How long have you been coughing up blood for?.How many times have you coughed up blood?.To find out the cause of coughing up blood, the doctor will ask questions that may include the following: If your condition is life threatening, you may need urgent treatment before any investigations are done. Haemoptysis is managed according to the amount and rate of bleeding. If you are coughing up a lot of blood or also have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, call triple zero (000) immediately as this is an emergency.Įven if you cough up a small amount of blood, see a doctor promptly.įIND A HEALTH SERVICE - The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.ĪSK YOUR DOCTOR - Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist. Sometimes, doctors cannot find the cause. being on anticoagulant therapy (blood-thinning medications).having fluid in the lungs due to a heart condition.pulmonary embolism or a blood clot in the arteries that supply blood to the lungs.chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD).In this case, you might have recurrent chest infections and a productive cough. If this is the case, you might also have a cough and fever.Īnother common cause is bronchiectasis, a disease where the large airways in the lungs are damaged. One of the most common causes of haemoptysis is an infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia. difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.The sputum will look like it contains coffee grounds, and the blood will be brown to black or mixed with food particles.ĭepending on the cause of the haemoptysis, you might also have:
If the blood is coming from the gut, you are also likely to feel nauseous or be vomiting.
How can you tell if you have haemoptysis?.