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.
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.
Nausea and vomiting can also be a big drain on your energy.
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. As horrible as it is, your body does help make things just a little better.
Vomit phobia is surprisingly common among both children and adults, and it often begins in childhood. It can develop following a traumatic vomiting experience or without a clear cause. Having a family history of specific phobias or other anxiety disorders can increase your risk.
Nausea is only rarely an indication of vomiting. Food safety standards, refrigeration, and sanitation have substantially reduced the instance of vomiting in the developed world; one study found that most people can recall vomiting about four to six times over their lifetime.
Many of us will try to prevent vomiting if we're feeling nauseated. But if you're feeling ill, it's best to let yourself vomit naturally. But don't force it, says Dr. Goldman.
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.
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.
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.
Continued vomiting may cause severe dehydration that can be life-threatening. Call your doctor if you or your child is showing symptoms of dehydration, such as: Excess thirst or dry mouth. Less urination.
Retching, or dry heaving, is when the body keeps wanting to vomit but can't. Nothing (or very little) comes up. You may gag and feel uncomfortable. In medical terms, "retching" is when your diaphragm contracts when trying to vomit but the body is unsuccessful in doing so.
Nausea and vomiting in adults isn't usually a sign of anything serious. It tends to only last 1 or 2 days. Vomiting is the body's way of getting rid of harmful substances from the stomach, or it may be a reaction to something that has irritated the gut.
Sip clear liquids such as Gatorade, ginger ale, water, Pedialyte, or soup broth. Bland diet In small amounts as tolerated for 24-48 hours after last vomiting episode – bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, jello, crackers, chicken noodle soup. Avoid alcohol, greasy foods, dairy products, citrus juice.
Struggling with the stomach flu
If you are really sick, keep a bucket and lots of water by your bed just in case. Remember, sleeping on your side will make it easier to throw up if and when the time to purge arrives.
Nausea usually feels like the urge to vomit. Not all people who feel nauseated throw up, but many have the overwhelming sensation that throwing up would help them feel better. Some people also experience abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches or muscle pain, intense fatigue, or a generalized feeling of sickness.
Mouthwatering — your mouth will often start to water if you are about to vomit. Abdominal pain — pain anywhere between the bottom of your ribs and pelvis, and stomach cramps can both happen alongside vomiting.
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.
Your body starts absorbing calories from the moment you put food in your mouth. If you vomit right after a very large meal, you typically eliminate less than 50 percent of the calories you consumed. Laxatives get rid of 10 percent of the calories you eat.
As gross as it can look and feel, puking is pretty normal. Everyone has puked during their life, even your mom or dad. When you're sick with the stomach "flu" you may need to puke, and there's not much you can do about it. Sometimes being nervous or eating too much food is all it takes to upset your stomach.
Projectile vomiting is when your body expels vomit with more force than usual. It's one of your body's reactions to something it recognizes as toxic, but there are medical conditions that can cause projectile vomiting as well.
Vomiting is usually induced by triggering the gag reflex using the fingers or another object. A person typically washes their hands thoroughly and positions themselves in front of a toilet or sink.