“Hematemesis"is the medical term for vomiting blood.
Blood that is vomited comes from the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
It can be triggered by something minor or a severe condition.
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Common causes are peptic ulcer disease andesophageal varices.
Vomiting blood is a medical emergency.
You should head to a hospital emergency department.
This article will cover the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hematemesis.
It will focus on identifying blood in vomit and why it is a medical emergency.
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Whats Considered Hematemesis?
Hematemesis is when someonevomitsblood.
The vomit could be made up entirely of blood or it could be the stomach contents mixed with blood.
Bleeding in theGI tractcan cause hematemesis.
The GI tract includes the:
It can be difficult to know what is causing hematemesis.
Any amount of blood in the vomit is concerning and should be considered a medical emergency.
A small amount of blood can turn into a large amount in very little time.
When someone vomits blood, there isbleedingsomewhere in their GI tract.
Without the help of a healthcare provider, it is impossible to know what exactly is causing the bleeding.
Bleeding that goes on too long or is a large volume it can lead to significant blood loss.
Therefore, vomiting blood is absolutely a medical emergency.
Color
Hematemesis can be a wide range of colors.
The blood may be mixed in withvomitthat contains stomach contents, or it can be only blood.
Source of Bleeding
The source of bleeding in hematemesis is usuallysomewhere in the upper GI tract.
Oftentimes, the source can only be found by a healthcare provider after diagnostic testing has been done.
When to Seek Medical Care
Anytime someone is vomiting blood, they should seek immediate care.
Even a small amount of blood can mean something serious or quickly turn into a large amount of blood.
Vomiting blood can be mistaken forcoughing up blood(hemoptysis).
Whatever the cause, it’s crucial to go to an emergency department or call 911.
Hypovolemic shock is when there is not enough blood and fluid pumping through the heart.
The large decrease in the blood supply means that organs and tissues will receive less oxygen and nutrients.
This causes organ and tissue damage, which can lead to death if not promptly treated.
The signs of hypovolemic shock are:
Shock is an absolute medical emergency.
Head to a hospital emergfency department right away.
The types of tests will depend upon the severity of bleeding and if there is a known cause.
This helps healthcare providers make a diagnosis and form a treatment plan.
Risk of Anemia
Anemiais when the blood does not carry enough oxygen for the body.
Hematemesis increases your risk of anemia due to the blood lost during vomiting.
An EGD may be performed to stop the GI bleeding that causes hematemesis.
Summary
Hematemesis is the act of vomiting lood.
It is a medical emergency.
Treatments can be as simple as medication or involve an invasive procedure.
A Word From Verywell
Seeing blood in your vomit can be unnerving.
Don’t have a go at self-diagnose.
Contact your healthcare provider right away and get help.
Frequently Asked Questions
People with bulimia can have blood in their vomit.
The forceful, frequent vomiting episodes can cause tears in the esophagus.
These tears can bleed and show up in the vomit.
It could be from small tears in the esophagus or something more significant like peptic ulcer disease.
Talk to your healthcare provider to get a firm diagnosis.
Blood that comes up in the saliva is likely coming from the respiratory tract (lungs and throat).
One of the most common reasons is bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
2014;5(4):467-478. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v5.i4.467
MedlinePlus.Hypovolemic shock.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GI bleeding.
