What to Do if you Vomit Blood
Blood in vomit, known medically as hematemesis, can be spotted when the content of the upper gastrointestinal fluids contain blood, and appears in vomit. It is a condition that can be a symptom of a serious health problem and should therefore be treated urgently. Continuous hematemesis can also lead to severe dehydration. There are many diseases and conditions that can cause regurgitation of large quantities of blood. To inform you of the most common diseases linked to haematosis, as well as provide more information about the condition itself, we at oneHOWTO have provided the following article so you know what to do if you vomit blood.
Steps to follow:
Take a look at the blood. The first thing you should do if you vomit blood is to take a look at it, as it is important to note that vomited blood may come from anywhere in the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and duodenum (the small intestine). The blood may be bright red or darker and almost black. Also, do not confuse the condition vomiting large amounts of blood, with the condition known as hematemesis, with haemoptysis, which is small amounts of blood in vomit that are caused by a a bloody nose or a bad cough.
Learn the possible reasons. As we mentioned above, vomiting of blood or hematemesis involves the gastrointestinal tract and can be caused by many different health problems and conditions. Some of the most common causes are:
- Peptic ulcers
- Problems in the oesophagus
- Oesophageal varicose veins or esophagitis
- Gastritis
- Damaged blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract
- Impaired blood clotting
- Tumors affecting the mouth, throat, stomach or oesophagus, etc.
Go to the doctor. As you can see, vomiting blood can mask a very serious ailment or disease that can be life-threatening, therefore, visit your doctor as soon as possible for tests. In addition, a patient who frequently regurgitates large amounts of blood must receive immediate medical attention in order to prevent the excessive bleeding and find the source of the problem.
Emergency treatment. Likewise, the treatment for hematemesis will depend on what is causing the problem, as well as the patient's physical state. For example, if it is due to oesophageal varices, a ligation treatment is often required (a treatment that closes the bleeding vessels using an elastic belt); or endoscopic sclerotherapy (the injection of a substance into varicose vein to stop bleeding).
If a patient has already suffered heavy blood loss, they will most likely need to receive emergency treatment, e.g.:
- Use of an IV to administer drugs and replace all fluids and minerals lost through vomiting blood.
- Transfusion of blood or packed red blood cells.
- Administration of oxygen .
- Possible surgery, if bleeding persists, even after administering the previously mentioned treatment.
Now that you understand the gravity of the situation, you should seek medical attention urgently as it may be an indication of an underlying serious health problem. It is also critical that, when you feel nauseous, you sit in a comfortable place and try to calm down, because, moving around or becoming nervous or anxious will only exacerbate the problem and increase the possibility of vomiting. Also, when you feel nauseous, avoid lying on your back, eating any food or drink or taking any medicine not prescribed by a doctor.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to What to Do if you Vomit Blood, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
