Vomiting is the forceful involuntary (or voluntary if induced) expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth. Vomiting can be caused by several reasons. It can be a one-time event where one vomits due to ingesting something that is unpleasant to the stomach, or it can occur multiple times in the due course of a disease or an illness. Vomiting leads to dehydration hence excessive vomiting can have serious consequences, so it is very important to keep yourself hydrating in these episodes.

Causes

• Motion sickness or seasickness that may or may not be associated with traveling
• Pregnancy-related nausea due to hormonal changes
• Drug-induced vomiting
• Emotional stress (such as fear)
• Gallbladder disease [for e.g. gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis)]
• Food poisoning
• Infections (such as the "stomach flu")
• Overeating
• Drinking too much alcohol
• An adverse reaction to certain unpleasant odors
• Heart attack
• Peptic ulcers
• Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
• Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying (a condition observed in diabetes)
• Ingestion of toxins
• Migraines
• Labyrinthitis – an inner ear disorder that causes vertigo and nausea
• Side effect of certain antibiotics and opioid painkillers
• Kidney infections and kidney stones
• Bowel blockage, which may be caused by a hernia or gallstones
• Brain disorders such as brain tumor, any brain injury or concussion
• Cancer
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Symptoms

Vomiting itself is a symptom of various illnesses. But certain associated symptoms may risk towards a complication and medical help should be sought immediately for:

• Blood in the vomit (points towards internal bleeding in the stomach due to ulcers, or broken blood vessels or maybe even any cancer)
• Suspected food poisoning
• Vomiting more than once a day
• Severe abdominal pain and/or a headache

Treatment & Prevention

• Treatment for vomiting once in a while is not needed but it is important to keep yourself hydrated.
• Drink clear liquids, especially electrolyte-rich fluids as they provide vital nutrients and ions lost through vomiting. Severe dehydration may also require treatment with intravenous fluids.
• Avoid solid foods as they irritate the stomach.
• Sometimes antiemetic drugs can be prescribed by the doctor. These help to reduce episodes of vomiting, e.g. omeprazole, domperidone, etc.
• Some tried and tested home remedies include:
  • Slow and deep breathing
  • Drinking fluids such as ginger ale, mint tea, and lemonade reduce nausea and vomiting
  • Eating soda crackers such as saltines, or a dry toast or a chocolate can help alleviate nausea during motion sickness
  • Wrist acupressure to massage the pressure points on your wrist helps reduce nausea