Blood in vomit generally comes from an upper gastrointestinal (GI) source, such as your stomach. In some cases, minor causes may trigger vomiting blood, such as swallowing blood from a mouth...

Throwing up blood (hematemesis) can signal digestive conditions like gastritis, ulcers, or GERD, and may also be linked to liver disease, pancreatitis, or cancer.

Blood in vomit may be bright red, or it may appear black or dark brown like coffee grounds. Swallowed blood, as from a nosebleed or forceful coughing, may cause bloody vomit, but truly vomiting blood usually means something more serious and requires immediate medical attention.

It’s possible to vomit blood if you swallow it due to a nosebleed or mouth bleed. But if you haven’t swallowed blood, it’s coming from inside your upper digestive system.

Find out what can cause vomiting blood and when it might be a medical emergency.

Find out what you need to know about hematemesis and discover the causes, risks, and treatments.

Common causes include stomach ulcers, alcoholic liver disease, or a tear in the gullet. Vomiting blood can also happen if you swallow blood, for example, from a nosebleed. You should seek emergency medical assessment if you vomit blood.

Learn what vomiting blood looks like, what causes it, and which symptoms mean you need emergency care right away.

Learn about vomiting blood (hematemesis), its causes, symptoms, risk factors, complications, and treatment options. Seek immediate medical attention for this serious condition.

Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood. It can be confused with hemoptysis (coughing up blood) or epistaxis (nosebleed), which are more common. The source is generally the upper gastrointestinal tract, typically above the suspensory muscle of duodenum.