Vomiting blood

Hematemesis is a nonspecific symptom that is characterized by a sudden, uncontrolled release of bright red (hematemesis) or brown (coffee grounds) vomit through the mouth. The focus of bleeding can open in any part of the body after a mechanical injury, damage to the mucous membranes, infectious, inflammatory or oncological diseases. The victim must be given first aid and sent to a medical facility as soon as possible, otherwise the outcome may be fatal. What you need to know about hematemesis and can it be prevented?

The mechanism and nature of vomiting

Vomiting is a reflex eruption of the contents of the stomach (less often the duodenum) through the mouth. Sometimes the amount of vomit is so great that they come out through the nasopharynx. The mechanism of vomiting is due to the contraction of the abdominal muscles and the simultaneous closure of part of the stomach. First, the body of the organ relaxes, then the entrance to the stomach opens. The entire gastrointestinal tract reacts to changes in work and prepares for the release of vomit. As soon as the vomiting center located in the medulla oblongata receives the necessary signal, the esophagus and oral cavity expand, followed by the eruption of food / body fluids.

The field of medicine that deals with the study of vomiting and nausea is called emetology.

How to recognize vomiting? A few hours or minutes before the eruption of vomit, a person feels nausea, rapid breathing, involuntary swallowing movements, increased secretion of tears and saliva. The vomit consists not only of the remnants of food that did not have time to be fully absorbed by the body, but also of gastric juice, mucus, bile, less often – pus and blood.

Possible causes of development

The most common cause of vomiting is food/alcohol/drug/drug poisoning. The mechanism of the eruption of the contents of the stomach can also work with a number of infections, irritation of the abdominal cavity, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes the body releases dangerous substances on its own or ceases to function normally under the influence of severe psychological stress / disorders of the nervous system.

If blood is found in the vomit, then bleeding has developed in one of the parts of the body. Even if you notice one small blood clot, you should immediately consult a doctor. The amount of vomited blood may not correspond to the real state of affairs. The only thing to focus on is the shade and structure of the biological fluid. Bright scarlet blood indicates abundant “fresh” bleeding, but dark purple blood clots indicate a small but prolonged amount of blood loss. Upon contact with gastric juice, the blood coagulates and becomes dark in color.

Vomiting blood poses a serious threat to human health. As soon as you notice these symptoms, seek emergency care immediately.

What diseases cause vomiting with blood?

Vomiting blood may indicate:

• mechanical damage to the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach, throat, other internal organ or cavity;
• varicose veins of the esophagus;
• ulcer, cirrhosis, acute gastritis;
• oncological diseases, regardless of nature;
• alcohol poisoning;
• the use of medicines that adversely affect the mucous membrane of internal organs;
• infectious diseases;
• hemorrhagic syndromes;
• pathology of ENT organs;
• pregnancy (vomiting blood is dangerous for both the mother and the baby).

How to provide first aid?

Make sure the vomit contains blood and not colored food. Often the patient can mistake the chocolate eaten the day before for brown blood clots and make a lot of premature diagnoses. Another false reason for worry is the ingestion of blood from the nose or mouth into the vomit. Perhaps a vessel burst in the nasal passages, or most recently you had a tooth removed, in place of which a bloody wound remained.

You can stop bleeding from the nose/mouth cavity on your own. If you do not know what to do or the volumes of released blood look frightening, consult a doctor.

The main thing is to act quickly and judiciously. Call an ambulance, reassure the patient and lay him on a flat surface. Elevate your legs slightly or turn the person on their side. Focus on his condition and comfort, if possible – go to the hospital yourself. Monitor your pulse/pressure periodically and record the results so that you can send them to your doctor later. Provide the victim with unrestricted access to drinking water. Help him take a few sips to stay hydrated.

Never leave the victim unattended. If an attack of vomiting caught you alone, ask relatives or neighbors to be nearby until the ambulance arrives. Vomiting can resume at any moment, which is fraught with a total weakening, loss of consciousness, during which the patient can simply choke. If you have witnessed an attack, do not try to give the victim medication without a doctor’s prescription. Do not force the person to eat, or artificially induce another bout of vomiting to completely cleanse the body. The best thing you can do is get the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.

Do not rely on chance or self-recovery. Untimely access to a doctor can cost your life, so do not risk your health and strictly follow the instructions of a specialist.

Treatment and prevention

Vomiting blood is a symptom, not a complete disease. The doctor must determine the root cause of the symptom, and then proceed to neutralize it. Before starting the diagnosis, the condition of the victim should be normalized. Doctors compensate for the loss of fluid, normalize blood pressure and perform the necessary manipulations.

The appearance of blood in the contents of the stomach indicates serious diseases of the digestive system or other organs, so self-medication or delay in seeking medical help can be harmful to health. Patients with coffee grounds vomiting require rest and urgent hospitalization to determine the causes of the symptom and select a treatment regimen. At the preclinical stage, it is permissible to apply cold to the abdomen. Intensive therapy is aimed at stopping bleeding and normalizing hemodynamic parameters.

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