Vomiting

Vomiting is a common gastrointestinal complaint that can be triggered by various stimuli and is considered a defense mechanism against toxins, drugs, bacteria, viruses, and fungi that enter the body. Symptoms associated with vomiting include:

• Nausea
• Abdominal distension
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Lightheadedness
• Vertigo
• Increased heart rate
• Excessive sweating
• Dryness of the mouth
• Decreased urination
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Confusion
• Excessive sleepiness

Have you been vomiting quite frequently? Know what can cause vomiting and when to visit a doctor. Enlighten Yourself Now.

During vomiting, the major muscles between the neck and stomach contract simultaneously. This puts pressure on the stomach, expelling its contents up the throat and through the mouth. The most common causes of vomiting include:

• Gastroenteritis: Acute viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection caused by various viruses. It is a major cause of vomiting. Other signs and symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and sometimes fever.
• Food poisoning: Eating contaminated or stale food can lead to food poisoning, caused by the multiplication of bacteria that produce toxins in the body. It commonly causes vomiting, along with nausea and stomach cramping, with or without diarrhea.
• Inner ear infections: Also known as labyrinthitis, this condition can cause vomiting, often accompanied by dizziness and a sensation of spinning (vertigo).
• Motion sickness: This condition involves a sensation of nausea and vomiting while traveling by road, air, or sea. The movement of the vehicle causes turbulence, leading to a loss of balance in the inner ear.
• Pregnancy: Pregnant women often experience repeated episodes of nausea and vomiting, particularly during the first trimester, commonly referred to as "morning sickness."
• Appendicitis: This is an inflammation of the appendix, which can cause pain that typically moves to the right or lower right side of the stomach, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
• Gallstones: Hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder may lead to severe abdominal pain and vomiting.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This condition involves stomach acid repeatedly flowing back into the esophagus, which may lead to nausea and vomiting.
• Migraines: These headaches can cause severe throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, and are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
• Medications: Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of many medications, including antibiotics, vitamins, birth control pills, analgesics, and antidepressants. Consult your doctor if you experience nausea after taking any medication.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, affecting up to 40% of patients.
• Concussion: A traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. Emergency care is essential if repeated vomiting or nausea occurs after a head injury.
• Crohn’s disease: This inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes swelling in the digestive tract, potentially leading to a narrowing of the intestine and resulting in nausea and vomiting.
• Other causes of vomiting: These may include bowel obstruction, menstruation, excessive alcohol consumption, anxiety, intense pain, kidney infections and stones, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food allergies, and exposure to toxins.

Did you know? Nausea and vomiting occur in about 20-30% of postoperative patients as a complication of anesthesia. The term PONV describes nausea and/or vomiting in the immediate 24 postoperative hours, while postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) refer to symptoms occurring after discharge from outpatient procedures.

Causes of vomiting in babies: Common causes may include:

• Viral gastroenteritis
• Swallowing milk too quickly
• Food allergies
• Milk intolerance
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Middle ear infections
• Pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Ingesting toxic substances accidentally
• Congenital pyloric stenosis (a condition present at birth that causes narrowing of the passage between the stomach and bowel)
• Blockages in the bowel

Is your child vomiting? Here are some important things to remember when your child has one or multiple episodes of vomiting.

Vomiting can be a symptom of various causes; it may range from simple indigestion to an underlying disorder. Although diagnosing vomiting can be straightforward, it is crucial not to overlook its cause, and every possibility must be evaluated. The diagnosis mainly consists of:

1. Medical history
   Past history is essential in determining the cause of vomiting. Questions regarding onset, duration, frequency, any chronic illness, the timing of vomiting, and associated symptoms must be asked to gain a thorough understanding of the reason behind vomiting.
2. Physical examination
   The physical examination initially focuses on signs of dehydration, including the evaluation of fingers for calluses that may suggest self-induced vomiting. Signs of depression or anxiety, which may indicate psychiatric causes, need to be assessed. An abdominal examination is crucial, as it can detect distention with tenderness that may suggest a bowel obstruction.
3. Laboratory tests
   Tests are guided by the history and physical examination to determine the underlying cause or evaluate the consequences of vomiting. These tests include:
   • Complete blood count (CBC): To diagnose any changes in blood cell count.
   • Serum electrolytes: To check for acidosis (excess acid in body fluids), alkalosis (excess base in body fluids), azotemia (build-up of nitrogen products in the blood), and hypokalemia (deficiency of potassium in the blood).
   • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): To check for inflammation.
   • Pancreatic/liver enzymes: For patients with upper abdominal pain or jaundice.
   • Pregnancy test: For any female of childbearing age.
   • Protein/albumin: In patients with chronic organic illness or malnutrition.
   • Specific toxins: To check for any ingestion or use of potentially toxic medications.
   • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): For patients with signs of thyroid toxicity or unexplained nausea and vomiting.
4. Imaging tests
   Supine and upright abdominal radiography are performed to check for small bowel or any other kind of obstruction.
5. Other tests
   Further testing may be required to evaluate obstructions or other causes. These tests may include:
   • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
   • Computed tomography (CT)
   • Abdominal ultrasonography (USG)
   • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain

Book your tests now to identify every possible cause for your recurrent vomiting episodes.

The sequence before vomiting is nausea. When you begin feeling nauseous, there are a few steps you can take to potentially prevent vomiting. The following tips may help:

• Take deep breaths as soon as you begin to feel nauseous.
• Drink plenty of water and other liquids.
• Eat fresh or candied ginger or try ginger tea.
• If you are prone to motion sickness, take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication to stop vomiting.
• Suck on ice chips.
• Avoid oily or spicy foods if you have indigestion.
• Sit or lie down with your head and back propped up.
• Do not consume excess alcohol.
• Do not sleep immediately after eating.
• Avoid staring at screens while traveling.
• Try to avoid any kind of activity when you feel nauseous.

The most common cause of vomiting is a bad stomach. Improve your stomach care with our wide range of products designed for your needs. Shop Now.

The basic management of vomiting is to avoid any environmental triggers such as crowded places, odors, and heat. Additionally, treating the underlying cause is crucial to prevent episodes of vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting can be particularly severe in individuals undergoing cancer treatment or those who have had surgery. Treatment in such cases includes:

• Antiemetic drugs
  Antiemetics are medications used to combat nausea and vomiting. They work by blocking the pathways involved in vomiting. The most commonly used antiemetics include:
  • Scopolamine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Promethazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Droperidol
  • Metoclopramide
  • Ondansetron
• Newer agents
  These agents work by blocking the action of a chemical messenger (neurokinin) in the brain that may induce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. Aprepitant is the first of these agents to be introduced, although its efficacy is not yet fully established.

Note: Glucocorticoids (corticosteroids) such as dexamethasone are well-established antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Read more on dos and don'ts to follow while taking oral corticosteroids.

Vomiting can be a one-time occurrence or may happen regularly due to various reasons. However, the sensation is not pleasant and can impact both the mind and body. The first and foremost step is to keep yourself hydrated. The following tips should be considered for managing vomiting in children:

• Avoid solid foods for up to 24 hours in the case of persistent vomiting.
• Keep your child hydrated.
• Lay your child on their side to minimize the chance of inhaling vomit into their airways.
• Do not try medications and alternative treatments without a doctor’s approval.

There are numerous tips to manage nausea and vomiting, and some of the most effective home remedies include:

• Ginger (Adrak): Ginger is a widely used herb for its many natural medicinal properties, particularly as an antiemetic.
• Lemon (Nimbu): According to studies, 40% of women have used lemon scent to relieve nausea and vomiting, with 26.5% reporting it as an effective way to control their symptoms.
• Peppermint oil: It significantly reduces the frequency of nausea, vomiting, and retching.
• Fennel (Sauf): It refreshes the flavor of your mouth and helps stop vomiting. You can consume it as it is or as fennel seeds tea.
• Cumin (Zeera): The powder and seeds of cumin are known to be effective in relieving nausea and vomiting.
• Cinnamon (Dalchini): It helps to reduce menstrual bleeding, nausea, and vomiting. Studies also showed significant improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms with cinnamon.

Feeling nauseated? Try these 6 foods to get instant relief.

In most cases, nausea and vomiting might clear up on their own unless there is an underlying chronic condition. Persistent vomiting can lead to the following complications:

• Dehydration: This may occur due to the failure to replace obligatory water losses, with the most common causes being vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating.
• Loss of enamel: Studies demonstrate that self-induced vomiting can lead to the erosion of the outer layer of teeth (enamel).

Nausea and vomiting are distressing symptoms that may significantly detract from the overall quality of life and greatly influence an individual’s mood and social activities. Chronic vomiting can be managed with alternative therapies that have shown positive results. These therapies include:

• Acupuncture and Acupressure: Acupuncture and acupressure are techniques commonly used to manage chronic vomiting. During acupuncture, a therapist inserts thin needles into specific points on the body. Acupressure stimulates the same points but uses pressure instead of needles. Both techniques stimulate nerve fibers, which transmit signals to the brain and spinal cord, potentially decreasing nausea.
• Aromatherapy: This therapy may help relieve nausea and vomiting, although studies on its effectiveness are mixed. To practice aromatherapy, try deep breathing with an open essential oil bottle, using an essential oil diffuser, or adding a few drops to a cotton ball. If you have asthma or another respiratory condition, consult your doctor before diffusing essential oils.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): According to TCM, vomiting is a manifestation of impaired homeostasis and reversed upward qi (the life force in Chinese philosophy) flow within the stomach, resulting in the expulsion of the stomach’s contents through the mouth. This alternative therapy involves various therapeutic techniques, with the key to treatment lying in harmonizing the stomach and diminishing qi counter flow.