Vomiting with blood

If you throw up with blood in the vomit, you are generally quite shocked. Blood in the vomit is a sign that something is wrong with the body. You should therefore always ask yourself what to do. If you repeatedly vomit blood, it is necessary to seek medical attention. The causes of vomiting with blood can be minor to very serious. What causes blood vomiting?

Vomiting blood

  • The esophageal blockage
  • Allergic reaction
  • Stomach ulcer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Vomiting blood: when to go to the doctor?

 

The esophageal blockage

Imagine that you have eaten something, but you have not chewed it properly and not long enough. This means that the food has not absorbed enough saliva and may therefore be too large or still too rough. If that food is swallowed, it can get stuck in the esophagus. You generally do not notice much of this and usually the food will be gradually transported through the esophagus to the stomach. Still, there is a chance that the food is stuck. After a few hours you start to feel uncomfortable and experience acid reflux. This goes from bad to worse and you start to feel nauseous. You rush to the toilet because you feel like you’re going to vomit. And sure enough, you throw up. But you still have that food in the esophagus. The vomit is held back by the stuck food, causing overpressure in the esophagus. The esophagus ruptures locally. The food has come loose and the vomit is being vomited. The wound releases blood and also causes vomiting. Be calm, the esophageal mucosa needs some time to recover. Normally it won’t bother you anymore. Please note that sometimes the blockage is caused by an esophageal spasm.

Allergic reaction

You may vomit immediately after eating and see fresh blood in the vomit. It may only happen once in a while, because you ate something special or different from normal. Specific ingredients can cause a severe allergic reaction, causing immediate irritation of the mucous membranes. It can lead to an acute blood blister, which burst due to blood pressure and ingestion of food. It gives a nauseous feeling, which makes you want to vomit. In that case you will see red traces of blood in the vomit. In principle, this is a harmless condition, but you should no longer consume this type of food or ingredient from now on to avoid additional bleeding.

Stomach ulcer

In a stomach ulcer, the stomach mucosa is damaged by the continuous action of stomach acid, but the bacteria and enzymes present can also affect the stomach ulcer. An ulcer is an opening through which blood can come out. It is often assumed that this is caused by stress, but this has not yet been factually proven. Excessive use of alcohol, smoking and little fruit and vegetables are often the reason for developing a stomach ulcer. Depending on the size of the ulcer, blood enters the stomach. With a small ulcer, the blood is simply digested. However, if the bleeding is greater, blood is vomited. It is then necessary that you undergo a medical examination.

Stomach cancer

Another cause of blood in the vomit is stomach cancer. Stomach cancer can cause the patient to have long-term stomach pain where:

  • there is a continuous feeling of fullness. People feel nauseous and often vomit, also with blood in the vomit;
  • there is weight loss because people eat less and because cancer growth withdraws a lot of energy from the body;
  • the bile ducts become blocked, causing the body and especially the eyes to appear yellow.

Because the stomach is located relatively deep in the body, stomach cancer is often recognized late. Once stomach cancer is diagnosed, it is usually too late for further treatment. If you are vomiting and there is blood in the vomit, it is time to go to the doctor, especially if the whites of your eyes start to turn yellowish.

Vomiting blood: when to go to the doctor?

Vomiting blood is often a sign of a serious situation. If you have vomited and felt pain in the esophagus, this is probably due to a food blockage. Then you have to stay calm. If you have not felt that pain and you are vomiting with an increasing amount of blood, then it is necessary to go to the doctor. Nowadays, having a stomach ulcer can be treated well with medication. However, if the diagnosis is stomach or esophageal cancer, the prospects are less positive.

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