Digested blood in vomit

Blood darkens after contact with stomach acid. Vomiting blood is an urgent symptom even if the amount seems small or the bleeding appears to have stopped.

Possible causes include an ulcer, inflammation, a tear after forceful vomiting, enlarged veins or a bleeding growth. Oesophageal cancer and stomach cancer can present with bleeding, but coffee-ground vomit does not by itself identify the cause. Medicines that affect clotting or irritate the stomach can influence bleeding and should be reported to the treating clinician.

Black, sticky stools can occur when blood passes through the digestive tract. Pallor, weakness, dizziness, a racing heartbeat or breathlessness may accompany meaningful blood loss.

Seek urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a routine appointment. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, weak or unwell. If possible, note the vomit's colour and approximate amount, and bring a current list of medicines, especially blood thinners, anti-inflammatory pain medicines and cancer treatments.

Do not take extra pain medicine or food and drink to test whether the symptom settles. Follow emergency service instructions while waiting for help. Clinicians may check circulation, blood counts and clotting, then use endoscopy or imaging to locate and treat the source.

Call emergency services now for vomit containing blood or coffee-ground material, particularly with fainting, confusion, cold or clammy skin, severe abdominal or chest pain, breathlessness, rapid breathing, black stools or ongoing vomiting. These signs can accompany substantial bleeding or circulatory shock.

Where was the bleeding found, and was it treated? Should any medicine be paused, changed or restarted? What symptoms could show recurrent bleeding, and what follow-up investigation is needed?