Red Blood in Vomit: What to Know

Bright red blood may be fresh bleeding. Dark, grainy material that resembles coffee grounds may have stayed in the stomach long enough for digestion to change its appearance. Causes range from irritation or a tear after forceful vomiting to ulcers, inflammation, medication effects, or bleeding from the oesophagus or stomach. Oesophageal Cancer and Stomach Cancer are possible conditions associated with upper digestive bleeding, but this symptom has many non-cancer causes.

Blood swallowed from the mouth or nose can also appear in vomit. A clinician will consider the amount, timing, pain, medicines, alcohol use, previous digestive problems, and whether you have black stools.

Contact urgent medical services for advice rather than driving yourself if you feel faint. Keep a sample or photograph if safe, note the colour and amount, and bring your medicine list. Avoid alcohol and do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain medicines unless a clinician has told you to. Do not eat or drink heavily while waiting for medical advice, particularly if vomiting continues.

Go to an emergency department immediately for ongoing or large-volume bleeding, fainting, confusion, cold clammy skin, rapid breathing, severe abdominal or chest pain, black tarry stools, or inability to keep fluids down. These signs can indicate significant blood loss or another urgent problem. Cancer history, blood-thinning medicine, or liver disease makes prompt assessment especially important.

Where might the bleeding be coming from? Do I need blood tests, an endoscopy, or imaging? Which medicines should I pause or continue? What should I do if the vomiting returns?