Vomiting is an extremely common reaction to a variety of triggers. Those might include seeing something that turns your stomach, illnesses like the flu or food poisoning, or even sheer nervousness to name a few of the possibilities. In many cases, people try to repress the urge to throw up. After all, it’s not exactly a comfortable experience, and for many, once they start, they have trouble getting the vomiting reflex to go away.
Other times, though, people might feel the need to make themselves vomit. In truth, self-induced vomiting isn’t necessarily a good idea. In fact, it can be dangerous. Because of that, doctors generally advise against it. Still, we’ll take a moment to explore some of the reasons why it might be necessary. We’ll also look at the potential dangers involved, how to make yourself throw up safely if you feel you absolutely have to, and some potential alternatives to self-induced vomiting that might be safer and less uncomfortable.
Why People Might Want to Make Themselves Vomit
People consider inducing vomiting for several reasons. They can range from thinking they’ve eaten something harmful to just trying to ease stomach discomfort. Read on to learn more about some of the most common.
Fear of Food Poisoning
For one, people might try to induce vomiting because they’re afraid that they’ve eaten something unsafe. Perhaps they decided after eating a bowl of cereal that the milk tasted a bit off. Maybe they ate half of a piece of chicken only to discover that it wasn’t thoroughly cooked. It could be that they ate at a restaurant or someone’s house but began to question the cleanliness of the place after the fact.
In either of those cases, they may think that forcing themselves to throw up may keep them from getting food poisoning or other foodborne illnesses. That’s a perfectly logical line of reasoning. Unfortunately, it’s a myth. Inducing vomiting after eating contaminated food won’t necessarily prevent food poisoning. It doesn’t completely empty the stomach, and some of the pathogens in the food may have already moved beyond the stomach by the time they realize they’re in potential danger.
Feeling Nauseated or Too Full
Another common reason why people want to make themselves throw up is feeling nauseated or too full. Maybe you ate too much at dinner, or perhaps you’re feeling like everything you’ve eaten over the last few days is lodged in your throat. When you’re feeling yucky, it’s natural to think that getting everything out of your stomach will make you feel better.
Sometimes, that works. It’s particularly helpful for indigestion and overeating. It can still be dangerous, though, especially if it’s a recurring event. If you feel the need to throw up to empty your stomach on occasion, be sure to read our advice on doing it safely. Keep in mind that it shouldn’t be a constant solution to not feeling well.
Ingesting Something Dangerous
Inadvertently ingesting something that’s potentially dangerous is also a common reason why people want to make themselves vomit. That may involve accidentally taking an extra dose of a prescription medication, taking the wrong medication, or accidentally swallowing a household chemical. In situations like those, wanting to vomit to get it out of your system would certainly be a common reaction.
Inducing vomiting in those scenarios was once common practice. That’s no longer the case, though. In reality, it can do more harm than good. Instead, avoiding vomiting and following professional advice is recommended.
Emotional and Psychological Distress
Finally, excessive stress, nervousness, and fear can cause a long list of physical effects, including feeling nauseated. At the very least, it can cause the common feeling of having butterflies in the stomach. It can also lead people to swallow a lot of air, which can make them feel nauseated or bloated. In turn, people may want to force themselves throw up to get rid of that uncomfortable feeling. Extreme nervousness or fear can even trigger the gag reflex and cause natural vomiting for some people.
Truthfully, though, self-induced vomiting doesn’t really help for situations like those. It may even make people feel much worse. Furthermore, it could lead to an unhealthy pattern, especially for people who live with anxiety disorders and other issues that frequently cause them to experience severe emotional distress.
Why You Shouldn’t Resort to Self-Induced Vomiting
Years ago, inducing vomiting was recommended for dealing with poisoning and certain other problems. Today, that has changed because research shows the risks of self-induced vomiting usually outweigh any possible benefits. As mentioned, it can be particularly dangerous for several reasons.
Stomach acid is very strong. Studies have shown that it can even erode metal. When you throw up, you’re exposing your esophagus, mouth, and teeth to that harsh acid. If you do so repeatedly, it can cause serious damage. Repeated and forceful vomiting can tear the esophagus and lead to sores in the mouth and throat as well.
In cases where people have swallowed chemicals, corrosive substances, and other dangerous items, vomiting to get them out of the system can actually cause more damage. Besides that, it doesn’t necessarily remove the hazards that were swallowed. That can give people a false sense of security, so they may avoid seeking further medical attention. Self-induced vomiting likewise comes with the risk of aspiration, or breathing in the contents of the stomach you’re expelling when you throw up.
Having said all that, there are some instances in which inducing vomiting is more unsafe than others. It’s never really a good idea to force yourself to throw up. In the following situations, though, it should be avoided at all costs.
- You swallowed chemicals, cleaners, gasoline, or acids
- You ingested sharp objects or batteries
- You took unknown or large amounts of a medication
- You have a seizure disorder, swallowing problems, or esophageal conditions
- You’re feeling drowsy or disoriented
The affected person is an infant or a child
In these cases, you shouldn’t try to handle the situation on your own. Instead, seek professional help immediately. That’ll ensure the dangers are removed safely and effectively without causing more harm in the process.
Alternatives to Self-Induced Vomiting
If you’re feeling sick or worried after ingesting something, it’s best to avoid purposefully throwing up, especially without the approval of a medical professional. There are safer, more effective options. Consider using the following alternatives.
- Contact Poison Control – You can call Poison Control at 1 (800) 222-1222. They’re free and available around the clock, and they can tell you what to do based on what you swallowed.
- Stay Hydrated – It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water in small sips to help dilute the contents of the stomach unless a professional advises otherwise.
- Monitor Symptoms – Be sure to watch for symptoms after swallowing something potentially dangerous as well. Repeated vomiting without forcing it, severe or worsening pain, chest pains, fever, and confusion are warning signs that you need immediate medical care.
- Go to the Emergency Room – If you think you’ve swallowed something harmful, you can go to a local hospital emergency room for safe, effective help rather than forcing yourself to vomit.
If you’re feeling nauseated and you vomit without having to force it, don’t try to fight it. That’s your body naturally trying to take care of a problem on its own. After throwing up, consider rinsing your mouth out with water and taking in small sips of fluids if you can. Sit upright rather than lying down. If vomiting doesn’t stop on its own shortly or is accompanied by chest pains, difficulty breathing, confusion, seizures, or blood in your vomit, be sure to seek medical care as quickly as possible.
Vomiting is the body’s natural response to certain triggers. If you truly need to throw up, it won’t take much extra effort to make it happen. In some cases, though, people feel the need to force themselves to throw up. That’s generally not a good idea because it can cause more harm than good. It’s generally best to avoid self-induced vomiting unless otherwise directed by a professional. Instead of dealing with the situation on your own, please call Poison Control or seek medical care.
