Vomiting Blood (haematemesis) Causes and Treatment
Vomiting blood is not a good thing – it can happen for several reasons, some life-threatening. This article will go through when it’s likely to happen and what the possible causes are. It will also cover the treatment and advice on what to do if you or someone around you is vomiting blood.
What is Vomiting Blood?
Vomiting blood, or hematemesis, is a condition where the blood comes out of the mouth. If you vomit blood, you have bleeding in your digestive tract. In this case, the bleeding occurs along the upper part of the digestive tract, including the oesophagus, stomach, and parts of the small intestine.
Vomiting blood can mean many different things, from a mild case of food poisoning to life-threatening conditions.
Let’s go over the causes and treatments for vomiting blood.
What are the Causes of Vomiting Blood?
An acute liver failure.
- Aspirin.
- Benign tumours of the stomach and oesophagus.
- Inflammation of the liver (cirrhosis)
- Blood vessel defects in the gastrointestinal tract.
- (An artery that protrudes through the stomach wall) Dieulafoy’s lesion
- Encephalitis.
- Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE).
- Gastrointestinal bleeding in children.
- Hemangiomas (protruding blood vessels)
- Intestinal malrotation.
- Erosion of the stomach’s lining (breakdown of the tissue)
- The abdomen is encircled with varices (enlarged veins).
- Stomach inflammation (gastroenteritis)
- (Esophageal tears associated with vomiting or coughing) Mallory-Weiss tears.
- OTC medication that is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
- Cancer of the pancreas
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- A stomach ulcer
- Hypertension in the portal vein (portal hypertension)
- An extended or vigorous vomiting
- Gastric cancer
Vomiting blood can also occur in babies and young children when:
- Disabilities resulting from congenital conditions
- Thrombosis
- Allergies to dairy products
- Swallowing blood, such as nasal blood
- Swallowed object
- Deficiency in vitamin K
Is Vomiting Blood Fatal?
It is always dangerous to throw up blood, but if you’re an alcoholic, it can indicate a catastrophic event. Oesophagal varices patients with the symptom of throwing up blood can die within several hours of exsanguination after they have experienced this condition.
Is Pink Vomit Bad?
Adults may vomit pink or red due to damage to their throats, mouths, or gums after coughing or vomiting. A small amount of blood may not be cause for alarm. Nevertheless, if you see significant amounts or resemble coffee grounds, you should see your doctor to eliminate more serious conditions.
Complications of Vomiting Blood
Vomiting blood can be a sign of serious illnesses, which is why it is important to look for treatment as soon as possible. As soon as the underlying cause is identified, your health care professional and you have to create a treatment plan tailored specifically for you with the following goals in mind:
- Treatment-related adverse effects
- Having low red blood cells (anemia)
- Cancer of the esophagus
- The need for blood transfusions
- Hemorrhages that recur
- Spread of cancer
- Shock
- Spread of infection.
- Gastric cancer
- Gastric perforations
Treatment for Vomiting Blood
The medical team will first take care of any low blood pressure or breathing problems that may have occurred due to excessive bleeding. If your blood pressure is high or your stomach acid level is low, you might need a blood transfusion, breathing assistance, and medication.
Further treatment may include intravenous fluids (injected directly into a vein) and surgery.
After the medical team has successfully stabilized you, they will work towards detecting the cause of your vomiting blood.
Contact Post Oak ER
If you or someone in your family has been vomiting blood, please take them to the hospital as soon as possible for medical care. Post Oak ER is happy to provide the right kind of care. Call us at 832-581-2277.
