Blood in the stomach can appear in a few different ways depending on how long it has been there and what caused the bleeding. It will not be the bright red color you might expect.
Here's a breakdown:
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If the bleeding is rapid and significant: You might see bright red blood in vomit. This indicates relatively fresh blood that hasn't been significantly altered by stomach acid. This usually means the bleeding is higher in the digestive tract, like in the esophagus or upper stomach.
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If the blood has been partially digested: The blood will react with stomach acid, causing it to turn dark brown or black. Vomit may look like coffee grounds. This indicates the blood has been in the stomach for some time and has been partially digested.
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In stool: Blood that has been digested in the stomach and passed through the intestines will typically result in black, tarry stools (melena). This is a sign of bleeding in the upper digestive tract.
Therefore, the color of blood in the stomach depends on the amount of time it has been exposed to stomach acid. Fresh blood may appear bright red, while older, partially digested blood will appear dark brown or black.
