Common Conditions Associated With Vomiting Blood

Hematemesis or vomiting blood is not just only spitting up blood from the mouth. It is a serious condition indicating that your digestive system is bleeding. The blood may either come out alone or be mixed with the stomach’s contents and fluids.

Moreover, the colour of the fleck of blood in your spit can also vary. You may notice fresh and bright red blood in your vomit indicating acute bleeding while darker blood suggests slower bleed.

If you notice blood in your spit, don’t take it as normal. It is an emergency condition and requires prompt diagnosis to know its cause.

Is vomiting blood a life-threatening condition?

In most cases, vomiting blood is a symptom of a serious health condition. There are many causes of vomiting blood. Some may be fatal such as organ rupture or blood might also come out as a result of nose or mouth bleed.

It is true that vomiting might not lead to the death of the individual but severe blood loss can. Though rare, a reputed gastro doctor in Kolkata has reported cases where patients suffered a hypovolemic shock after severe loss of blood in vomit.

Hypovolemic shock limits the body’s ability to transfer blood to vital organs, leading to multiple organ failure and eventually death.

What are the possible causes that make people throw up blood?

Below are some common conditions that cause hematemesis:

Stomach ulcers: These are painful open sores in the lining of the stomach. They damage the arteries, causing the blood to come out of the mouth.

• Acute pancreatitis: Bleeding is common in patients with chronic pancreatitis. This condition impairs the veins of the pancreas leading to rupture and bleeding.
• Esophageal varices: These are abnormally swollen and dilated veins in the esophagus. When these veins rupture, it causes massive bleeding.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease: GERD happens when the stomach contents move back to the esophagus. Frequent flowing of acid reflux irritates the lining of the esophagus and leads to bleeding.
• Portal hypertension: This condition causes extreme pressure in the abdominal veins. As a result, the veins get fragile and leak, causing blood to come out of the mouth.

Here are some lesser-known common causes of vomiting blood:

• Stomach or esophageal cancer
• Certain blood disorders like hemophilia and anemia
• Anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning medicines
• Hemorrhagic fever
• Swallowing a poison

When should you consult a doctor?

If you are vomiting blood, don’t wait for it to stop on its own. Immediately consult an experienced gastro doctor in Kolkata to begin your treatment. Call an ambulance if you experience the following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Pale skin
• Rapid pulse rate
• Severe chest or abdominal pain
• Changes in the skin colour

Is hematemesis treatable?

Hematemesis is an emergency medical condition. If there is severe bleeding, patients are administered blood transfusion as the primary treatment option to provide blood.

After that certain tests and examinations are done to know the location of the blood loss. Depending on the cause of the vomit, doctors prescribe medicines accordingly.

In case of chronic bleeding, surgery may be required to stop the ongoing bleeding. After that, further procedures are carried out to treat the underlying conditions.

Wrapping up

A small amount of blood in your vomit is normal. However, if you are spewing constant bright red blood from your mouth, it might be indicative of an emergency. If you are not sure about the cause of the vomit, please opt for an early diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment.