Hematemesis

/ˌhɛməˈtɛmɪsɪs/ noun

Definition

Vomiting of blood, which can indicate serious bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, or upper digestive tract.

Etymology

From Greek 'hema' (blood) + 'emesis' (vomiting), literally 'blood-vomiting,' a medical symptom indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Kelly Says

Doctors can tell a lot from the color of vomited blood—bright red suggests recent esophageal bleeding, while dark or coffee-ground appearance means the blood spent time in the stomach being chemically broken down.

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