No one likes throwing up, but sometimes it's inevitable. Vomiting is the body's natural reaction to the introduction of substances or irritation in the gut. In most cases, the vomiting will be irregular and harmless. Follow this guide to help make sure you have an easier time tossing your cookies.
1Find somewhere to vomit. If you're at home, toilets, sinks and buckets will be your best bet. Sinks aren't really great because if your vomit comes out chunky, you'll probably have to fish your own vomit out of the drain.
- If you're outside, try to get away from people and their belongings. Nothing makes you more ticked off when some random drunk comes and spews all over your car. Try to find a forest or an empty lot. You can throw up on the open ground in one of those areas.
2Make sure you need to vomit. Some people are assaulted with waves of nausea, and aren't really sure that they need to throw up. In this case, vomiting might not be all that comfortable because it's unnecessary. Other people know that they're going to vomit — perhaps they've had too much to drink — and purging is an inevitability. Look for these telltale signs that you or someone else is going to vomit:
- Lips turn pale, lose all color.
- Start sweating, feeling excessively hot.
- Start salivating a saltier-than-usual spit.
- Extreme discomfort in the stomach.
- Dizziness, an aversion to movement.
3Try to prevent nausea and vomiting before it's too late. There are a few things that you can try to do to prevent your body's vomiting response. Try these before you force yourself to vomit:
4Let your body vomit or induce vomiting yourself. Your body will do the trick itself if you give it enough time, or if you just want to get it all over with as soon as possible, use the following emetics:
- Medications, such as syrup of ipecac, or salt- or mustard-water, can be taken orally to induce vomiting.
- Use your fingers to stimulate the uvula. Take one or two fingers, place them in back of your mouth, and try to touch the uvula, which is the little dangling flap of skin at the back of the throat.
- Watch another person vomit. Seeing another person throw up can increase your likelihood to vomit. While it's difficult to spontaneously will nausea on someone else just to induce vomiting, it is possible to watch videos online.
5Try to hit where you're aiming. Now that you're sure you need to vomit, accuracy will be the next objective. When the vomiting feeling comes over you, get your mouth close to the toilet bowl or container, preventing spray or spillage. If you're outside, the closer you are to the ground the less splatter you'll produce.
6Drink something. When you're done, drink some water. It will wash away the acidic taste. Also, if you have to vomit again, your stomach isn't empty; vomiting with an empty stomach can be very painful.
Signs of Danger
1Know that most vomiting is normal, but some vomiting could present larger medical problems. A very common cause of vomiting is gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract which, while painful, is not a serious medical condition.
2Call a doctor or nurse about your condition if:
- The nausea lasts for more than a few days or there is a possibility of pregnancy.
- Personal treatments are not effective, you suspect dehydration, or a known injury has occurred, causing vomiting.
- Vomiting lasts for more than a day, or accompanying diarrhea lasts for more than 24 hours.
- For infants, vomiting lasts more than a few hours, diarrhea and signs of dehydration are present, there is a fever higher than 100 °F (38 °C), or if the child hasn't urinated for six hours.
- For children over age six, vomiting lasts more than 24 hours, diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, there are signs of dehydration, there is a fever higher than 102 °F (39 °C) or the child hasn't urinated for six hours.
3Seek immediate medical attention if:
- You see blood in the vomit (bright red or "coffee grounds" in appearance).
- You have severe headaches or a stiff neck.
- You experience lethargy, confusion, or a decreased alertness.
- You experience severe abdominal pain.
- You count a fever over 101 °F (38 °C).
- You measure rapid breathing or pulse.
4Consult with a specialist if you think you may have an eating disorder such as Bulimia. Bulimia is the urge to vomit after eating in order to control weight. People with Bulimia eat large amounts of food in a short time (binge) and then find a way to get rid of the food (purge). Bulimia is treated with psychological counseling, but is curable.
1Eat foods carefully, consistently, and in proportion. We all know that eating the wrong thing, or eating too much of it, can cause vomiting. But how we eat food also plays a part in preventing nausea in the first place.
- Eat small meals throughout the day instead of a couple big meals at long intervals.
- Eat slowly and chew your food before you swallow it.
- Avoid foods that are hard-to-digest, such as dairy, spicy, acidic, fatty, or fried foods.
- Eat foods that are cold or at room temperature instead of foods that are warm or hot if you find them distasteful.
2Drink enough and rest properly after a meal. Giving your body the proper time and adequate position to digest food may help keep you from feeling nauseated in the first place.
- Drink liquids (preferably water) in between instead of during meals, and stay on pace to consume between 6-8 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
- Keep your head at least a foot above your feet if you decide to rest or sit down after a meal.
- Activity may worsen the nausea. Don't overexert yourself or engage in strenuous physical activity if you think it may lead to vomiting.
If I need to cough while vomiting, should I do so?wikiHow ContributorYou can. In fact, you probably will. The vomit will likely irritate the mucous membranes that trigger a coughing response. If you need to cough, be careful about how you inhale before and after, so you don't inhale vomit.
What if I haven't thrown up in about four years? Is it a bad thing?wikiHow ContributorNot at all. It just means you haven't ingested anything that harmful to your body and haven't acquired any sickness to cause vomiting.
I shake every time before I vomit even though I am not cold. Is this bad?wikiHow ContributorI have that problem too. I'm no expert but I think it's just the anxiety of knowing that you are about to throw up.
When I am keeping throwing up and I drink, why do I still vomit up the water?wikiHow ContributorYour stomach is trying to rid your body of the toxin so it is more of a safety clean. The water provides more medium to assist the vomiting.
How should I breathe when I feel like I am about to throw up?wikiHow ContributorBreathe quickly in and out of your mouth before vomiting and in through your nose and out through your mouth after vomiting.
Why do I need to eat small meals?wikiHow ContributorBecause bigger meals are harder to digest, and thus more likely to come back up.
If it does not come out what do I do?wikiHow ContributorWait it out, keep drinking water/tea and eating starchy foods. If your nausea persists for a few days, go to the doctor.
How do I tell whether I need to throw up or just need to put something in my stomach?wikiHow ContributorNausea usually makes you lose your appetite. If you are feeling nauseous, you probably shouldn't eat anything, or you will throw up; drink some water, however! If you are not feeling nauseous, then you can try eating a light meal.
How do you know if you're going to throw up?wikiHow ContributorYou will feel nauseous, and your stomach will be hurting or feel restless. You may be gagging and coughing.
Can drinking too much water cause vomit?wikiHow ContributorYes it can, and drinking too much water or drinking it too quickly can even be deadly. Drink water sensibly, at a slow pace and in reasonable quantities.
- If you have long hair, it's probably a good idea to put it up with a hair tie or clip so that you don't end up getting vomit in your hair. If you don't have a hair tie or clip handy, hold your hair back or get someone to hold your hair back for you.
- If you're outside, try to throw up in the grass instead of the pavement. Smaller splash zone.
- When you vomit for the first time in a long time, pay attention to what happens before you hurl. That way, the next time you puke, it won't be such a surprise because you know what would happen before.
- If you're going to vomit, lean forward and take deep breaths. Try not to panic as you won't be comfortable.
- Plug your nose when you vomit. It will prevent the vomit and acid from going up your nose and into your sinuses.
- Have a trash bag(s) like a grocery store bag next to you just in case you don't make it to the restroom in time.
- Some people like having a person with them when they're throwing up, some people don't, if you like it, ask a friend, family member, or spouse to come and lay a hand on you and help you out. However, this may not be a good idea because some people have 'sympathy vomiting', where seeing/hearing others vomit causes them to vomit as well.
- Throwing up is a good thing (most of the time; it probably means you should not have eaten that extra marshmallow, had that extra drink or ran the extra kilometer)!
- If you don't plug your nose and it comes out your nose, blow your nose really hard to get it out.
- Alert those around you that you are going to throw up so it won't be an unpleasant and bad smelling surprise.
- If you used a bucket, pour it in the toilet and simply flush. It's much easier.
- 45° downward is a good angle if you're throwing up outside because, the vomit goes farther away before it splatters and you aren't propelling it toward the ground.
- When you vomit around people, don't be embarrassed, everyone's done it.
- Try to have someone with you.
- Some people hate having people with them and snap at anyone who touches them and tells them to go away.
- Don't force yourself to vomit, relax and don't panic.
- If you are sick from a bug, drank lukewarm water, or any other illnesses. This can help flush it out (induce vomiting).
- If possible, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the vomit and remember to wash your hands afterwards.
- Keep a bucket with you, so you would have something to throw up in rather than having to run to the toilet.
- If you sleep while sick, sleep in the bathroom or have something at your bedside in case you wake up to throw up.
- Take deep breaths and calm down. Do not think of vomiting and don't hold the vomit in. As soon as its over, you will feel a whole lot better.
- Brush your teeth immediately afterwards, or use a mint & drink water.
- Just stay calm!
- Brush your teeth after you throw up or the stomach acid will still make your mouth and throat uncomfortable.
- If you have long hair, tie it up if you can, to prevent vomit from getting in your hair.
- Avoid vomiting on rugs, carpet, or furniture as these surfaces are likely to stain.
- If you are pregnant or taking medication and the feeling of vomiting occurs, contact your primary care doctor or obstetrician.
Sources and Citations
- ↑ http://www.parenthacks.com/2008/10/is-the-kid-goin.html
- ↑ 2.02.12.22.3http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting?page=3
- ↑ http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15563657108990490
- ↑ http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14541/1/Easy-Ways-to-Make-Yourself-Throw-Up.html
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa/mental-health-bulimia-nervosa
- ↑ http://www.everydayhealth.com/digestion-photos/foods-to-avoid-during-digestive-problems.aspx#/slide-1
Categories: Nausea and Vomiting
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