Anyone who has ever vomited blood after drinking can relate the fear and worry caused by this condition. Knowing what causes blood in the vomit, what to do about it and when to worry are essential facts to know.
Vomiting Blood ?
Vomiting blood is called hematemesis in medical terms and is a relatively common occurrence after drinking. This should serve as a "wake-up" call that drinking is becoming problematic. Many novice drinkers will develop a strong aversion to excessive alcohol consumption after an episode of vomiting blood. The causes of bloody vomit range from mild to severe and potentially life threatening.
Symptoms of Throwing up Blood after Drinking
Symptoms can vary depending on the cause and degree of bleeding. Initial symptoms can include burning in the stomach, chest and throat, abdominal cramps, nausea and stomach pain. More serious symptoms include dizziness, weakness, severe pain in the chest, abdomen or back, shortness of breath and large amounts of blood in the vomit, passing out and circulatory shock.
When to see a doctor:
- Massive bleeding due to vomiting
- Large amounts of blood in the stool (large clots or maroon color)
- Severe unrelenting pain
- Dizziness or passing out
- Ongoing vomiting with repeated blood with each episode
- Fever
- Any patient taking blood thinners (examples include coumadin, Plavix, Pradaxa)
Causes of Throwing up Blood after Drinking
1. Gastrointestinal Tract Rupture
Vomiting is a violent act and generates pressure inside the abdomen, chest and specifically the esophagus. The sudden increase in pressure can result in rupture of the GI tract. The most common location of rupture is the esophagus and the contents of vomitus then spill out into the chest. This causes intense inflammation, infection and is fatal without prompt medical treatment.
2. Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis results from chronic alcohol consumption, autoimmune diseases and from inherited diseases such as hemachromatosis. The end result is scarring of the liver and an increase in the blood pressure inside the portal (liver) circulation. Blood vessels begin to dilate and form collateral vessels to help return blood to the heart. The esophagus is affected and abnormal vessels called varices form. These abnormal blood vessels are prone to rupture and massive bleeding can ensue.
3. Ulcer
Alcohol is acidic and irritates the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Excess alcohol intake causes the stomach lining to become inflamed and ulcerations can develop. Small amounts of blood may show up in the stool initially along with blood if vomiting occurs. The ulcer can erode deeper into the lining of the stomach or small intestine resulting in large amounts of blood in the vomit. If an ulcer erodes into a blood vessel, massive GI bleeding can result.
4. Gastritis
This is an inflammatory condition that results from a variety of factors such as poor diet, anti-inflammatory medication use, alcohol and excess intake of carbonated beverages. Smoking also contributes to developing gastritis by decreasing the protective mucus secreted by the stomach. A bacterium, H. pylori, also contributes to this problem and is treated with antibiotic therapy if present. Gastritis causes the lining of the stomach to become irritated to such a degree that minor bleeding results. If this becomes more severe, an ulcer can develop and more serious problems can occur.
5. Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Excess alcohol causes irritation of the stomach and intestinal lining.
Alcohol is a weak acid and excessive intake can lead to damage of the protective mucus in the stomach.
6. Medication/Drug Side Effects
Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen all can lead to irritation and bleeding. Blood can be noted if vomiting occurs. These OTC medications decrease the mucus production and directly irritate the stomach lining. Aspirin also inhibits blood clotting by interfering with platelet function. Platelets are the blood cells that help with clot formation.
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