Coughing Up Blood
Alternate Names : Bloody Sputum, Hemoptysis, Spitting Up Blood
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
In emergency cases, treatment will be aimed at stabilizing your condition. After you are stable, your health care providers will obtain a full medical history.
Medical history questions documenting your cough in detail may include:
- Type
- Is visible blood coughed up (gross hemoptysis)?
- Is there blood streaked sputum (phlegm)?
- Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
- Are there repeated episodes of coughing up blood (hemoptysis)?
- Time pattern
- Is the cough worse at night?
- Did it begin suddenly?
- Has it been increasing recently?
- How long has the cough lasted (for how many weeks?)
- Other
- What other symptoms are also present?
Physical examination will include thorough examination of the chest and lungs.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: After seeing your health care provider, you may want to add a diagnosis related to coughing up blood to your personal medical record.
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