Coughing up blood
Alternative names:
bloody sputum; hemoptysis; spitting up blood
Home care:
For a recent nosebleed, no treatment is necessary. For bleeding caused by vigorous tooth-brushing, use proper dental hygiene and softer bristled brushes. For hemoptysis due to any other cause, see your health care provider right away.
For irritation of the throat from violent coughing, cough suppressants may help, and specific treatment of the underlying cause may be recommended by the doctor.
Cough suppression may or may not be desirable. Cough suppressants can prevent blood from spreading through the lungs, but they can also lead to airway obstruction from blood that accumulates.
Call your health care provider if:
- there is any unexplained coughing up of blood.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
In emergency cases, the patient will be treated first to stabilize the condition. After the condition is stable the medical history will be obtained and a respiratory assessment performed.
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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