Clear vomit is not always an emergency, but if your symptoms are accompanied by chest pain, persistent bloody stools, severe headache or stiff neck, lethargy, a recent head injury, unintentional weight loss, or dehydration you should seek medical attention immediately.
You might vomit foam when you have a stomach bug, eat too many fatty or acidic foods, drink too much alcohol, or take certain types of medication. But it can also be a symptom of health conditions like hiatal hernia and candidiasis.
Red Vomit (hematemesis)
When you have a significant amount of vomit that is bright red in color or resembles coffee grounds, you should contact your doctor immediately. This can be the result of multiple conditions including, but not limited to: Liver failure. Cancer of the stomach, pancreas, or esophagus.
People may feel very sick and vomit many times a day. Most people improve within three days. However, sometimes people become dehydrated and need medical treatment. Dehydration is the most serious complication.
White or Foamy Vomit
The vomit appears white or foamy due to acid buildup in the stomach. Therefore, a person should consult the doctor if the condition lasts more than one or two days.
Clear Vomit
Vomiting clear liquid like this is a common result. Don't panic. You will likely have green/yellow vomit soon, see above. Clear vomit can be normal when you have an empty stomach and are vomiting.
Yellow or green vomit can emerge with a flu virus or fasting, while black vomit is indicative of a more serious digestive problem that is causing internal bleeding. Vomit is a normal response to the presence of foreign substances or microorganisms in the body, however it can be a sign of a gastric illness.
Slowly add bland foods. If you've been able to drink some fluids and haven't thrown up for 6 to 8 hours, try eating small amounts of foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, unbuttered toast, dry crackers, or dry cereal. Once you're back on solid food, eat small meals every few hours.
Allow yourself to rest. Resting propped up in a seated position with the head elevated at least twelve inches above the feet is ideal. Remain in this seated rested position for a minimum of an hour, or until you are no longer experiencing nausea. Do not lie down all the way.
Strange colors: Vomit may look bright red or dark (like coffee grounds) if it contains blood. Meanwhile, bile -- a fluid made by your liver that helps with digestion -- can make vomit look bright green. Both are cause for concern. Blood could be a sign of an ulcer or an irritation in your GI tract.
Speak to your GP if:
you've been vomiting repeatedly for more than a day or two. you're unable to keep down any fluids because you're vomiting repeatedly. you have signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, a rapid heartbeat, sunken eyes and passing little or no urine.
In the later stages of cirrhosis, you may vomit blood or have tarry, black stools. This is because blood can't flow through the liver properly, which causes an increase in blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the gut to the liver (portal vein).
Vomiting is a symptom, not a disease or condition. Vomiting can be classed as acute (a short term isolated attack) or chronic (ongoing or recurrent). Gastroenteritis and food poisoning are the most common underlying causes of sudden vomiting and usually clear up without treatment in a couple of days.
Coughing, lifting, sneezing, laughing, straining and vomiting will all create sudden stress on the opening of the bladder, leading to leakage. These moments of bladder weakness are also called “stress incontinence.”
Sleeping on your side with your head raised can ease symptoms and keep you from choking on your vomit, if you're unable to make it to the bathroom in time.
Getting extra sleep when you're sick doesn't just give you a few hours of respite from unpleasant symptoms: Sleep is like medicine for the immune system, ultimately helping you make a full recovery from an illness. “Sleep is the only time of anyone's day or night where we have restoration processes happening.
Contrary to how yucky it may feel, it's not great to brush your teeth right after vomiting. It's best to swish water around your mouth with a touch of baking soda after vomiting. We recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing. Brushing immediately after rubs the stomach acid on teeth.
For Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea: Avoid eating and drinking for two hours after the last episode of vomiting. Start with small amounts of clear liquids, such as water, ice, popsicles, sports drinks, clear broth or Jell-O for the first 24 hours.
After your vomiting stops, you may feel weak and lethargic. This is quite common and happens because you haven't eaten in a while. Vomiting may also have left you dehydrated. You also lose electrolytes and salts when vomiting.
If your symptoms include vomit, check the color. Bile has a tell-tale yellow tint. If you also have symptoms of bile reflux in your stomach, such as abdominal pain and indigestion, that might be an important clue. In general, acid reflux is considered more common and more likely than bile reflux.
If your child has gastro, they may: feel unwell, and not want to eat or drink. vomit in the first 24 to 48 hours (usually before diarrhoea begins) have diarrhoea, which can last up to 10 days.
The vomiting reflex is mediated by both the autonomic and somatic systems, and consists of two phases: Prodomal phase (pre-ejection): Relaxation of gastric muscles followed by small intestinal retrograde peristalsis; Ejection phase: Comprises of retching and vomiting including expulsion of gastric contents.