If vomiting occurs suddenly in life, it may be that the body is sending a distress signal. Let’s learn about possible health problems through Taiwanese family medicine physician Wang Wei Jie’s insights into different vomiting situations.
The color change of vomitus is not only affected by food but may also indicate different health problems. Dr. Wang reminds us that red, dark brown, or black vomitus usually means there may be bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which may originate from problems in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, such as ulcers, esophageal tears, and esophageal varices. , even liver cirrhosis, etc.
As for the yellow-green color, it is bile. It may be due to the obstruction of the proximal small intestine that the bile cannot go down and is vomited out from the top. In addition, prolonged vomiting may also pull the bile in the duodenum upward and vomit it out.
When observing vomitus, finding undigested food may indicate an esophageal problem, such as esophageal stricture or achalasia. If there is partial digestion, it may be related to stomach problems, such as gastric outlet obstruction or gastroparesis. When vomiting, Dr. Wang recommends keeping the airway open to prevent suffocation, and paying attention to dehydration and lowered blood pressure. In addition, you must avoid driving to avoid danger.
For the improvement of vomiting, generally speaking, fasting is done temporarily, and then observe whether there is a trend of improvement. If vomiting continues, you can try to eat a small amount, but avoid solid, hard foods, lipids, and sparkling drinks to avoid irritation and aggravation of vomiting. If signs of dehydration occur, it is recommended to drink more fluids and use oral electrolytes to balance electrolytes. If you find the smell of vomiting disgusting, you can also try eating mints or other fresh-flavored chewing gum, but avoid swallowing it.
When facing an emergency of vomiting, Dr. Wang reminds us that if vomiting is accompanied by confusion, dehydration, and low blood pressure, you should seek emergency medical treatment. If you experience projectile vomiting, vomiting blood, brown inclusions, or massive vomiting, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to check the cause. For vomiting accompanied by specific symptoms, such as early morning headache, blurred vision, chest pain, severe abdominal pain, weight loss, etc., as well as specific risk groups, those who are younger or older, and those with low immunity, should be more vigilant and seek medical assistance as early as possible. People who take multiple medications should tell their doctor about their medical history so that the condition can be more fully evaluated.
