Vomiting: Causes, Treatment, and When to See a Doctor

The forceful throwing up or discharge of the contents of the stomach and, at times, the proximal small intestine through the mouth is known as vomiting.

It is a common symptom of various health conditions, many not pertaining to gastrointestinal problems.

A reaction to a particular activity or food may result in one-time vomiting, but vomiting caused by gastrointestinal problems or food poisoning can last up to a few days.

How Common Is Vomiting?

In population studies, around half of adults reported at least one episode of nausea and more than 30% reported an incident of vomiting in the past year. Nausea was more frequent among women than men. (1)

A study estimated that around 1.6% of consultations in a health care setting were for vomiting or nausea. (2)

Causes of Vomiting

Vomiting is generally a result of the following conditions:

1. Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a stomach and intestinal infection caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites which triggers vomiting, inflammation, and various other symptoms of differing severity.

2. Food poisoning

Leaving out food for too long can lead to toxin deposition by germs, which, upon consumption, causes rapid diarrhea and vomiting. For example, staph toxins develop quickly in egg salads.

3. Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy may cause vomiting and nausea, especially if it involves the liver, gastrointestinal tract, or brain. The chances of vomiting increase with the size of the area being treated and the dose of radiation.

4. Coughing

Violent coughing can often induce vomiting in children, especially if they have reflux.

5. Motion sickness

Constant motion, such as during sea travel or amusement park rides, can cause dizziness and vomiting.

6. Migraine

It is common for children and adults with migraine problems to vomit during an attack.

7. Pregnancy

Morning sickness is a common symptom of pregnancy, especially between the 6^th and 14^th weeks.

8. Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes vomiting as one of its symptoms.

9. Other causes

Some other health problems that can lead to vomiting include:

10. Cyclic vomiting disorder

In this condition, the patient experiences severe vomiting every day at approximately the same time. This disorder is more common in children than in adults.

The triggers for cyclic vomiting differ from person to person and can be difficult to pin down. The most common ones include:

Symptoms Associated With Vomiting

Because vomiting can be a result of various reasons, it is can be accompanied by various symptoms. Additionally, severe vomiting can cause several health problems. These include:

Standard Medical Treatment for Vomiting

Various medical interventions are available to relieve vomiting.

1. Medications

Bismuth subsalicylate is the most common medicine used for vomiting which protects your stomach lining and helps manage ulcers, diarrhea, and upset stomach.

Other drugs used for vomiting include:

Some of these medicines prevent the signals induced by motion sickness from reaching your brain, therefore preventing nausea and vomiting.

Your doctor will select the appropriate medicine for you depending on the cause of your vomiting.

2. Muscle relaxation with guided imagery

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) involves the alternate relaxation and contraction of the muscles in the body. Different muscle groups are targeted progressively, starting from the head to the feet, or vice versa.

3. Biofeedback

Biofeedback helps relieve anxiety and stress, therefore helping treat vomiting induced by muscle tension.

This therapy involves the use of sensors to detect physiological changes such as temperature, pulse, brain wave pattern, and muscle tone.

Diagnosing Vomiting

To help the doctor determine the underlying cause of your vomiting, the following procedures and tests may be performed:

1. Medical history

The doctor will inquire about your previous health problems as well as those that run in your family to get insights into your present condition.

The use of recreational drugs or cigarette smoking and other relevant factors will also be accounted for.

2. Physical examination

The physical examination includes checking for signs of dehydration, hypotension (including orthostatic hypotension), and jaundice. The doctor will also test your skin turgor and take a look at your mucous membranes.

3. Lab tests

The doctor may order various tests to determine problems in the gastrointestinal tract, including:

• Blood test: This test includes total blood count to detect infections or anemia, kidney function, and electrolyte panel tests to determine electrolyte imbalance and liver issues and albumin tests to assess your nutrient status.
• Pregnancy test: This may be needed for females of childbearing age.
• Gastric emptying study/scintigraphy: This procedure involves the consumption of bland meals such as eggs with a minute amount of radioactive material. Then, an external camera is used to scan the abdominal regions having the radioactive material.
• Gastroduodenal manometry: In this test, a catheter is inserted through the mouth to measure duodenal-jejunal pressure levels for 6 hours, first in a fasting state, and then after a meal. The comparative pressure readings help evaluate the effect of prokinetic agents.
• Wireless capsule gastrointestinal monitoring: In this video capsule endoscopy technique, a disposable capsule is ingested by the patient. The capsule transmits internal images of the gastrointestinal tract to a receiver worn by the patient.
• Esophageal manometry: This test records the pattern of esophageal muscle (or sphincter) contractions along with their pressure. Any discrepancy in the muscle’s strength or contractions can result in heartburn, pain, and swallowing difficulties.

4. X-ray

An abdominal X-ray can help visualize the liver, stomach, spleen, intestines, and diaphragm.

This test is performed to detect the cause of vomiting, which could be kidney stones, blockage (obstruction) or hole in the intestine, a tumor, or severe constipation.

Vomiting vs. Nausea

People often use vomiting and nausea interchangeably. Although these terms may be related, they are not the same.

Vomiting involves a set of autonomic and motor responses that cause expulsion of the stomach contents, whereas nausea is only the discomforting, subjective feeling that you are likely to vomit.

ALSO READ: Relieving Nausea with Home Remedies and Self-Care Tips

Risk Factors for Vomiting

Vomiting is a common problem experienced by everyone, regardless of age or gender. However, the following factors can increase the risk of vomiting:

• Gender: Women are more prone to nausea and/or vomiting than men may be due to the hormonal changes in women.
• Alcohol and drug use: People who do not consume alcohol or prescription medications are not adapted to chemical alterations in the body, making them more prone to nausea and/or vomiting.
• Age: Nausea and/or vomiting is found to be more common among people younger than 30 years of age.

Complications Associated with Vomiting

If left untreated, frequent vomiting may result in:

When to See a Doctor

You should visit a medical practitioner if you experience repetitive vomiting or the vomiting is accompanied by:

Final Word

Occasional vomiting does not pose any health risk, but frequent or severe vomiting can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.

If the condition persists despite preliminary self-care and rehydration therapy, seek medical evaluation to identify and treat the underlying cause.

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