Whatever you call it, it's the same stuff: mushed-up, half-digested food or liquid that gets mixed with spit and stomach juices as it makes a quick exit up your throat and out of your mouth. Sometimes puke tastes bitter, sometimes it tastes sour.
As vomiting expels the content of the stomach, the pH of the vomitus is almost always highly acidic. The acid creates a burning sensation in the back of the throat or and roof of the mouth or nose if the vomit has passed through the nose. Vomit is almost always foul smelling.
Neurotransmitters such as histamine or Ach are also released to the CTZ, which itself can releases chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin (5HT) that go on to stimulate the vomiting centre, which releases Ach, which then leads to the feelings of nausea and actions of vomiting.
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.
A vomit is throwing up your stomach contents outside from your mouth. Vomit consists of half digested food or liquid that is mixed with your digestive juice that exits through your mouth. It could be anything that you have eaten.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vomiting is a common disorder. Usually, you can stop the vomiting by resting your stomach for a while. But vomiting leaves you drained out and lacking energy. You need water, salts, and energy to get back to your usual, vigorous self.
FACT: Research has shown that vomiting cannot get rid of all the calories ingested, even when done immediately after eating. A vomit can only remove up to about half of the calories eaten - which means that, realistically, between half to two thirds of what is eaten is absorbed by the body.
The fourth ventricle of the brain hosts the vomiting centre. The floor of the fourth ventricle contains an area called the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). It is also called the area postrema. When the CTZ is stimulated, vomiting may occur.
And.. as well known, butyric acid is what gives vomit that distinctive, smell-it-a-mile-off, odor. And this is why we're so good at detecting it. Humans can pick this stuff up at 10 parts per million.
Green or yellow vomit, also known as bile, is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The release of bile occurs when an individual is vomiting on an empty stomach or is suffering from bile reflux.
Diarrhoea and vomiting can spread easily
If you have a stomach bug, you could be infectious to others. You're most infectious from when the symptoms start until two days after they've passed. Stay off school or work until the symptoms have stopped for two days.
How long are people contagious? People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery.
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.
According to a 2013 review paper, vomiting may help with migraine headache symptoms, because it: changes blood flow to reduce pain or inflammation. releases chemicals that ease pain, such as endorphins. occurs toward the end of a migraine episode, leading to a reduction in symptoms.
Sleeping on your side with your head raised can ease symptoms and keep you from choking on your vomit, if you're unable to make it to the bathroom in time.
Nausea is sometimes associated with sweating. When this happens, it's usually due to the activation of part of your nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system, the same one that's fired up when you're anxious or scared. Sympathetic activation is a sign that your body is in distress.
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.