Vomiting is one of the normal responses of the body to the presence of foreign substances or microorganisms in the body, however it may be a sign of gastric diseases and should therefore be investigated and treated as soon as possible.
The color of the vomit can also indicate the state of health of the person, and may be yellow or green in the case of flu or even fasting, or black when there are serious digestive diseases that lead to bleeding in organs of the digestive system and results in the release of blood through the mouth.
What can it be
The color of the vomit can tell the doctor how the person's health is, so he can start treatment and prevent complications. Here's what the color of vomit may indicate:
Yellow or green vomit
Yellow or green vomit mainly indicates the release of bile that is in the stomach, and is often due to fasting, empty stomach or intestinal obstruction, for example. Bile is a substance produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder and has the function of promoting the digestion of fats and facilitating the absorption of nutrients in the intestine. Thus, when the stomach is empty or when the person has some condition that leads to intestinal obstruction, such as gallstones for example, there is release of bile through vomiting and the more bile released, the more green is vomiting.
In addition to the release of bile, green or yellow vomit may be caused by:
- Presence of phlegm, being more common in children with colds or flu;
- Consumption of yellow or green foods or drinks;
- Release of pus due to infection;
- Poisoning.
Yellow or green vomit usually does not represent serious situations, and may only indicate that the stomach is empty, for example. However, when accompanied by other symptoms or when it is very frequent it can mean serious health problems, being important to go to the doctor.
What to do: It is also important to drink plenty of fluids, such as water or coconut water, to avoid dehydration and worsening of symptoms, as well as maintaining a balanced and healthy diet. See what the symptoms are and how to combat dehydration.
Black vomit
Black vomit is usually indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding, consisting mainly of undigested blood and called hematemesis. Usually black blood is associated with other symptoms, such as dizziness, cold sweat, and bloody stools. Learn more about vomiting with blood.
Digestive bleeding corresponds to bleeding somewhere in the digestive system, and can be classified as high or low according to the affected organ. This bleeding can be caused by the presence of ulcers in the stomach or intestine, Crohn's disease and cancer of the intestine or stomach, for example. See what can cause digestive haemorrhage.
What to do: In case of black vomit, it is important to go to the doctor as soon as possible so that tests can be performed and the cause can be identified, starting the treatment, which can be done through blood transfusion, use of medications or even even surgery, depending on the cause. In addition, it is also recommended to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
