Emmerdale’s Gabby coughs up blood as health fears grow

Gabby’s health storyline takes a frightening turn in Emmerdale this week when she coughs up blood, while Manpreet becomes increasingly concerned about her relationship with food and the health information she is consuming online. The latest development follows a persistent cough and months of growing concern about Gabby’s clean-eating regime.

Her increasingly rigid approach to food began during the summer, when healthy eating started to consume more of her attention. Gabby later suffered dizziness and collapsed, with a medical check revealing low blood pressure and a pregnancy test coming back negative.

It also emerged that Gabby had stopped taking her contraceptive pill as part of her clean-living approach. Although Gabby remained convinced she was making healthier choices, those around her became concerned about how restrictive her behaviour was becoming.

The storyline has continued while Gabby deals with considerable pressure elsewhere in her life. Vinny was on a video call with her when he veered into Jimmy’s path during the wedding-day crash that ultimately led to the deaths of Jimmy and Dawn.

After confessing to Gabby and Kev, Vinny told Nicola himself before Nicola later confronted Gabby publicly about what had happened.

Problems at The Hide add further strain as Gabby and Laurel clash over the healthy-eating menu and the struggling business, eventually leading Laurel to walk away.

Gabby’s physical health then gives her another reason to worry when she coughs into a tissue and discovers blood. With her cough continuing, further tests are arranged as Manpreet begins looking beyond the immediate physical symptoms.

Manpreet becomes particularly concerned after hearing Gabby repeating conspiracy theories about pharmaceutical companies and discovering the kind of health content she has been viewing and sharing online.

She asks Gabby to return to the surgery and raises the possibility that her restrictive relationship with healthy eating may be orthorexia.

Orthorexia is a term used to describe an unhealthy obsession with eating food considered healthy or pure, although it is not formally recognised as a separate clinical diagnosis. NHS guidance on eating disorders lists very strict habits or routines around food among possible warning signs of an unhealthy relationship with eating.

Gabby coughing up blood is a separate concern and should not automatically be connected to her eating habits. NHS advice says even a few small spots, flecks or streaks of blood should be checked urgently, while larger amounts or blood accompanied by breathing difficulties, a very fast heartbeat or chest or upper-back pain require emergency help.

For Manpreet, it is the overall pattern that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The question now is whether Gabby can accept that her determination to live healthily may itself have developed into something requiring help.

Emmerdale is available from 7am on ITVX before airing on ITV1. Images: ITV.