Digestive Health Stomach Flu Why Do We Vomit When We Get Sick? By Kristina Duda, RN Kristina Duda, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 22, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Print Vomiting is one of the most unpleasant symptoms we have to endure when we get certain illnesses. Although it is most commonly caused by gastroenteritis (sometimes called “stomach flu”), people also deal with vomiting during pregnancy, after taking certain medications, while undergoing cancer treatments, when they have migraine headaches, and several other reasons. We will look at what happens to our bodies when we vomit. Why does it occur and what can we do to feel better? Image Source / Getty Images What Causes Vomiting? When we are sick with an illness that leads to vomiting, the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is typically inflamed and irritated. When you try to eat or drink, you further irritate that lining, causing it to expel the contents of your stomach. Sometimes the irritation is so bad or your reflex is so sensitive that it causes the continuation of the vomiting even after your stomach is empty. You may vomit bile or you may just “dry heave.” Vomiting can also be caused by issues with the brain—such as a concussion/head injury, brain tumor, migraine headache or infection, or with the inner ear, such as dizziness or motion sickness. In these cases, vomiting occurs without any irritation of the GI tract. In adults and older children, the most common cause of vomiting is viral gastroenteritis. What You Can Do If you find yourself dealing with vomiting—whether it is yourself or someone you care for—there are things you should know about how to treat it. Although it is only a symptom of an illness and not an illness itself, the actions you take when you are vomiting can affect how quickly you recover and how bad it may be. This article on vomiting treatments will take you through step-by-step instructions on what to do when you or someone you are caring for is vomiting. It can also help you figure out when you might be in a situation where you need to seek medical attention. One of the most important lessons you will learn—and something that many people make the mistake of doing without knowing how much it can harm—is not to eat or drink anything immediately after vomiting. It can be tempting to at least drink something after you throw up because your mouth now tastes horrible and you want to avoid dehydration, but eating or drinking right after vomiting often leads to more vomiting. If your stomach is emptying itself, it needs time to rest and relax before you put anything else in it. Wait at least 15 minutes before you try to eat or drink after vomiting. There are mixed reviews about whether or not following a strict BRAT diet will help with vomiting and/or diarrhea. In general, letting your stomach rest and eating bland starchy foods for a day or two after vomiting (or while you are recovering) isn’t going to hurt. These foods are gentler on the stomach and less likely to irritate your GI system. If you are unable to eat foods that are included in the BRAT diet, talk with your healthcare provider or dietitian about alternatives. When to Seek Help Sometimes, vomiting is so severe that it can’t be managed at home or it is caused by something serious that needs medical treatment. Figuring out if one of these situations applies to you can be difficult. If you are vomiting multiple times a day for more than about 24 hours, it’s a good idea to contact your healthcare provider. You should also seek medical attention if you are vomiting blood or if your vomit looks like coffee grounds. If you experience a severe headache and stiff neck or neck pain with vomiting, contact your healthcare provider right away. If you aren’t sure what to do, always contact your healthcare provider for advice. What Is Emetophobia? The Fear of Vomiting Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”). American Academy of Family Physicians. BRAT diet: recovering from an upset stomach. Laine L, Laursen SB, Zakko L, et al. Severity and outcomes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with bloody vs. coffee-grounds hematemesis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(3):358-366. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.5