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
References
https://www.everydayhealth.com/vomiting/guide/
https://www.healthline.com/symptom/vomiting
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-vomiting-remedies