Nausea and vomiting can be caused by a variety of situations, including illness, pregnancy, motion sickness, or food poisoning. In most cases, self-care measures are sufficient to recover from a vomiting episode, although if the disorder continues for more than 24 hours, it could be a sign of a more serious illness. If you experience nausea and vomiting for more than a day or two, see a doctor as soon as possible; otherwise, by eating and drinking properly and letting your body recover, you can feel better in no time.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Relieving Nausea After Vomiting
Step 1. Rest in a sitting position with your back straight and head elevated
Do not make excessive movements after vomiting, as this can make the feeling of nausea worse. Conversely, stay upright in a sitting position, keeping your head 30 cm above your feet to help your body recover sooner.
- Do not lie down, as this position may inadvertently trigger vomiting again.
- Remain in this position to rest for at least an hour or until you no longer feel nauseous.
Step 2. Place a cold compress on the nape of the neck
Hold a clean cloth under fresh running water until it is completely soaked, then wring it in the sink and fold it in half. Place it on the nape of your neck and leave it on for 5-10 minutes: it can give relief and help lower your body temperature, which may have risen following vomiting.
Step 3. Avoid strong or unpleasant odors until the nausea subsides
The smell of tobacco smoke, strong scents, or the aroma of spicy foods can trigger vomiting if you are still feeling nauseous. Avoid smells like these as much as possible until it's been at least 24 hours since you last vomited.
Keep in mind that even cooked food usually smells stronger than raw food, so avoiding it is another great way to not throw up
Step 4. Avoid taking oral medications that may irritate the stomach
These include aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and some blood pressure medications. Consult your doctor before stopping any therapy you were on prior to the vomiting episode.
Some antibiotics have also been shown to cause nausea; however, a therapy should never be stopped without first consulting your doctor
Step 5. Try going outside to get some fresh air if you still feel nauseous
Often taking a walk outdoors can help relieve nausea and vomiting, but it's best not to strain if you don't feel physically able to walk.
If you find it too difficult to go outside for a walk, try sitting by an open window and breathing in the air that comes from outside
Step 6. Use aromatherapy to relieve nausea
It is a practice that involves the inhalation of essential oils, for example by adding a few drops in a diffuser or lighting a scented candle. Among the fragrances that can relieve the sense of nausea are:
- Ginger;
- Peppermint;
- Lavender;
- Fennel seeds;
- The lemon.
Step 7. Use some deep breathing techniques to quell the nausea
Studies have shown that slow, deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and decrease feelings of nausea or stomach upset. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose for 5 seconds, then slowly exhale through your nose for 7 seconds. Repeat this exercise until you feel the nausea begin to disappear.
For best results, try to completely fill your lungs when you inhale
Part 2 of 3: Start Drinking and Eating Again
Step 1. Avoid eating or drinking for the next 15 minutes so that your stomach rests
Your stomach muscles will be quite sore after you vomit, especially if it was a prolonged event. Letting your stomach rest will reduce the risk of vomiting again once you start eating again.
It is a good idea to rinse your mouth with some water to get rid of the bad taste after throwing up. Just avoid swallowing it for the next 15 minutes
Step 2. Take small sips of water or suck on a few ice cubes to avoid dehydration
After 15 minutes have passed without vomiting, start drinking small sips of water every 5-10 minutes to catch up on lost fluids. Vomiting involves a significant loss of water, so it is important to rehydrate the body as soon as possible.
- If you start vomiting again after drinking some water, stop and wait another 15-20 minutes before trying again.
- You can also try drinking a light tea, energy drink, or clear, non-carbonated liquids, as long as they don't irritate your stomach.
Step 3. Chew a small piece of fresh ginger or drink it in an herbal tea
Ginger has anti-emetic properties, meaning it can help relieve nausea and vomiting. If you have some fresh ginger available, you can cut a small piece (about 1.5 cm long) and chew it or use it in an herbal tea. Remove the peel with a knife and put it in your mouth or in a cup by pouring boiling water over it. Leave it to infuse for 10 minutes then drink the infusion slowly.
Step 4. Try to eat light, starchy food 8 hours after the last episode of vomiting
You should wait until you have been able to hold fluids for 8 hours without throwing up before trying to eat anything. The first foods you can try to consume should be light, starchy, and easy to digest, such as bananas, rice, apple juice, or toast. These are the same foods that are part of the BRAT diet.
- The BRAT diet (from the English acronym corresponding to bananas, rice, apple juice and toast) is recommended for people with stomach ailments.
- Tea and yogurt are also simple foods that can be eaten after vomiting.
Step 5. Eat small meals every 2-3 hours to slowly return to your normal diet
In this way, the stomach will be subjected to less strain than having a large meal every 6-8 hours. Also, try to limit yourself to cold or room-temperature foods for the first 24 hours after vomiting to decrease the risk of re-irritating your stomach.
- Among the foods you can try are mashed potatoes (not too hot), rice, a creamy soup with low-fat milk, pretzels or a low-fat pudding.
- Avoid eating fried, fatty, acidic or sweet foods, as they can irritate the stomach. Wait until 24-48 hours have passed since the last episode of vomiting before tackling some fried chicken or a glazed donut.
Step 6. Avoid caffeine, tobacco and alcohol until your stomach is better
Alcoholic or caffeinated drinks and tobacco products can irritate the stomach and induce vomiting again. To make sure this doesn't happen, avoid consuming these products until 24-48 hours have passed since you last vomited.
If you have a lactose intolerance or are somewhat sensitive to dairy products, you should avoid eating them until it is past 24 without throwing up
Part 3 of 3: Physically Recovering from Sense of Nausea
Step 1. Avoid excessive exercise for at least a couple of days
The body needs to recover not only from the act of vomiting, but also from the cause that triggered it. Moving around a lot while feeling nauseous can also induce vomiting again, so it's best to rest until the nausea is completely gone.
If you have friends or family who can take care of you as you regain strength, ask them if they are willing to keep you company until the nausea subsides
Step 2. Consider using certain medications to control recurrent nausea and vomiting
If you've done everything you can to try to calm the nausea, but still find yourself facing repeated bouts of vomiting, you may need the help of some medications. Consult your doctor to request a prescription for a nausea medication to help keep the disorder under control.
- Drugs for nausea include Promet NAR and Zofran.
- Keep in mind that some over-the-counter medications used to treat stomach ailments, such as Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, will likely not stop vomiting if it is caused by a gut virus.
Step 3. See your doctor if your symptoms don't go away or get worse
Although the disorder usually clears up within 24 hours, sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious problem. Consult your doctor if vomiting lasts more than 24 hours, if you notice blood in it, or if you experience severe abdominal pain.
You should contact your doctor even if the feeling of nausea (in the absence of vomiting) has persisted for more than 48 hours
Advice
If, after vomiting, you feel a bad taste in your mouth, try sucking on a hard candy for a few minutes: it will not cure the stomach ailment, but it will at least eliminate the bad taste
Warnings
- See your doctor right away if you notice blood in your vomit or if it is accompanied by severe headache or abdominal pain, lethargy, confusion, fever above 38 ° C or shortness of breath. These could all be signs of a more serious medical disorder.
- If the episode of vomiting has lasted for more than a few hours in a child under the age of 6 or for more than a day in a child over the age of 6, take it to the doctor immediately.
