Vomiting leads to low blood potassium levels which can cause fatigue, weakness and abnormal heart beats or heart arrest. This complication is unpredictable and occurs without warning, even in people who have previously vomited without developing problems. If you do vomit, drink some juice to help reduce this risk.
Do not eat or drink anything for several hours after vomiting. Sip small amounts of water or suck ice chips every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Next, sip clear liquids every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Examples include water, sports drinks, flat soda, clear broth, gelatin, flavored ice, popsicles or apple juice.
Sleep helps the stomach finish digesting any food in it. It may calm your child's vomiting.
After receiving the vomiting signal, your stomach muscles contract all at once, which squeezes everything while increasing the pressure. Then all at once the “cover” on your stomach relaxes and the contents of your stomach erupt out.
It'll normally improve within a few days. Vomiting can occasionally be a sign of something more serious, such as appendicitis. There is a separate page on vomiting in children and babies. Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Try drinking sips of water, weak tea, clear soft drinks without carbonation, noncaffeinated sports drinks, or broth. Sugary drinks may calm the stomach better than other liquids. Temporarily stop taking oral medicines. These can make vomiting worse.
A person with nausea has the sensation that vomiting may occur. Other signs that you are about to vomit include gagging, retching, choking, involuntary stomach reflexes, the mouth filling with saliva (to protect the teeth from stomach acid), and the need to move or bend over.
Hydrate with clear liquids
Make hydration your main focus after a bout of vomiting, states Dr. Goldman. Start by drinking small sips of water every 15 minutes for the first three to four hours. You can even suck on ice chips.
Struggling with the stomach flu
Sleep on your side with your head elevated: If you find yourself vomiting a lot, then sleep on your side with your head elevated.
While it might seem tempting to brush your teeth immediately after vomiting, we don't recommend it. That's because throwing up leaves stomach acid in your mouth, and when you brush immediately after, you are actually rubbing that highly destructive acid into your teeth.
Experiencing dehydration due to a stomach bug can leave you feeling incredibly weak. Taking the time to rest and allow your body to recuperate is important. Cut back on your normal activity—which you probably won't be able to do as you recoup anyhow—and get the recommended amount of sleep for your age.
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.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying ("throwing up") of stomach contents through the mouth.
Gastroenteritis and food poisoning are the most common underlying causes of sudden vomiting and usually clear up without treatment in a couple of days. Vomiting can sometimes be a symptom of something serious. Recurrent vomiting or vomiting that has lasted more than 2 days should always be investigated by your doctor.
The sympathetic nervous system raises your heart rate and makes you sweat across your whole body, to shed the heat from this sudden exertion.
When the abdominal muscles contract, the vomit comes up. Finally the sympathetic nervous system signs appear and there is sweating, palpitation, and rapid heart rate. This is when bulimia shaking may occur.
Second, just before throwing up your body produces extra saliva, which helps protect your teeth from the strong acid. Third, the vomiting process releases chemicals in your body to make you feel better. So that “I feel better” feeling after throwing up is not just your imagination — it's your biology working.
Try oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or coconut water
Your body uses electrolytes, like sodium, calcium and potassium, to move water through your body. In normal function, you remove them through sweat and normal bathroom habits, but when you throw up or have diarrhea, your electrolytes levels can get especially low.