Vomiting: Causes, Fast Relief & When to Seek Care

Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up is never fun. Vomiting is your body’s way of getting rid of something harmful or reacting to a trigger. This short guide gives clear, practical steps to help you calm nausea, avoid dehydration, and know when to get medical care.

Common causes and what to watch for

Viral stomach bugs (like norovirus), food poisoning, motion sickness, strong smells, pregnancy, migraines, and side effects from medicines are the usual suspects. More serious causes include infections, appendicitis, bowel blockage, or toxins. Pay attention to warning signs: repeated vomiting that won’t stop, signs of dehydration (very dry mouth, little or no urine, dizziness), severe belly pain, high fever, blood in the vomit, or confusion. If any of those happen, get medical help right away.

For pregnant people, frequent severe vomiting could be hyperemesis gravidarum — tell your OB if you can’t keep fluids down or you start losing weight. Kids can dehydrate faster than adults, so act sooner with fluids and advice from a pediatrician.

Quick remedies that actually help

Start by resting and avoiding solid food for a few hours if you feel very sick. Sip small amounts of clear fluids — water, weak tea, or an oral rehydration solution — every 10–15 minutes. Once vomiting eases, try bland foods like toast, crackers, bananas, rice, or applesauce (the BRAT approach) in small amounts.

Simple tools you can try at home: cool compress on the forehead, fresh air or open window, acupressure wristbands (for motion sickness), and ginger tea or ginger candies — many people find ginger eases nausea. Avoid strong smells, alcohol, and greasy or spicy foods until you feel better.

Over-the-counter options include dimenhydrinate or meclizine for motion sickness. Prescription antiemetics such as ondansetron, promethazine, or metoclopramide are used for stronger or persistent vomiting but need a doctor’s prescription and guidance. Always check with a healthcare provider before giving medicines to children or combining drugs.

When vomiting follows a head injury, is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, or lasts more than 24 hours with no improvement, seek care. If someone cannot keep any fluids down for 12–24 hours or shows signs of dehydration or low urine output, get medical attention sooner.

If vomiting is from food poisoning, most people improve with hydration and rest. If symptoms are severe — bloody stool, high fever, or rapid worsening — contact a doctor. For chemotherapy-related nausea, the treatment plan often includes prescription antiemetics and should be managed with your oncology team.

Short version: hydrate, rest, use simple home measures, and call your doctor if vomiting is severe, prolonged, or accompanied by worrying signs. When in doubt, it’s better to check with a healthcare professional than to wait.