Emergency Medicine
Take comfort in knowing that the Emergency Care Team at Main Line Health is here for you when you need us most to provide compassionate care as quickly as possible.
Hemoptysis – Coughing Up Blood
What is hemoptysis (coughing up blood)?
If you cough up a little blood there's usually no cause for concern. You may have blood in your mucus from having had a nosebleed and the blood from your nose washed down your throat. You may also see blood streaks in your mucus perhaps from a respiratory infection such as bronchitis, bronchiectasis or pneumonia. If, however, you are coughing up more than a couple teaspoons of blood or you are often coughing up blood, these may be signs of something more serious that needs medical attention.
Causes of coughing up blood
While the most common cause of coughing up blood (also known as hemoptysis) is respiratory infection, the symptom may also be associated with other conditions such as:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels in the lung)
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung)
Who is at risk of coughing up blood?
If you have a weakened immune system you are also more at risk for coughing up blood. Check to see if any of these other factors apply:
- You have a family history of clotting disorders.
- You have been exposed to tuberculosis.
- You have had a recent surgery, cancer, or other serious illness.
- You have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- You have smoked for many years and you're over 40.
- You have recently traveled long distance (risk of blood clot).
- You have used drugs that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants).
When to get medical help for coughing up blood
Coughing up blood can be a scary thing and you might be unsure whether you need medical help. If you have any of these associated symptoms, be sure to call a doctor:
- Blood in your stool or urine
- Chest pain
- Light-headedness, dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness
Pulmonology
Main Line Health’s lung health experts and pulmonology specialists treat a wide range of conditions that affect the lungs and respiratory tract.