Vomiting Overview

Vomiting which is also known as puking, throwing up, barfing, emesis is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of the stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose.

 It can be a one-time event linked to something that doesn’t settle right in the stomach. Recurrent vomiting may be caused by underlying medical conditions. Frequent vomiting may also lead to dehydration, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Causes of Vomiting

Vomiting is common. Eating too much food or drinking too much alcohol can make a person throw up. This generally isn’t a cause for concern. Vomiting itself is not a condition. It’s a symptom of other conditions. Some of these conditions include:

  • Anesthesia
  • Chemotherapy
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Food poisoning
  • Indigestion 
  • Infections (associated with bacterial and viral illnesses)
  • Motion sickness
  • Morning Sickness (pregnancy-related)
  • Headaches
  • Prescription medications

Frequent vomiting not related to any of these causes may be a symptom of cyclic vomiting syndrome. This condition is characterized by vomiting for up to 10 days. It is usually coupled with nausea, fatigue and extreme lack of energy. It mainly occurs during childhood.

 Complications of Vomiting

Dehydration is the most common complication related to vomiting. Vomiting causes your stomach to expel not only food but fluids, too. Dehydration can cause:

Dehydration is especially serious in infants and young children who vomit. Younger children have smaller body mass and thus have less fluid to sustain themselves. Parents whose children show symptoms of dehydration should talk to their family pediatrician immediately.

Malnutrition is another complication of vomiting. Failure to keep down solid foods causes your body to lose nutrients. If you’re experiencing excessive fatigue and weakness related to frequent vomiting, seek medical attention.

Vomiting Emergencies

Vomiting is a common symptom, but it can sometimes require emergency medical attention. You should immediately go to the doctor if you:

  • Vomit for more than one day
  • Suspect food poisoning
  • Have a severe headache accompanied by a stiff neck
  • Severe abdominal pain

Blood in Vomit

You should also seek emergency services if there’s blood in the vomit, which is known as hematemesis. Hematemesis symptoms include:

  • Coughing up a substance that looks like coffee grounds
  • Vomiting large amounts of red blood
  • Spitting up dark blood

Vomiting blood is often caused by:

  • Ruptured blood vessels
  • Stomach bleeding 
  • Ulcers

It can also be caused by some forms of cancer. This condition is often accompanied by dizziness. If you vomit blood, call your doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

Treatment of Vomiting

Treatment for vomiting addresses the underlying cause.

It’s not necessary for throwing up once in a while. But hydration is important even if you only vomit once. Drinking clear liquids is recommended. Clear liquids containing electrolytes can help provide essential nutrients lost through vomiting.

Solid foods can irritate a sensitive stomach, which increases your chances of throwing up. It may be beneficial to avoid solid foods until clear liquids are tolerated.

Your doctor might prescribe antiemetic drugs for frequent vomiting. These medications help to reduce episodes of throwing up.

Home Remedies

Alternative remedies like ingesting products that contain ginger, bergamot, and lemongrass oil may also help. Using alternative remedies may cause drug interactions. Talk to your doctor before starting any alternative remedies.

Dietary changes can also help with frequent vomiting. These are especially helpful for morning sickness. Foods that help to alleviate vomiting include:

  • Nongreasy foods
  • Saltine crackers
  • Ginger products like ginger ale

You can also try eating smaller meals throughout the day.

Prevention of Vomiting

Vomiting triggers can vary between people. These may include:

  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Eating too much food 
  • Hot or spicy foods
  • Exercising after eating
  • Stress
  • Lack of sleep
  • Migraine

Adopting healthier lifestyle habits can help prevent vomiting episodes. It’s difficult to entirely avoid viruses that cause vomiting.

However, you can reduce your chances of getting a virus by exercising good hygiene, like washing your hands regularly.

Summary

Vomiting is a common symptom of many diseases and conditions. These symptoms often go away without treatment, but various options can help prevent or manage them.

Doctors may recommend antiemetic medication, such as antihistamines, or suggest lifestyle changes to manage symptoms, such as eating slowly and drinking ginger tea.

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