Vomiting is a natural reflex of the body to eliminate spoiled food or toxic substances that may be in the stomach, so when it is really needed, the body automatically causes vomiting. Thus, vomiting should only be induced when there is an indication of the doctor or when eating something that is causing a very intense malaise, which has not improved otherwise.
In situations where someone has ingested a poisonous substance or some kind of irritating liquid such as cleaning products, it is best not to induce vomiting, as this fluid will have to flow back through the throat and may cause further damage. Ideally, in these situations, go immediately to the hospital to start the most appropriate treatment. Here's what to do when someone drank poison or cleaning products.
5 steps to induce vomiting correctly
To cause vomiting properly and to avoid much discomfort or serious complications, one must:
1. Wash hands thoroughly
Washing your hands is always very important, as it prevents the transmission of bacteria and other microorganisms to the throat, preventing the onset of infections such as tonsillitis, for example.
2. Kneel in front of the pot
Kneeling in front of the vase is one of the most comfortable and safe positions to vomit, however, you should avoid putting too much pressure on the belly, as it can cause even more discomfort.
3. Place the finger in the throat
At the beginning of the stick there is a point that can be tightened to produce the urge to vomit. To do this, place the finger inside the mouth and then make a slight pressure on the back of the tongue in the region where the throat begins. The urge to vomit is almost immediate, but some people may have to do this maneuver 2 or 3 times before successfully vomiting, as the body may try to block the signal the first few times.
4. Drink 1 glass of water
After vomiting it is very important to drink a glass of water to remove excess gastric acid that sticks to the walls of the throat and that can cause minor burns and inflammation.
Wait 30 minutes before brushing teeth.
Although after vomiting there is a great need to eliminate the taste that is in the mouth, it is best only to rinse with water, because the coating of the teeth becomes sensitive when it comes in contact with the contents of the stomach. Thus, you should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Possible risk of vomiting
One of the biggest risks of vomiting is the possibility of developing pneumonia. This is because when vomiting the contents that are in the stomach goes back to the mouth and in that process, it may happen that some of that content is aspirated into the lungs. If this happens, an inflammation will occur and the bacteria that are in the digested food may develop in the lung, causing pneumonia.
However, frequent vomiting can also cause lesions in the esophagus and mouth, as they are sites with very sensitive mucous membranes that are not prepared to come in direct contact with gastric acid.
When not inducing vomiting
Vomiting should never be used as a way to take food ingested from the stomach just because you have overeat. If this is happening often, you may be suffering from bulimia, a type of eating disorder in which the person causes vomiting after eating to not get fat. Learn more about bulimia and how to fight it.
Also, if you have drank some poison or some cleansing product, you should not vomit as there is a very high risk of causing burns in the esophagus. Watch in this video what to do in these situations:
