$ l) U6 o
d) Y' x5 |7 E1 Z! j9 L" S( OConsiderations( Y6 z- ?) s6 F# }1 G: D
+ a* V& Q9 G* T4 `6 [7 BCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.! S& I1 \6 h) F9 L; E, m
8 C0 c) o7 ]) [ z+ ^$ C
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. I8 |# [4 V8 V
! r% i4 D6 [* e
Causes
# p9 b2 l: A7 e/ R
5 x- D4 y) T7 J% u) l" v# ?3 tA number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:1 p* n, L6 h5 H
' [, k) Y9 Q3 J- n/ yBlood clot in the lung
. V5 x2 _6 F% A' JBreathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)
4 q! D% |( {( ]9 y( x% gBronchoscopy with biopsy
: p; u4 W7 D, w) `$ s8 jBronchiectasis
8 a/ r! F' x( N" X7 |$ e) }) H1 o3 gBronchitis
% b5 M0 b; ]+ h$ T4 Q' ] X v/ vCancer
- }- f4 q$ i0 x! l! K' R: lCystic fibrosis
+ q' s8 \, k+ j$ P2 B1 ~: g5 CInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)' ^, s7 [& ]! X* A2 K
Injury to the arteries of the lungs
' o# A* N' W% ^( F9 x) s& kIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
2 a% ]/ Y3 {. p" w* y! V1 ?Pneumonia or other lung infections- N, {: u2 E2 }( W3 E/ d
Pulmonary edema
# e2 a1 V; L6 W1 N' ?- sSystemic lupus erythematosus
. F0 e+ Y& Z( jTuberculosis
& s3 b$ _6 P4 }Home Care
) B: @& B& c2 f! b* d
6 `6 I5 D4 n! f7 N. F7 C& M; @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.
8 @) b* K. e, g/ [. J3 W, J
1 d# y/ _2 P0 A. ?; z( `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.' K- \" x" T( U R/ A9 @* Y
# m2 S1 W6 w, \" d1 u+ h# Y& A7 F4 TWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
?0 N7 s; v- r6 u4 J0 t% @
- m# N Z9 B/ F$ \& nGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:+ \8 ^4 H1 P. ~; u$ g/ i
! o0 Y0 W4 L/ u
A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
. I; r5 o2 h2 `# `5 k4 ~4 [4 L( B. K: XBlood in your urine or stools5 j+ g" _2 G# h& L. x7 L1 Y
Chest pain
6 R6 ] J* v4 T1 T" ?8 CDizziness
+ ^) m/ k& J! y" b4 JFever4 O5 Y+ Y( D7 E
Light-headedness
- c0 V# p8 C) D% e4 FSevere shortness of breath4 \# j) u- ^" U
What to Expect at Your Office Visit6 R3 X s7 }7 i& l: k2 Z n
2 P+ Y* o% [1 [8 K6 XIn 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:6 r. j) a# Q& B9 v: n5 s
6 p8 Q2 M0 ^4 r& x# S+ B& {6 z
Type
3 w4 ?; M4 M. y6 d) M( t8 a) iAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
5 I. g; X6 |% e/ E) c( oCan you see blood when you cough up something?) J s/ u% B( n* K+ v; n, b: O0 x
How many times have you coughed up blood?' S. R0 L2 E$ [+ K( C
Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
) l2 u. z7 b3 W I/ ]Time pattern; V; y4 ^. b3 Q9 @% r
Did it begin suddenly?% o) L$ W9 n" s9 W/ G, G7 {
Has it increased recently?8 T& v. ]$ H+ G7 m2 X3 D: f' p
For how many weeks has the cough lasted?
+ W- O: ?: o* {6 f: k6 _$ x k$ p2 ?Is the cough worse at night?6 c+ ?$ X+ a% v1 {) p' E$ H4 ^8 {
What other symptoms do you have?2 S0 k# C, |8 S" S
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:; t# ~4 q* M: G/ X9 x9 K3 |
2 a' \, l$ W1 s/ [8 C
Bronchoscopy, a test to view the airways
" f! G7 j! Q: a* n* G# ~: s6 j, TChest CT scan
& D# g, ^- u! N) P0 ?# z3 g5 HChest x-ray5 x% L& c- v2 c& `* D) d
Complete blood count6 n8 Q4 k$ M& B) V: s0 f6 k0 H
Lung biopsy
! q9 }" d0 {% x9 v3 SLung scan& G# G# D- G# o6 C2 i' U7 j9 O# ?
Pulmonary arteriography
0 Y i' _& G" f, ?% NSputum culture and smear
9 \0 W* C N9 e7 G# q% u7 jTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |