Vomiting Blood

Fresh blood may appear bright red, while blood that has remained in the stomach can look dark or like coffee grounds. Bleeding may come from the food pipe, stomach, or the first part of the small intestine. Possible causes include irritation or a tear after repeated vomiting, an ulcer, inflammation, enlarged veins, or another digestive condition.

Vomiting blood does not by itself identify the cause. Oesophageal Cancer and Stomach Cancer are among the conditions clinicians may consider alongside many non-cancer causes. The amount seen does not reliably show how serious the bleeding is, because blood loss can continue internally.

Seek emergency medical care for any blood in vomit. Do not drive if you feel faint. Keep a small sample or photograph if it can be done safely, and tell clinicians about medicines such as aspirin, anticoagulants, or anti-inflammatory painkillers. Do not eat or drink until a clinician advises you, particularly if a procedure may be needed. Do not take extra medication to stop the bleeding without medical guidance.

Call emergency services for repeated or heavy bleeding, fainting, confusion, pale clammy skin, rapid breathing, severe abdominal or chest pain, black tar-like stools, or inability to keep fluids down. These can signal significant blood loss or another urgent problem. Even a single episode that has stopped should receive same-day medical assessment.

Where might the bleeding have started? Do I need blood tests, a camera examination, or scans? Which medicines should I pause or continue? What symptoms mean I should return immediately?