The key difference between hematemesis and hemoptysis is that hematemesis refers to vomiting blood, while hemoptysis refers to coughing or spitting up blood mixed with mucus or spit.
Hematemesis and hemoptysis are two symptoms of unusual bleeding. Both these symptoms indicate an underlying pathological condition. However, hemoptysis is not always dangerous, and it can even occur from excessive coughing. On the other hand, hematemesis can be quite dangerous if it involves a lot of bleeding with tears or if it involves bleeding of esophageal or gastric varices.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hematemesis
3. What is Hemoptysis
4. Similarities – Hematemesis vs Hemoptysis
5. Hematemesis vs Hemoptysis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hematemesis vs Hemoptysis
What is Hematemesis?
Hematemesis is known as vomiting blood. It is a very dangerous symptom. It generally means that the patient has bleeding in the upper GI (gastrointestinal) tract. Therefore, this symptom is a serious emergency situation. People may vomit blood along with stomach contents or blood alone. The blood may be fresh, bright red or older, darker, and coagulated like coffee grounds. Hematemesis is most commonly caused by medical conditions such as bleeding ulcers, acute inflammation, enlarged blood vessels that rupture, chronic pancreatitis, traumatic injury, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, and angiodysplasias. The other usual symptoms associated with hematemesis include dizziness or lightheadedness, disorientation or confusion, severe abdominal pain, and severe chest pain. Normally, if someone is vomiting a lot of blood, they are at risk of going into hypovolemic shock, which can cause organ failure and death.
Moreover, hematemesis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, blood test, and upper endoscopy exam. Furthermore, treatment options for hematemesis may include IV fluids, blood transfusions, oxygen support, medicines to relax (sedatives), and treating underlying conditions.
What is Hemoptysis?
Hemoptysis involves coughing or spitting up blood mixed with mucus or spit. This condition is not always dangerous. It can even happen due to excessive coughing. Hemoptysis can be caused by bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, vasculitis, drug use, complications from lupus, congestive heart failure, injury to arteries in the lungs, irritations from biopsies like bronchoscopy biopsy, using blood thinners, excessive coughing, pulmonary embolism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary aspiration, blood entering from the throat to nose, tonsils and obstruction in the airway. The other associated symptoms of hemoptysis include fever, chest pain, night sweat, shortness of breath, rapid weight loss, dizziness or lightheadedness, and hematuria.
Moreover, hemoptysis can be diagnosed through physical examination, chest X-ray, CT scan, bronchoscopy, complete blood count, sputum culture, pulmonary arteriography, and urinalysis. Furthermore, treatment options for hemoptysis include IV fluid, a bronchoscopy to remove clots in the airways that cause bleeding, bronchial artery angiography to stop blood flow in blood vessels causing the bleeding, medicines that stops severe bleeding like tranexamic acid, antibiotics, steroids, and surgery for cancers.
What are the Similarities Between Hematemesis and Hemoptysis?
- Hematemesis and hemoptysis are two symptoms that involve unusual bleeding.
- Both these symptoms indicate an underlying pathological condition.
- Hematemesis and hemoptysis may have other associated symptoms like chest pain, lightheadedness, etc.
- Both hematemesis and hemoptysis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, and imaging scans.
- They are treated by providing IV fluids and specific medications.
What is the Difference Between Hematemesis and Hemoptysis?
Hematemesis is a symptom that involves vomiting blood, while hemoptysis is a symptom that involves coughing or spitting up blood mixed with mucus or spit. Thus, this is the key difference between hematemesis and hemoptysis. Furthermore, hematemesis is a serious symptom, while hemoptysis is not always a serious symptom.
The below infographic presents the differences between hematemesis and hemoptysis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Hematemesis vs Hemoptysis
Bleeding is the loss of blood from the circulatory system. It can range from minor to massive bleeds. Hematemesis and hemoptysis are two symptoms characterized by unusual bleeding. They can be due to underlying pathological conditions. However, hematemesis is a symptom that involves vomiting blood, while hemoptysis is a symptom that involves coughing or spitting up blood mixed with mucus or spit. So, this is the key difference between hematemesis and hemoptysis.
Reference:
1. “Hematemesis (Vomiting Blood): Causes, What It Is & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Coughing up Blood: Causes and When to Seek Care.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Hematemesis” By Michael Kappel (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Selective Focus Photo of Coughing Man’s Hand” (CC0) via Pexels