Coughing up blood (hemoptysis): Is this serious?
What causes someone to cough up blood? Is this serious?
- Ken / Florida
Answer
Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) can be a frightening experience. However, it isn't necessarily serious. Known causes of hemoptysis include:
- Lung infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia or bronchiectasis
- Violent coughing
- Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
- A blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
- Lung cancer
- Some forms of heart failure
- Trauma to the chest, such as from a car accident
- Foreign objects lodged in your airway
- Abuse of certain drugs, such as cocaine
A doctor may use a variety of procedures to determine the cause of hemoptysis, including:
- Chest X-ray
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest
- Bronchoscopy, a procedure in which a flexible tube is inserted into your airway to allow the doctor to see inside your windpipe (trachea) and airways (bronchial tubes)
- Lung biopsy
- Echocardiogram
When possible, treatment of hemoptysis is directed at the underlying cause. However, in many cases, the cause of hemoptysis can't be determined — doctors refer to this as cryptogenic hemoptysis. In such cases, your doctor will likely monitor your condition. Further testing also may be recommended.
Consult your doctor if you notice blood in your sputum. It is very important to exclude the serious causes of hemoptysis. If it is a large quantity of blood — more than a few teaspoons — seek emergency medical care.
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