Which term means vomiting blood

Often the bleeding will stop quite quickly but in some cases it can become severe and life-threatening. So always play safe and seek medical help quickly. There is a range of different causes - discussed below. Many causes can be treated but the first priority is to make sure the bleeding stops. The rest of this leaflet aims to give some background information but is not a substitute for obtaining immediate medical attention if you vomit blood. The medical word for vomiting blood or throwing up blood is haematemesis.

This symptom is usually due to a problem within the upper gut. That is, the gullet oesophagus , stomach or the first part of the gut small intestine known as the duodenum. Vomiting of blood is a medical emergency. In many cases the bleeding will stop quite quickly but in some cases it can become severe and life-threatening. Therefore, call an ambulance or go directly to the nearest emergency department if you vomit blood.

Your gut gastrointestinal tract is the tube that starts at your mouth, and ends at your bottom anus. The upper gut includes the gullet oesophagus , stomach and first part of the gut small intestine known as the duodenum.

Food passes down the gullet into the stomach. The stomach makes acid which is not essential but helps to digest food. After being mixed in the stomach, food passes into the duodenum, to be digested. Dark blood. This is often referred to as a 'coffee ground' colour. This suggests that the bleed has been relatively slow. The bleeding in this situation may not yet have been heavy.

However, it may become heavy at a later time. Melaena is the medical word for old, dark blood in stools faeces. If you have melaena , your stools become very dark or black. There is often a tar-like consistency. Vomiting blood and having melaena are symptoms that often go together. Having both symptoms together means that you have had a lot of bleeding into the gut. Other symptoms may occur at the same time as vomiting blood.

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Show references Gastrointestinal GI bleeding. Accessed Jan. Douglas G, et al. The gastrointestinal system. In: Macleod's Clinical Examination. Philadelphia, Pa. Vomiting blood haematemesis. National Health Service. Laparoscopic Surgery. Rectal Surgery. Medical Tests. Abdominal Scans. Barium Radiology. Function Studies. Interventional Radiology. Symptoms and Conditions. For Appointments Schedule GI Appointment Online.

Contact Us. Launch MyChart. What is hematemesis? Symptoms of hematemesis Symptoms that suggest a person may be bleeding internally include: brown or black vomit bowel movements that produce dark, tar-like stools Hematemesis is considered a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.