The sight of green throw-up can be alarming. This distinct color suggests the digestive process involves fluids beyond the stomach contents. While the cause can range from a common, temporary issue to a serious medical condition, the green color provides a specific clue about what is happening inside the body. Evaluating accompanying symptoms is necessary to determine the urgency of the situation.
Identifying the Source of the Green Color
The vibrant green or yellow-green color is typically caused by bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile is released into the small intestine, specifically the duodenum, where its primary function is to emulsify fats, breaking them down into smaller, easily absorbed particles. The green hue comes from biliverdin, a breakdown product of old red blood cells that is excreted through the bile.
Normally, a muscular valve called the pyloric sphincter prevents bile from flowing backward from the small intestine into the stomach. Green vomit occurs when this fluid is expelled because the stomach is empty, allowing bile to reflux into the stomach during intense retching. This expulsion of bile signals that the body has cleared any prior stomach contents.
Common and Temporary Causes
In many instances, green vomit is a temporary sign that the stomach is simply empty after repeated episodes of sickness. A common scenario is gastroenteritis, often called the stomach flu, or food poisoning, where the initial vomiting clears the stomach of food and fluid. Subsequent retching brings up the bile that has refluxed from the small intestine, indicating the late stages of the vomiting episode.
Conditions like severe morning sickness or intense motion sickness can also lead to this result because of prolonged nausea and vomiting on an empty stomach. The continued muscular action of vomiting forces the bile past the pyloric valve, especially when there is no food to buffer the fluid. These cases are usually self-limiting, meaning the green vomit resolves once the underlying illness or irritant passes.
When Green Vomit Signals a Serious Problem
While often benign, green vomit can be a symptom of a serious complication that requires immediate medical attention. The most significant concern is a bowel obstruction, which is a partial or complete blockage of the small or large intestine. This blockage prevents the normal, forward movement of digestive contents, including bile, causing them to back up into the stomach.
In this situation, the green color signals a mechanical failure in the digestive tract, not merely an empty stomach. Other serious causes include complications from recent abdominal surgery, where scar tissue or adhesions can cause a physical obstruction, or conditions like chronic bile reflux. Accompanying symptoms, such as severe, cramping abdominal pain, bloating, and the inability to pass gas or stool, are strong indicators of a dangerous obstruction.
When to Seek Medical Attention
It is important to evaluate the green vomit in the context of other symptoms to determine if medical consultation is necessary. Contact a healthcare provider if the vomiting persists for more than 24 to 48 hours or if you are unable to keep down any fluids. Signs of dehydration, such as dizziness, reduced urination, or lethargy, also warrant professional care.
Immediate emergency care is required if the green vomit is accompanied by severe, spreading abdominal pain, a high fever, or severe chest pain. Seek help if there is any presence of blood, which may look like red streaks or dark, coffee-ground material. Green or yellow-green vomiting in infants is always considered a surgical emergency and requires immediate attention.