Symptoms Of A Hiatal Hernia

Vomiting Blood

While the direct cause of a hiatal hernia is typically unknown, increased intra-abdominal pressure may contribute. Pregnancy, severe cough, obesity and straining during bowel movements are times during which a hiatal hernia may form due to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Vomiting blood can be a scary indicator for hiatal hernia. Most of the time, the blood is actually a darkened brown or even black, described as coffee-colored. Blood from a hiatal hernia is rarely red. Red or foamy red blood in vomit typically indicates blood from the respiratory tract, not a hiatal hernia. This brown coloring is the chemical reaction of the blood mixed with stomach acids as well as the darkening which occurs as a result of old versus fresh blood. Left untreated, vomiting blood may lead to anemia. By definition, anemia is a medical condition that develops when blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Most commonly, anemia is a result of iron deficiency, which is the type of anemia seen with hiatal hernias.