Coughing up blood
Alternate Names : Hemoptysis, Spitting up blood, Bloody sputum
Home Care & Treatment
Cough suppressants may help if this condition is due to throat irritation from violent coughing. However, cough suppressants may lead to airways obstruction in some cases. Always check with your doctor before using them. It is very important to note how long you cough up blood, and how much blood is mixed with the mucus. You should contact your doctor anytime you cough up blood, even if you do not have any other symptoms.
Call your Health Care Provider if
Seek immediate medical help if you cough up blood and have: - A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Severe shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Blood in your urine or stools
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
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: - Type
- Are you coughing up large amounts of blood (massive hemoptysis)?
- Can you see blood when you cough up something?
- How many times have you coughed up blood?
- Is there blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)?
- Time pattern
- Did it begin suddenly?
- Has it increased recently?
- How many weeks has the cough lasted?
- Is the cough worse at night?
- What other symptoms do you have?
The doctor will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include:
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