Table of contents:
- Definition
- What is vomiting?
- Symptoms
- What are the symptoms that appear when someone wants to vomit?
- When should I see a doctor?
- Cause
- What causes vomiting?
- 1. Problems in the digestive tract
- Gastric infection
- Gastroenteritis
- Food poisoning
- Gastric ulcer disease
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- 4. Salty crackers
Definition
What is vomiting?
Vomiting is the body's reflex to expel all or part of the stomach contents by force through the mouth. This reflex is usually uncontrollable and occurs some time after you experience nausea.
When you experience nausea, you may feel weak and sweaty. The production of saliva will increase drastically. This is a sign that your body is preparing to remove food that is in the stomach.
Vomiting is actually the body's reaction to protect itself. This condition is not dangerous if the cause is mild, for example, motion sickness, increased hormones during pregnancy, and so on.
Reflex vomiting is also often experienced by migraine sufferers or a side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Cases like this can be overcome by avoiding various factors that trigger nausea.
However, forced emptying of stomach contents can also be caused by disorders of the digestive system. The two most common causes of this condition are stomach flu and food poisoning.
Like an upset stomach or flatulence, vomiting can signal a number of digestive upsets. To determine the cause, you can consult a doctor and undergo further tests.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms that appear when someone wants to vomit?
Vomiting is not a disease, but a body reaction or symptoms that can indicate certain health problems. Vomiting associated with health problems usually does not just happen, but appears with symptoms such as:
- nausea,
- stomach ache,
- Loose stools (diarrhea),
- fever,
- bloated,
- beetle,
- dizziness or vertigo,
- heart rate increases,
- sweating a lot,
- dry mouth, and
- urinating less frequently.
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a certain symptom, consult your doctor.
When should I see a doctor?
The discharge of the stomach contents may indicate another health problem, especially if the complaint lasts for a long time. You should contact your doctor if you experience a collection of symptoms such as:
- chest pain,
- severe stomach pain or cramps,
- blurred vision,
- fainting or confusion,
- shivering and looking pale,
- a fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius,
- stiff neck,
- vomit smelling feces,
- gushed vomit
- vomits blood, or
- vomit appears blackish in color.
The various symptoms above can signal not only digestive problems, but also diseases of other systems. Immediately visit the doctor for further tests. This step will help reveal the contributing factors.
Cause
What causes vomiting?
There are a number of conditions that can provoke the body's reflexes to excrete stomach contents, ranging from digestive problems to brain signal disorders, to certain medications. Here are a few of them.
1. Problems in the digestive tract
Vomiting is most often caused by acute gastritis or esophagitis. Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach, whereas esophagitis is inflammation of the wall of the esophagus.
Here are various medical conditions that can be the cause.
Gastric infection
Infection of the stomach wall can cause irritation or even wound formation. The causative agent for infection is usually bacteria Helicobacter pylori or viruses such as rotavirus and norovirus.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is another term for the stomach flu. This disease begins with a viral or bacterial infection, then develops into inflammation of the stomach or intestines. Gastrointestinal disorders eventually result in nausea and vomiting.
Food poisoning
Food poisoning occurs when you eat food contaminated with salmonella bacteria, E. coli, S. aureus, and its kind. Vomiting is the digestive system's mechanism of removing harmful bacteria from your body.
Gastric ulcer disease
Gastric ulcer is a condition when there is a wound on the stomach wall. Sores can inhibit the digestion of food in the stomach and cause symptoms of abdominal pain, burning, and vomiting, which has been known as ulcers.
Gastroesophageal reflux
The content of menthol and methyl salicylate in peppermint can have a calming effect on the stomach muscles and the entire digestive tract. Both of these substances also help improve the flow of bile.
You can consume peppermint in the form of finished tea or make your own. However, you are not advised to consume this material if you have acid reflux disease.
4. Salty crackers
Salty crackers or saltine crackers is a salty biscuit that is rich in carbohydrates. The carbohydrate content in these crackers can help absorb excess acid in the digestive tract that may be a trigger for nausea.
Nausea and vomiting also often make a person lose their appetite. Eating slow crackers in small portions can protect you from lack of energy when you feel nauseous.
Vomiting is basically the body's mechanism to protect itself from chemicals, toxins, harmful microbes, and so on in the stomach. However, this condition can also signal a disturbance in the digestive system.
Occasional vomiting is normal. Conditions that you should not ignore are vomiting repeatedly, prolonged, or accompanied by symptoms in the digestive system. Consult your doctor to find out the causes and how to overcome them.
