Why Are You Vomiting Stomach Acid? How to Cope

An Empty Stomach

When your stomach is empty from excessive vomiting and you start to throw up stomach acid, it is normally the result of the body’s defense mechanism. If you’re nauseated and vomiting, you should stay hydrated. When bile has prolonged contact with the esophagus, it can cause damage. If the vomiting persists, consult a doctor.

Intestinal Obstructions

When your small intestines have an obstruction, you can vomit bile. Naturally, bile is mixed with substances in the stomach and moves down to the intestines. In the event of an obstruction, bile is forced out of the body via vomiting. Inflammatory bowel disease, gallstones and adhesion are some of the causes of obstruction of the small intestines.   

Bile Reflux

This is a disorder that is similar to that of acid reflux. The only difference is that the body expels bile in place of acid. When the stomach has excess bile, it may force out through vomiting. Gastric surgeries like removal of gallstones and peptic ulcers are some of the causes of bile reflux. Many stomach surgeries can cause excess build-up of bile, especially during the healing process. This symptom is, however, a sign of things not being right.

Alcohol and Drug Use

When you consume large amounts of alcohol for a long time, there will be irritation of the stomach lining. Consequently, the stomach starts to involuntarily vomit and throw up stomach acid. Drugs like digitalis and morphine can give you the urge to vomit. If this happens, bile will be expelled.   

Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome

This is a rare disorder where the person suffering from it may experience episodes of vomiting bile. This is a condition that is characterized by vomit attacks that are violent and happen for no good reason. The vomiting bouts can last up to 10 days. The intensity and constancy of this condition starts to irritate the stomach and this results in the production of more bile. The stomach has to get rid of the excess bile by throwing it up. This is a vicious circle and anyone experiencing this should seek doctor's advice.

Other Causes

There are some medications that can cause ejection of green bile. Besides, anything triggering the gag reflex can trigger vomiting of bile. 

Excessively spicy foods and food poisoning can trigger continuous vomiting until the stomach is empty.

Intestinal tract inflammations like gastroenteritis are closely related to vomiting bile, causing growth of viruses and bacteria in your intestinal tract, which may lead to vomiting of bile. 

Stick to a Healthy Diet

There are times when acid reflux in your stomach is caused by the food you consume and how you eat it. Eating habits and diet changes you can make include:

• Do not eat too fast. Avoid eating a meal in the space of 15 minutes because you need to chew your food thoroughly. Eliminate or cut back on fatty foods. Digestion of fat takes longer compared to other foods. As such, the stomach generates larger amounts of acid to digest the fatty acids. In this case, if you eat too fast, acid reflux will happen or it will worsen you existing conditions.

• Avoid foods that are highly acidic if you want to treat the condition naturally. Examples of such foods are tomatoes, peppermint, garlic, caffeine, fried foods, chocolate and citrus fruits. You should also keep away from foods that will worsen or provoke acid reflux.

• Eat meals in smaller quantities throughout the day instead of eating two or three big meals. Large meals sometimes force your stomach to generate more acid.

Change an Unhealthy Lifestyle

Eating habits can cause or worsen acid reflux, so you need to change your lifestyle. The changes you can make include:

• After having a meal, always wait at least 3 hours before going to bed.

• Do  light exercises after eating for at least 1 or 2 hours

• Maintain an upright position for at least 45 minutes after meals. Acid reflux symptoms can come about by lie down immediately after meals. 

• Avoid smoking as it weakens the lower esophageal sphincter valve.

• People who are overweight stand a higher risk of throwing up bile. You should, therefore, work toward shedding off the excess weight.

• Avoid over indulging in alcohol. If you have to, drink in moderation. Women can take 1-2 drinks while men can take 2-3 drinks per day.

Wear Loose but Fitting Clothing

Internal organs get compressed by tight waistbands. They can lead to blocked digestion, which can make you throw up stomach acid. To solve this, wear pants and skirts that have elastic waistbands. Also, if you wear fitting or heavy clothes as required in the office, change into comfortable clothing such as sweats when at home.

Use Other Home Remedies

There are a number of readily available home remedies for those that prefer keeping it natural. These include;

• Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water and drink it.

• Eating raw almonds will result in reduced acid influx and also a balanced pH.

• Apple cider vinegar, when taken in a few teaspoons, will ensure your digestive system performs as it should.

• Drinking chamomile tea.

• Aloe vera juice can greatly reduce throwing up stomach acid.

Treatment Through Medication

If you throw up stomach acid that makes your life really miserable, the following medications can give you some relief.

• H2 blockers: Those medications block histamine receptors which are responsible for throwing up bile, such medications include, ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid). H2 blockers should be taken before meals to avoid acid reflux symptoms, or after meals if treating heartburn.

• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Production of stomach acid can be inhibited by use of some medications such as omeprazole (Prilosec, Nexium). PPIs, when taken for up to 2 weeks can relieve symptoms of throwing up stomach acid while at the same time repairing damage done to the esophageal lining.