Vomiting

Vomiting could happen to anyone from newborn to adults, elderly & even animals. It may happen due to food poisoning, motion sickness, viral infections, or any other health concerns.

This bodily response indicates the active defense mechanism of the individual for expelling unwanted substances from the body. However, it can also occur during non-threatening conditions like pregnancy or as a natural response to stress.

As it occurs temporarily and settles by itself, most individuals don’t require any medical attention immediately. Having a better understanding of this medical condition would however help you cope effectively, prevent complications & determine what to do if you or someone around you is vomiting. Let’s see.

What causes vomiting?

Let us share some of the major vomiting causes:

1. Pregnancy – During pregnancy, a lot of women experience nausea or vomiting during the early trimester.
2. Indigestion/overeating – If you have had too much of your favorite food and it goes beyond the tolerable limits of your body, it’ll try to expel the extras through vomit.
3. Viral infection – At times, some bacterial or viral infections related to the gastrointestinal tract trigger vomiting. For instance, stomach flu or gastroenteritis.
4. Food poisoning – When you accidentally have contaminated food or beverages, the body tries expelling the harmful toxins through vomit.
5. Motion sickness – Many individuals suffer from this medical condition while traveling by plane, car, bus, or boat. The vehicle’s movement disturbs their inner ear triggering nausea or vomiting.
6. Side effects of medicine – While undergoing treatment with certain medicines, some patients may experience vomiting. When such medicines are discontinued, vomiting will subside by itself.
7. Alcohol abuse – Excessive alcohol consumption causes the next-morning hangover by irritating the stomach lining. You’ll find a lot of alcohol addicts vomiting, that’s common.

What to eat after vomiting?

No wonder vomiting medicine for adults is accessible these days, but you’ll still want to find some home remedies first.

Post-vomiting, the stomach is possibly unsettled and sensitive. At this time, it is necessary to have some light food or drink to re-introduce food and avoid further irritations. These are the top recommendations as eatables after vomiting:

1. BRAT diet – Note this series of bananas, rice, applesauce & toast as one of the best diets to have post-vomiting. Such bland foods soothe the stomach and help stabilize the digestive system after the upset caused by vomit.
2. Electrolyte-rich drinks – When you vomit, your body expels electrolytes along with undigested food or fluids. The best way to restore the lost electrolyte is to have enough energy drinks after vomiting.
3. Crackers/dry toast – As said, have light snacks to avoid vomiting again while letting your stomach have something mild to digest. Crackers or dry toast seem good options to start with so you don’t end up with stomach upset again.
4. Clear fluids – Drink a lot of clear fluids like water, clear broth, or green tea to keep yourself hydrated. Make sure you don’t have caffeine or any kind of carbonated drinks right after.

While we have discussed what to eat after vomiting, let us also mention what NOT to eat. Avoid any kind of spicy, fatty, or acid-causing meals. Such foods can irritate the stomach lining and trigger nausea.

How to induce vomiting?

Never try to induce vomiting. It is not recommended by healthcare professionals either.

If you try to induce vomiting without any reason, you may end up upsetting the entire gastrointestinal tract. During exceptional cases like food poisoning or realizing consumption of harmful substances, reach out to the healthcare professional first. If found suitable, they would guide you on how to induce vomiting to expel the toxic material from your stomach. Do it under medical supervision only. Adopting any improper methods at home can be dangerous.

What can I take to settle my stomach after vomiting?

Many vomiting medicines for adults and children are easily accessible on a prescription. Well, there are some options you should find legitimate at your home before you buy a prescription medicine:

• Peppermint—Peppermint is an excellent source for settling stomach acids after vomiting. You may have it as tea or oil, whichever you find more convenient.
• Ginger – Ginger is a commonly available ingredient in our homes. Very few of us know it can be a great source of relief after vomiting. Make yourself a ginger ale or relaxing ginger tea to let your stomach calm the acid storm. If you want, you may toss a slice of ginger into your mouth which you may suck or chew to find relief.
• Electrolytes – They help in restoring hydration after vomiting. Get a sports drink or electrolyte tablet handy.
• Antacids—If you have motion sickness, antacids could be the best thing to carry wherever you go. These OTC medicines help stabilize stomach acids while relieving nausea. However, don’t consume them randomly; better consult a healthcare professional to learn more.

Vomiting after drinking alcohol the next day What to do

Vomiting the next day after drinking alcohol is medically termed a hangover. Excess alcohol irritates the stomach lining which triggers vomiting as the body’s response. Here are a few steps to consider:

• Re-hydrate with electrolytes/drink a lot of fluids
• Stick to the BRAT diet
• Rest & Recover
• Use Antacids

How to stop vomiting in children?

Children require extra care during vomiting as it could be a traumatic experience among little ones. The coping activity is almost similar to adults.

• Make sure the child is given enough fluids to recover from dehydration caused by vomiting.
• Introduce easy-to-digest foods like yoghurt, applesauce, plain rice, bananas, etc once the vomiting has settled.
• Let the child rest to recover. Harsh physical activities like outdoor play should be avoided.

Note: opt for immediate medical attention if your child has been vomiting for more than 24 hours. Report symptoms like dry mouth, urination changes, lathargy, etc to the doctor as soon as possible.

Vomiting medicine for children is also available on a prescription. Get a suitable one for them after consulting the paediatrician.

How to stop vomiting immediately?

It is quite challenging to stop vomiting immediately because the causes could be undetermined. These methods could aid in coping:

• Practice deep breathing
• Sip Giner tea or ginger ale
• Drink soothing peppermint tea
• Press P6 point on the wrist (Acupressure technique)
• Avoid sleeping. Sit with your back straight to prevent acid reflux

What is the best medicine for diarrhoea and vomiting?

A lot of prescription & OTC vomiting medicines for adults and children are available these days. Here are a few suggestions (do not buy without a prescription):

• Granicip
• Vomistop
• Perinorm
• Graniforce
• Aprecap
• Promethazine

Please find, these are just a few suggestions of the many options available. Do not buy or consume any without consulting the healthcare professional.

Conclusion

Vomiting is an unpleasant experience but with a prompt coping mechanism and handy remedies, it is possible to feel better. This digestive upset is mostly temporary but if it persists longer than 24 hours, consult the physician right away.

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