Acid reflux and throwing up blood

Blood may look bright red, dark red or like coffee grounds. Do not assume reflux is the cause, and do not wait to see whether it happens again.

Acid reflux brings stomach contents into the oesophagus and commonly causes heartburn or a sour taste. Severe irritation of the oesophagus can bleed, but vomiting blood can also come from an ulcer, a tear after forceful retching or another source in the upper digestive tract. The appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Swallowed blood from a nosebleed or the mouth can sometimes later appear in vomit, yet this still needs a clinician to establish where the blood came from. Black, tar-like stool may accompany bleeding higher in the digestive tract.

Arrange emergency assessment immediately. If you feel faint, weak, confused, short of breath or clammy, or if there is more than a small streak of blood, call local emergency services. Do not drive yourself when you feel unwell; have someone stay with you if possible.

Keep any medicine packets available and tell the medical team about aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers and blood-thinning medicines. Do not stop a prescribed medicine unless the emergency clinician directs you, but make sure they know what you take.

Call emergency services for vomiting blood with collapse, severe abdominal or chest pain, rapid breathing, marked dizziness, pale or cold skin, confusion, black stool or ongoing bleeding. These features can accompany significant blood loss or another urgent condition.

Even without those signs, any blood in vomit warrants urgent same-day medical help. Ordinary reflux remedies should not delay assessment because they cannot treat active bleeding.

Be ready to describe the colour and approximate amount, whether vomiting or retching came first, and whether you have black stool, abdominal pain, trouble swallowing or recent nose or mouth bleeding. Ask what tests are needed to locate the source and how your reflux treatment should change after the urgent problem is addressed.