Vomiting blood
Introduction
Vomiting blood (haematemesis)could be a sign of a serious problem .
You should go to your GP surgery or nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department .
The amount and colour of blood can vary. For example:
- you may have vomited large amounts of bright red blood
- there maybe streaks of blood in your vomit, mixed up with food
- there may be what look like coffee grounds in your vomit, which means the blood has been in your stomach for a few hours
Keep a small sample of the vomit to show your GP orthe doctor treating you. Itwill give them amuch better idea of what's wrong.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017
Introduction
Read about what to do if you're vomiting blood. Vomiting blood is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical assistance. Go to your GP surgery or nearest A&E department.
What to expect when you see a doctor
Unless you're perfectly well and the cause is obvious to your GP or doctor for example, swallowing blood from a Nosebleed you should be admitted to hospital straight away for tests. These will inclu
Common causes of vomiting blood
If you vomit blood, it means there's bleeding somewhere in your oesophagus, stomach or the first part of your small intestine (duodenum). Below is a summary of the most likely causes of blood in the
Less common causes of vomiting blood
Less commonly, blood in yourvomit may be caused by: swallowing poisons such as corrosive acid or arsenic ablood condition such asa reduced number of platelets in the blood(thrombocytopenia), l
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