Vomiting
Vomiting
Quiet a Heaving Tummy
Kids, it seems, throw up periodically for no good reason. Cats seem to throw up regularly just to stay in practice. But grown-up women rarely throw up, unless they're pregnant.
But it happens.
Vomiting is your body's way of divesting itself of a bad investment. So if you suddenly throw up and you're not expecting, it can usually be traced to either contaminated food or overindulgence in alcohol. So while it's little consolation if you find yourself hunched over the toilet bowl, chances are that if you're vomiting, it's good for you.
HELPING NATURE DO ITS JOB
If you're pregnant and vomiting, read about morning sickness on page 376. If you're not pregnant, here's what women doctors say healthy adults can do to ease the queasies and feel better faster.
When To See A Doctor
If you're vomiting up blood, see a doctor immediately. It may be a sign of internal bleeding. And don't eat or drink anything, says Sheila Crowe, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Otherwise, nausea and vomiting usually clear within a day. If you're still throwing up, see a doctor. You may have food poisoning or another serious illness, Dr. Crowe says. Continued vomiting may signal a condition such as viral or bacterial infections, ulcers or even diabetes.
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Give your stomach a rest. "Don't eat or drink anything for several hours after you vomit," says Sheila Crowe, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Then, drink fluids, but don't plan to eat a lot for the first eight hours, says Wanda Filer, M.D., a family practice physician in York, Pennsylvania. Then see how you can handle a bland diet for the next couple of hours. Try eating a banana, cooked rice, dry toast or an apple.
Sip clear fluids. As your vomiting subsides and your insides calm down, try to sip clear, caffeine-free liquids such as water, flat soda, chicken bouillion or Gatorade-type fluid-replacement drinks to help you replenish the fluids you lost when you were heaving up your insides, says Dr. Crowe.
Sip, don't gulp. "Your stomach is still so delicate that if you take normal mouthfuls, you may not be able to keep fluids down, so take small sips every five minutes or so," Dr. Filer says.
Gargle. It's a good idea to gargle with salt and water or a mouthwash after vomiting, Dr. Crowe says. "It gets rid of the bitter aftertaste and rinses away stomach acid, which can erode tooth enamel."
