Vomiting Blood

Causes of vomiting blood

There are many possible causes of vomiting blood.

It's often a sign of bleeding in your stomach or food pipe (oesophagus), which runs from your mouth to your stomach.

Common causes of vomiting blood include:

gastritis
stomach ulcers
heart burn and acid reflux
alcohol-related liver disease
damage to your food pipe from being sick or coughing a lot

Less common causes include:

oesophageal cancer or stomach cancer
blood conditions, such as haemophilia
some medicines, including aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen and anticoagulant medicines (blood thinning medicines)
poisoning

It's also possible to vomit blood that was swallowed. For example, from a nosebleed or a baby breastfeeding on a bleeding nipple.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

You or your child are vomiting blood (or have vomited blood) and:

feel generally unwell
feel confused
feel faint or dizzy
have rapid or shallow breathing
have cold, clammy, pale skin
have tummy pain
have black poo

Find your nearest A&E

If you have stopped vomiting blood and had no other symptoms, ask for an urgent GP appointment, call 111 or get&t=/">get help from 111 online.

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

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