http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003073.htm9 i' ~6 {8 W, a+ }
Coughing up bloodEmail this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version9 d* I( ~+ [0 ~9 _% T
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract).
( r- r& @% e4 a& ~9 d. Q8 B9 C+ X# t# A6 E
Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
& T- M' d% K* a) x/ j! F* r! e
$ y5 e! v2 r# U+ WConsiderations
1 N8 d+ E0 q- g# ?2 @
$ ]0 e5 ]- ~2 ~. C, BCoughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract.
* Q8 d$ p( x' l* }4 F3 }" c! w. I7 K/ c0 G+ b; W
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.
. h- q( n, C1 w2 u
$ m+ B- ~8 q+ t2 v; P$ M* zCauses
' Z$ c# ]7 k% T" c( V- a; [/ \& \* o: G
A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood, including:6 w8 z0 t4 O" |3 p& N
. J7 X! f- S2 L9 u2 g
Blood clot in the lung
! a* G. x/ J8 t' s% ?- Q0 U- t Y. C' O+ ?: |Breathing blood into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration)2 a+ [' R5 U4 i
Bronchoscopy with biopsy2 R& @8 h( F# A1 g& t
Bronchiectasis
- c4 [7 X! ^& y8 J0 ~% A8 ABronchitis4 p) L% q; {4 }1 o3 v$ Y0 O
Cancer
3 E2 m4 N2 X6 m; j+ [% \( KCystic fibrosis
2 W' V, V7 X4 H8 l+ e* ] mInflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis)
3 i' z# N+ k" w, t7 oInjury to the arteries of the lungs
+ Q" X1 I& o; w( PIrritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)
/ f( B0 a- \" r1 c& L; C) yPneumonia or other lung infections' F% K; X5 z3 I# d6 e6 a8 ^; a1 t
Pulmonary edema
7 ?% ?* Z& K" }/ ]) oSystemic lupus erythematosus: g& \; ^& Q0 y) Y5 k7 X* s+ c
Tuberculosis3 z( Y0 N# s# O9 ?/ T: O! D
Home Care
5 K d* `& [* w1 N4 G0 j7 c8 k4 N7 |4 M$ u0 L0 W1 ^* d2 T) C% H
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.
5 o @9 j0 A6 @$ Y9 [4 Y: j% ?
$ k+ W% A; b0 r( Z. T& y. RIt 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.
% X( `" F3 ~ Z3 [
8 U( P9 t8 a: L. H: ?; E; bWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
+ @' ?. t3 A# E
7 X- c, X5 a8 x/ [; x/ bGet medical help right away if you cough up blood and have:7 j7 L* s; }/ }
1 E3 j, ~8 e( P$ i7 q2 Q$ ?A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood: q7 @/ ?: P& N. V
Blood in your urine or stools
. J( l# ]# V* |' w: Q6 `0 S( v* p9 }% \Chest pain
) M) }+ J: X) Y9 s! JDizziness. V( S5 o4 Y: z. g$ R
Fever9 n7 Z4 G) H) }) \
Light-headedness
% X9 q( f7 `( }9 a# VSevere shortness of breath( W8 @* ]5 i/ I; o( ^* C8 f5 \
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
3 q, w$ V. T+ {
% P) T% K, b! @& b# B7 H9 ?2 {2 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:
% [. E# e" I7 Z, y( F
8 @) j1 X: Z" ~; TType
3 ~* X i0 G9 W' I9 q' T) HAre you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?/ |0 `7 `" e4 F4 ~7 Q! G
Can you see blood when you cough up something?
/ V0 I. u/ p& F! O. jHow many times have you coughed up blood?
2 c- x! N2 K4 t6 e6 W0 ~; w2 CIs there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
' a' N8 t; Q2 q* g/ `8 _# ^Time pattern4 {% L& Q. X2 c9 ?+ t7 k
Did it begin suddenly?
3 e6 Y1 b6 @$ L# V% e) g i, x6 Z0 mHas it increased recently?
9 M) l1 o0 v& D4 N* i8 e4 t2 F' Y& RFor how many weeks has the cough lasted?) T' w4 M/ n7 g8 z. G8 P3 T6 A5 D
Is the cough worse at night?
: F g, O* ^/ \4 v5 hWhat other symptoms do you have?
3 a1 M2 n7 X- C! l5 H/ aThe doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
1 y z% |' S! y y3 p* A
3 |4 F# v: f5 G( B7 fBronchoscopy, a test to view the airways z% k& ?( d. S3 Z9 B
Chest CT scan
! L2 O" r4 w# u* D# N( y7 J6 }, e8 `) CChest x-ray
" p# j/ P) \5 q9 h$ m8 h4 aComplete blood count
B, x8 h8 V& b" @) N- n+ DLung biopsy. s% j$ x/ q/ G* W7 g# t6 \1 P
Lung scan
$ ]) ]) z6 y! m" n8 f9 wPulmonary arteriography
7 e! F, \; c% ~; y4 PSputum culture and smear
+ n$ U$ i7 _" b6 KTest to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT |