Hematemesis: what can be and what to do

The term hematemesis is usually indicative of gastrointestinal changes and corresponds to the scientific term for vomiting with blood, which can happen due to minor conditions such as nasal bleeding or irritation of the esophagus. However, if blood vomiting does not go away or is associated with other symptoms, it may be indicative of more serious problems, such as cirrhosis or esophageal cancer, for example.

For this reason, if the person presents with vomiting with frequent blood, it is important to consult the general practitioner so that tests can be done to identify the cause and, thus, the most appropriate treatment can be indicated, which usually varies according to their cause.

Main causes

The main causes of hematemesis are:

1. Swallow blood

Swallowing blood is a major cause of hematemesis and can happen when there is nosebleed or when there is irritation in the esophagus. In such cases, it is possible for blood to be swallowed involuntarily and the person releases undigested blood through vomiting.

What to do: As it does not correspond to a serious situation, it is not necessary for the person to go to the hospital to solve the bleeding and treat the cause of the vomiting, only in the case where the nosebleed is very intense, is frequent or is due to fracture, for example, in which case it is necessary to consult the doctor so that the appropriate measures are taken.

2. Ulcers in the stomach

The presence of stomach ulcers can also lead to hematemesis. This is because due to the excess acidity of the stomach, the gastric mucosa begins to become irritated, leading to the formation of ulcers. As these ulcers are irritated by stomach acid, bleeding occurs, resulting in hematemesis.

In addition to hematemesis, it is possible to consider that there are ulcers in the stomach when other symptoms appear, such as stomach sensation, pain in the stomach's mouth, darker and smelly stools and abdominal pain. Here's how to recognize a stomach ulcer.

What to do: In the presence of indicative signs of hematemesis, it is recommended to go to the general practitioner or gastroenterologist to have tests done and treatment can be started, which is usually done using drugs that protect the gastric mucosa from acid produced in the stomach, and change in eating habits is also recommended.

3. Side effect of medications

Some drugs may have as a side effect small gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be perceived through hematemesis, however this side effect is not felt by everyone. Some of the drugs that may have hematemesis as a side effect are Aspirin and Ibuprofen, which are anti-inflammatory, however hematemesis most often only happens when the person already has some change in the stomach lining or when using these medicines in large quantities and without medical indication.

What to do: If it has been found that hematemesis may be related to the use of a particular medication, it is important to consult the doctor who made the recommendation so that the medication can be safely suspended or changed.

4. Gastritis

Gastritis can also cause hematemesis because it is directly related to the fact that the gastric mucosa is often irritated by the acid produced by the stomach. Thus, as a consequence of increased acidity and local irritation, some symptoms may appear, such as vomiting with blood, abdominal discomfort, a burning sensation in the stomach and nausea. Most of the time, hematemesis is related to chronic gastritis, which is where the stomach inflammation lasts for more than 3 months and whose treatment is not started or is not done correctly.

What to do: Treatment for gastritis should be done according to the gastroenterologist's guidance, with the use of gastric protective medications, such as Omeprazole and Pantoprazole, for example, as they create a barrier in the stomach that prevents acid produced in the stomach again irritate the stomach lining, relieving and preventing symptoms of gastritis. In addition, a change in eating habits is recommended, and it is recommended to avoid spicy foods, fats, alcoholic drinks and fried foods, as they also irritate the stomach lining.

Check out in the video below what to eat in gastritis:

5. Liver cirrhosis

In liver cirrhosis, it is also possible to observe blood vomiting as one of the symptoms, and this can happen due to changes in the liver that result in the obstruction of the portal vein, which is the vein present in the liver and which is responsible for the portal system, a system that is responsible for draining blood from the abdominal organs. As a consequence of liver and portal system failure, there is an increase in pressure in the esophageal veins, resulting in bleeding.

Thus, in case of cirrhosis, in addition to hematemesis, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, yellow skin and eyes, nausea, weakness, excessive tiredness and, in more advanced cases, malnutrition, may be noticed.

What to do: It is important that the treatment recommended by the hepatologist is followed correctly in order to avoid complications and improve the person's quality of life. It is also important that tests are performed to identify the cause of cirrhosis, as it can be caused by excessive alcoholic beverages or the use of some medications, for example. Regardless of the cause, it is important that the person maintains a balanced diet and supplemented with vitamins so that nutritional deficiencies are not verified. See how the treatment for cirrhosis should be done.

6. Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is another serious cause of hematemesis and it is more common for this bleeding to occur in the more advanced stages of cancer. In addition to blood vomiting, in the case of esophageal cancer, other symptoms such as difficulty and pain in swallowing, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, presence of nodules around the navel and dark and smelly stools are perceived.

What to do: It is important that tests are carried out to identify the cancer and the stage it is in, as it is possible for the gastroenterologist or oncologist to indicate the most appropriate treatment to reduce symptoms and prolong the person's life. Most of the time, the indicated treatment is surgery to remove part of the esophagus that is affected by the tumor, followed by radio and chemotherapy to eliminate cancer cells that may still be present. Learn more about esophageal cancer.