Vomiting Health Dictionary

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Vomiting: From 3 Different Sources

Involuntary forcible expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth. Vomiting may be preceded by nausea, pallor, sweating, excessive salivation, and slowed heart-rate. It occurs when the vomiting centre in the brainstem is activated by signals from 1 of 3 places in the body: the digestive tract; the balancing mechanism of the inner ear; or the brain, either due to thoughts and emotions or via the part of the brain that responds to poisons in the body. The vomiting centre sends messages to both the diaphragm, which presses down on the stomach, and the abdominal wall, which presses inwards, thereby expelling the stomach contents upwards through the oesophagus.

Vomiting may be due to overindulgence in food or alcohol, is a common side effect of many drugs, and may follow general anaesthesia. Vomiting is also common in gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcer, acute appendicitis, gastroenteritis, and food poisoning. Less commonly, it is due to obstruction (see pyloric stenosis; intussusception) or a tumour of the digestive tract. It may also be due to inflammation (see hepatitis; pancreatitis; cholecystitis).

Other possible causes are pressure on the skull (see encephalitis; hydrocephalus; brain tumour; head injury; migraine), conditions affecting the ear’s balancing mechanism (see Ménière’s disease; labyrinthitis; motion sickness), and hormonal disorders (see Addison’s disease).

Vomiting may be a symptom of ketoacidosis in poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. It may also be a symptom of an emotional problem or be part of the disorders anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

Persistent vomiting requires medical investigation. Treatment depends on the cause. Antiemetics may be given. (See also vomiting blood; vomiting in pregnancy.)

Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association
Vomiting means the expulsion of the STOMACH contents through the mouth. When the e?ort of vomiting is made, but nothing is brought up, the process is known as retching. When vomiting occurs, the chief e?ort is made by the muscles of the abdominal wall and by the diaphragm contracting together and squeezing the stomach. The contraction of the stomach wall is no doubt also a factor, and an important step in the act consists in the opening at the right moment of the cardiac or upper ori?ce of the stomach. This concerted action of various muscles is brought about by a vomiting centre situated on the ?oor of the fourth ventricle in the BRAIN.

Causes Vomiting is brought about by stimulation of this nervous centre, and in most cases this is e?ected through sensations derived from the stomach itself. Thus, of the drugs which cause vomiting, some act only after being absorbed into the blood and carried to the brain, although most are irritants to the mucous membrane of the stomach (see EMETICS); various diseases of the stomach, such as cancer, ulcer and food poisoning act in a similar way. Stimulation – not only of the nerves of the stomach, but also of those supplying other abdominal organs – produces vomiting; thus in obstruction of the bowels, peritonitis, gall-stone colic, renal colic, and even in some women during pregnancy, vomiting is a prominent symptom.

Severe emotional shock may cause vomiting, as may acute anxiety and unpleasant experiences such as seeing an accident, suffering severe pain or travel sickness.

Direct disturbance of the brain itself is a cause: for example, a blow on the head, a cerebral tumour, a cerebral abscess, meningitis. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that may arise from local disease of the gastrointestinal tract, but they are also associated with systemic illness – for example, DIABETES MELLITUS or kidney failure (see KIDNEYS, DISEASES OF) – and also with disturbances of labyrinthine function, such as motion sickness and acute labyrinthitis.

Treatment The cause of the vomiting must be sought and treatment directed towards this. Symptomatic treatment for vomiting can be dangerous since accurate diagnosis of the cause may be hindered. If antinauseant drug treatment is indicated, the choice of drug depends on the cause of the vomiting.

Granisetron and ondansetron are 5hydroxytryptamine (5HT3) antagonists valuable in the treatment of nausea and vomiting induced by cytotoxic CHEMOTHERAPY or RADIOTHERAPY and prevention and treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting. Prochlorperazine is valuable in the treatment of severe nausea, vomiting, VERTIGO and disorders of the LABYRINTH of the EAR, although extrapyramidal symptoms may occur, particularly in children, elderly and debilitated patients.

Vomiting may occur after surgical operations and this is due to the combined effects of analgesics, anaesthetic agents and the psychological stress of operation. Various drugs can be used to prevent or stop post-operative vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms in pregnancy. Drugs are best avoided in this situation as they may damage the developing FETUS. Simple measures, such as the taking of food before getting up in the morning and reassurance, are often all that is necessary.

Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary
n. the reflex action of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth. Vomiting is controlled by a special centre in the brain that may be stimulated by certain drugs or by nerve signalling from the stomach (e.g. after ingesting toxic substances or in stomach diseases, such as peptic ulceration or pyloric stenosis), the intestine (e.g. in intestinal obstruction), or from the inner ear (in motion sickness). The stimulated vomiting centre sets off a chain of nerve impulses producing coordinated contractions of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles and relaxation of the sphincter between the gullet and the stomach, leading to the forcible ejection of stomach contents. Medical name: emesis.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Tea For Vomiting

Vomiting is a response from your body to let you know that something is wrong with your digestive tract. Vomiting is never a disease, but a symptom of other problems. Food poisoning, toxic infections, pregnancy and hangover can present vomiting episodes. Of course, every problem has its remedies, but there are some teas capable of inhibiting the vomiting sensation and promoting a good digestive tract action. How a Tea for Vomiting Works A Tea for Vomiting’s main goal is to energize your body and provide it with enough strength to fight infections and stabilize your health. In order to function properly, a Tea for Vomiting needs to be both efficient and one hundred percent safe. When choosing teas, make sure you’re looking for an herbal treatment rich in acids and tannins. This way, your stomach enzymes will stop the vomiting sensation and cure the affected regions. Efficient Tea for Vomiting When choosing a Tea for Vomiting, make sure you pick one with an elevated active constituents level and with a low side effects percentage. If you don’t know which these teas are, here’s a list to help you out: - Spearmint Tea – has a pleasant taste and a lovely fragrance and it’s well known for its curative properties. Both cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies use Spearmint extract to produce acne treatments, skin creams, diarrhea, constipation pills and digestive supplements. This tea is one hundred percent safe, so you can drink as much as you want. However, more than 6 cups per day may lead to diarrhea. Other than that, feel free to try this tea today! - Chamomile Tea – of course, the world’s greatest panacea should always be in your medicine cabinet. A sip of this Tea for Vomiting will improve all gastrointestinal functions and inhibit the vomiting sensation. You can also use it to treat sore throats, diarrhea, colic, chest pain or nausea. Also, this tea is very safe so there’s nothing to be worried about. - Ginger Tea – is a great home remedy for all gastric ailments, starting with nausea and ending with menstrual pains. However, don’t drink more than one cup per day and make sure you’re using a small amount of herb when preparing the treatment, in order to avoid developing an acid foods and drinks intolerance. Also, if you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking Ginger Tea. - Green Tea – is a great remedy for asthenia, anemia and loss of appetite. Take it to treat infertility, sore throats and pleurisy as well. However, don’t take it if you’re experiencing menstrual or menopausal symptoms (it may cause uterine contractions). Tea for Vomiting Side Effects When taken properly, these teas are generally safe. Just make sure you don’t exceed the number of cups recommended per day in order to avoid digestive tract problems. Talk to an herbalist or to your doctor in order to gather more information and be well informed of the risks. If your doctor says it’s ok to start a treatment based on a Tea for Vomiting, choose one that fits best your needs and enjoy its health benefits!... tea for vomiting

Winter Vomiting Disease

Winter vomiting disease, or epidemic nausea and vomiting, is a condition caused by subtypes of the genus Norwalk-like virus and is characterised by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and giddiness, which occurs during the winter. Outbreaks of it usually involve whole families or may affect communities like schools. The incubation period is 24–48 hours, and attacks seldom persist for more than 72 hours. In England and Wales in 2000, more than 1,600 infections were reported compared to more than 16,400 cases of salmonella infections and 56,420 of CAMPYLOBACTER. However, in England it is estimated that around 1,500 times more people are infected in the community than are reported. Humans are the only known hosts of the virus and infection can be acquired via contaminated food or water or, more commonly, from an infected individual via the faeco-oral route, aerosol-spread and FOMITES.... winter vomiting disease

Vomiting Blood

A symptom of bleeding from within the digestive tract. Vomiting blood may be caused by a tear in the lower oesophagus (see Mallory–Weiss syndrome), bleeding from oesophageal varices, erosive gastritis, peptic ulcer, or, rarely, stomach cancer. Blood can also be vomited if it is swallowed during a nosebleed. Vomited blood may be dark red, brown, black, or may resemble coffee grounds. Vomiting of blood is often accompanied by the passing of black, tarry faeces.

The cause of vomiting blood is investigated by endoscopy of the oesophagus and stomach, or by barium X-ray examinations. If blood loss is severe, blood transfusion, and possibly surgery to stop the bleeding, may be required.... vomiting blood

Vomiting In Pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy are common and are most likely to be caused by changes in the hormone levels. Vomiting occurs most frequently in the morning, but it may occur at any time. It is sometimes precipitated by stress, travelling, or food.

In rare cases, the vomiting becomes severe and prolonged. This can cause dehydration, nutritional deficiency, alterations in blood acidity, and weight loss. Immediate hospital admission is then required to replace lost fluids and chemicals by intravenous infusion, to rule out any serious underlying disorder, and to control the vomiting.... vomiting in pregnancy


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