What should you know about forced vomiting blood?

Blood may look bright red, dark red, or like coffee grounds. Forceful retching can injure the lining near the junction of the oesophagus and stomach. Bleeding can also arise from inflammation, ulcers, enlarged veins, medicines that affect clotting, or other digestive conditions. Oesophageal Cancer and Stomach Cancer are possible causes but are not established by the symptom alone.

Clinicians may ask about the amount and appearance of blood, black stools, abdominal pain, dizziness, alcohol use, and medicines. They may check blood tests and arrange an upper endoscopy or other imaging to locate the source.

Stop trying to vomit and seek emergency medical help. Do not eat or drink until a clinician advises you, and do not take additional anti-inflammatory pain medicines or blood-thinning medicines unless an emergency clinician tells you to. Keep medication packaging available and note when the bleeding began. If possible, have someone stay with you.

Call emergency services immediately if vomiting blood is accompanied by faintness, confusion, weakness, fast breathing, severe abdominal or chest pain, pale clammy skin, black stools, or continued bleeding. Do not drive yourself. Even a small streak after forceful retching should be discussed urgently because the amount seen does not reliably show how serious the source is.

Where is the bleeding likely to have started? Do I need an endoscopy or blood tests? Which medicines should I pause or restart? What symptoms mean I should return immediately, and how can I reduce further retching?