Patients who spit up blood are in a potentially life-threatening condition. Most often, spitting blood is caused by bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment must first stop the source of bleeding.
What is vomiting blood?
In general, blood spitting poses a risk of anemia as well as circulatory failure. When the body loses too much blood, a state of shock occurs with rapid heartbeat, loss of consciousness and shortness of breath. Spitting up blood, also called hematemesis, is a potentially life-threatening condition in which affected individuals vomit blood. The origin of the vomited blood is usually in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. Because bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract has a relatively high mortality rate of approximately 10%, vomiting blood requires immediate medical attention. Typically, vomited blood is bright red; however, it turns dark when it comes in contact with stomach acid because the hydrochloric acid in the stomach reacts with the hemoglobin in the blood to form hematin. Coughing up blood should not be confused with spitting up blood, as they are two independent clinical pictures. If the patient vomits more than half a liter of blood, there is a danger to life. In general, blood spitting poses a risk of anemia as well as circulatory failure. If the body loses too much blood, a state of shock occurs with palpitations, impaired consciousness and shortness of breath.
Causes
There are several conditions that are associated with vomiting blood. Basically, vomiting blood indicates gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common cause of spitting blood is an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum. Ulcers can begin to bleed, which triggers the vomiting blood. Almost as common are burst varices in the esophagus or stomach. In this case, they are called burst varices. Damage or injury to the mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract can cause affected individuals to spit blood. Damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach, which can lead to ulcers, is caused, among other things, by smoking, taking painkillers, and poor diet. Mallory-Weiss syndrome is associated with gushing vomiting of blood due to lesions in the esophagus. Spitting up blood can also be a result of stomach cancer. If there is a particularly severe case of nosebleeds, patients may spit blood. This is because a lot of blood is swallowed.
Diseases with this symptom
- Esophageal cancer
- Alcoholism
- Esophageal varices
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Liver disease
- Gastritis
- Stomach cancer
- Blood clotting disorder
- Esophageal variceal bleeding
- Gastric ulcer
- Duodenal ulcer
Diagnosis and course
When spitting blood, the underlying disease must be found as soon as possible as part of the diagnosis. The patient’s medical history is of great importance, because here the doctor may find evidence of previous diseases, which may be associated with vomiting blood. The coloration of the vomited blood is also used to make the diagnosis. If the blood is light red, it means that the cause is above the stomach, i.e. in the esophagus. If the blood has a dark brown color, it indicates a source of bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. To be able to locate the source of the bleeding, an endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract or esophagus is performed. In addition, blood tests, X-ray examinations, and an ultrasound may be necessary to make a diagnosis. The course of hematemesis depends largely on the underlying disease and prompt diagnosis. If the bleeding can be stopped quickly, the course is considered positive in the majority of cases. However, there is a danger to life if the patient spits up a lot of blood within a short time and the cause is unclear.
Complications
When patients spit up blood, action must be taken as soon as possible. Spitting up blood can be life-threatening, so the bleeding must always be stopped first. Most often the cause is in the stomach or duodenum, but the esophagus can also be the trigger. Vomiting blood must be treated by a doctor as soon as possible; in fact, the mortality rate is relatively high in this clinical picture. The vomited blood is usually light red in color, but turns dark when it comes into contact with stomach acid.Now, spitting up blood must not be confused with coughing up blood; they are two totally different clinical pictures. However, if it is blood spitting and the patient vomits more than half a liter of blood, there is the highest danger to life. There can be many reasons why blood spitting occurs, but most often the cause is in the stomach or duodenum. It is ulcers here that trigger the blood spitting. Often it is also burst varicose veins in this area or the mucous membrane in the gastrointestinal tract is injured. From this ulcers can form, which are caused by smoking, a poor diet or taking painkillers. Some patients are also diagnosed with stomach cancer. Likewise, spitting blood can come from very heavy nosebleeds, simply too much blood is swallowed.
When should you go to the doctor?
Blood in saliva can be a clear indication of a serious illness. Anyone who spits up blood or coughs should therefore see a doctor as soon as possible, insofar as the cause is not clear. If the cause is known and appears harmless (injuries in the mouth and throat, bleeding gums, cold, etc.), the symptoms must at least be observed. If the symptoms persist or if the sputum is pure blood, there may be a serious cause – a visit to the doctor is advisable, and in the case of acute symptoms, an emergency doctor should be called. Spitting up blood or coughing that persists for several days or is accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, pain in the lungs and throat area or chest pain also requires medical clarification. In the case of underlying diseases such as immunodeficiency or influenza, a physician should always be consulted in order to prevent a deterioration of the general condition. Children and infants who spit up blood must generally see a doctor. The same applies if the symptoms occur immediately after eating acidic, irritating or spicy foods or after consuming stimulants or drugs. If the complaints are caused by medication, an accident or contact with toxic substances, a visit to the doctor is also recommended. A saliva sample can usually clarify the cause beyond doubt.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of spitting blood consists first of all of finding the source of bleeding and stopping the bleeding. This is important to minimize blood loss and prevent circulatory collapse in the patient. In addition, to maintain circulation, venous access is established. To compensate for the loss of fluids and electrolytes, saline is administered intravenously to the patient. Furthermore, a blood transfusion may be necessary if the patient has already lost large amounts of blood. By means of an emergency endoscopy, the source of bleeding is identified at the same time. After providing the body with fluids, the goal is to stop the bleeding. If a bleeding peptic ulcer is present, surgery is often necessary to remove the ulcer. If the ulcer was caused by bacteria, the patient must take antibiotics after surgery. A ruptured varicose vein in the esophagus is sclerosed endoscopically, which quickly stops the bleeding. Emergency medical treatment is followed by long-term therapy that addresses the causes of hematemesis. Here, for example, a nutritionist can be used to work out an appropriate diet plan together with the patient. Depending on the cause of the hematemesis, the patient may need to take medications for an extended period of time to protect the gastrointestinal tract.
Outlook and prognosis
Giving the course or a precise prognosis is extremely difficult in hematemesis because the causes can be varied. The most common is most likely gum inflammation. In this case, there is relatively little leakage of blood, so that no further treatment is necessary. In such a case, the bleeding stops on its own and should be completely gone after three to four days. The prognosis is different in the case of a serious illness. In general, if the spitting of blood is due to a stomach ulcer, stomach cancer, alcoholism or esophageal cancer, it must be treated by a doctor. If not treated, these diseases are usually fatal or lead to serious consequential damage.However, even with appropriate treatment, there is no guarantee of complete recovery. Especially with different types of cancer, the time of diagnosis is extremely crucial. The sooner the cancer is discovered, the better the chances of a complete recovery. Diagnosis also takes into consideration the color, quantity and frequency of the blood. After taking these factors into account, a more reliable prognosis or outlook can usually be made.
Prevention
To avoid spitting blood, attention should be paid first and foremost to a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Mucosal damage that develops into ulcers can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. Among other things, attention should be paid to a balanced diet. It is also worthwhile to severely limit the consumption of alcohol and nicotine, as these substances damage the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. In addition, painkillers such as aspirin should not be taken for a long time, as they increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Spitting blood indicates a serious disease of the respiratory tract or internal organs and requires immediate medical attention. Accompanying various home remedies and measures against the bloody sputum help. First of all, it is advisable to drink plenty of fluids and to stop consuming alcohol and cigarettes. Foods that could further irritate the mucous membranes should be avoided. For bloody sputum as a result of bronchitis, home remedies such as thyme, Iceland moss and marshmallow root are recommended. Inhaling a saline solution soothes the respiratory tract and flushes out the blood naturally. In addition, licorice root and sage, which can be taken in the form of tea, are also recommended. In addition, the throat should be kept warm. Depending on the symptoms, the chest can also be cooled and rubbed with homeopathic, expectorant ointments. Accompanying complaints should be noted in a diary before the doctor’s visit and described in as much detail as possible. If possible, some blood can also be poured into a glass and taken to the doctor. In any case, if the coughing up of blood is severe, the emergency physician must be called immediately and first aid administered if necessary.
