She swears she'll feel better if she just makes herself puke, so she sticks her finger down her throat and expels what's left in her stomach after a night of bad decisions. This is her go-to move after a night of drinking; she claims it helps relieve her nausea, helps her sober up, and will prevent a killer hangover the next day.
The Worst That Could Happen: Voluntarily making yourself throw up is different from your body's natural reaction to want to vomit after you've had too much to drink. Alcohol is a toxin— and when your body has had too much of it, it needs to get rid of it ASAP. While it's not pleasant in the moment or for the poor neighbor whose bushes you end up assaulting , it's a normal bodily reaction we've all experienced at least a few times in our lives.
The problem happens when people make this self-induced vomiting a regular habit, particularly after a few too many adult beverages. Even a couple times a month could be bad news for your GI tract. Some of it may get stuck if there's food mixed in with it. Self-induced vomiting is also potentially more dangerous than when you throw up naturally because you're actively trying to vomit up as much as you can, which puts more strain on your esophagus.
Vomiting frequently or heavily could lead to esophageal tears known as Mallory-Weiss tears, and cause you to throw up blood. Constantly exposing your esophagus to stomach acid and alcohol also exacerbates esophagitis inflammation of the esophagus and can cause permanent changes. It gets worse: Chronic esophagitis increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer, although developing esophageal cancer from puking a few times a month on purpose is kind of a stretch.
There's also a risk of pulmonary aspiration, or having partially-digested food end up in your respiratory system. This could lead to pneumonia, or in a worst-case scenario, asphyxiation. In addition to esophagitis, which Levy says is a common side effect of frequent vomiting, throwing up alcohol and stomach acid can also lead to.
If acetaldehyde levels are higher than the liver can cope with, the body will remove the excess chemical by vomiting. Binge drinking can be a cause of vomiting after drinking alcohol. This acid buildup can irritate the lining of the stomach, leading it to become inflamed, which is known as gastritis.
Gastritis can cause:. Another possible cause of vomiting after drinking is alcoholic ketoacidosis AKA. AKA typically occurs in people with chronic alcohol use, although it occasionally affects people who binge drink. Following a bout of drinking, people with AKA are often unable to tolerate food for 1—3 days. A person with AKA may experience persistent vomiting and stomach pain.
AKA can be life threatening without prompt treatment. Anyone who thinks that they might have AKA should seek medical attention immediately. Alcohol poisoning is another potentially fatal cause of vomiting after drinking.
Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person ingests a large amount of alcohol over a short period. If a person is with someone who is exhibiting any of these symptoms following a large intake of alcohol, they should immediately dial for medical assistance. Throwing up after drinking may reduce stomach pain that the alcohol has caused. If a person throws up shortly after having a drink, the body may not have absorbed the alcohol, potentially lessening its effects. Being sick while extremely intoxicated is dangerous due to the possibility of the person passing out before or while vomiting.
Inhaling vomit is also dangerous even when a person is not at risk of passing out. A person who breathes in vomit when they are being sick could potentially develop pneumonia as a result. Prolonged vomiting can cause dehydration, meaning that the person does not have enough water for their body to function properly. Symptoms of dehydration include:. Although it may seem like a good idea when feeling nauseated, a person should not make themselves sick without first consulting a medical professional.
A person who induces vomiting by sticking an object down their throat runs the risk of scratching or puncturing their esophagus. A person who regularly makes themselves throw up may experience symptoms such as:. Occasionally, a person may have a preexisting condition that can cause them to be sick after drinking only small amounts of alcohol. These conditions include:. A person may also have an intolerance of certain ingredients that go into alcohol, such as grains, sulfites, and preservatives.
Mixing alcohol with other drugs, including prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal drugs, can be very dangerous. Alcohol can amplify the side effects of certain medications, such as drowsiness and lightheadedness. Other drugs can cause the following reactions in combination with alcohol:. According to the NIAAA , mixing some drugs with alcohol may put a person at risk of internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulty breathing.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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