What Is Vomiting Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment and Prevention Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch Vomiting What Is Vomiting Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment and Prevention By Ashley WelchMedically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Reviewed: November 2, 2020 Medically Reviewed Vomiting is rarely painful, but never pleasant. Vomiting, also known scientifically as “emesis” and colloquially as throwing up, retching, heaving, hurling, puking, tossing, or being sick, is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the mouth or, less often, the nose. There are different types of vomiting. Some people get the dry heaves, where you retch and feel like vomiting, but nothing comes out of your stomach. The dry heaves are also called nonproductive emesis.Blood streaked or bloody vomit usually indicates a cut or scrape to the esophagus or stomach. Some vomit resembles coffee grounds. Vomit that looks like coffee grounds occurs when stomach acids and blood congeal. Coffee ground vomit can be a sign of ulcer, It’s rare, but people with abnormal intestinal function could possibly vomit up partially digested food or feces. ( Signs and Symptoms of Vomiting Nausea and vomiting commonly occur in those with infections ranging from Causes and Risk Factors of Vomiting Vomiting is an involuntary reflex that empties the stomach forcefully. Some people may also self-induce vomiting due to an eating disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, causes for nausea and vomiting vary widely and can include: ( Editor s Picks What Are Common Causes and Types of Foods That Can Trigger Food Poisoning The Top 8 Natural Hangover Remedies Marijuana Use for Morning Sickness Symptoms Some Pregnant Women Self-Medicate Study Says Is It Gastroenteritis the Flu or Something Else How Is Vomiting Diagnosed If you need to see a doctor for vomiting, they will take your medical history and perform a physical exam to try to find the underlying cause. A history of your medication will be taken to see if vomiting is a side effect. Blood and urine tests may be done to look for signs of infection. Women may also take a Duration of Vomiting Typically, vomiting eases within 6 to 24 hours with at-home treatment. If vomiting occurs for more than a day, you should see your doctor to see if you need further treatment.Call your Treatment and Medication Options for Vomiting Complications of Vomiting One of the biggest complications of vomiting is dehydration, which occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in. When someone is dehydrated, their body does not have enough water to carry out its normal functions. Anyone can become dehydrated, but it is especially dangerous for younger children because they may not be able to tell an adult their symptoms. Older adults are also at an increased risk of dehydration because they have a lower volume of water in their bodies than younger adults. Older adults may also have medical conditions or take medications that make dehydration more likely. Mild or moderate dehydration can often be reversed by drinking plenty of fluids, but severe dehydration can turn deadly and requires immediate medical treatment. Related 6 Unusual Signs of Dehydration You Should Know AboutRepetitive vomiting, such as that comes with certain Research and Statistics How Many People Suffer from Vomiting Nearly everyone is affected by nausea and vomiting at some point in their lives.Cancer patients and pregnant women are at a higher risk of experiencing nausea than others. According to The March of Dimes, a leading advocacy organization for mothers and babies, at least 7 in 10 pregnant women have morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy. ( Related Conditions to Vomiting While most people experience vomiting in their lives that is not dangerous and goes away fairly quickly, certain conditions are characterized by severe and repetitive vomiting. Resources We Love Favorite Organizations for Information on Vomiting Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking Nausea and Vomiting. 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