Vomiting while sleeping is not usual, unless you are pregnant. It is often due to hormonal changes or undigested food. But it could be symptom of something severe like food poisoning, stomach ulcer, gastrointestinal issues, etc.
However, consulting a doctor can help you resolve this condition. In this article, you will find the answer to sudden vomiting in the middle of the night, its causes, home remedies, and prevention strategies.
Explaining Sudden Vomiting in The Middle of The Night
Gastrointestinal disorders are the main reasons for sudden vomiting in the middle of the night. And this happens due to consuming junk foods or high-protein meals at dinner and then going to bed.
It’s hard for the stomach to digest food, causing nausea and sudden vomiting at night.
It leads to dehydration, so you must have a small amount of water, but avoid drinking and eat anything for three to four hours. As your stomach needs time to recover from the damage naturally.
Here, I mention the minor effects that can lead to sudden vomit in the middle of the night.
- Migrain
- Food poisoning or allergies
- Hangover
- Overeating
Causes of Sudden Vomiting in the Middle of the Night
Feelings of restlessness, stomach pain, gastric, sour tongue and chest pain before bed are the red flags you may witness.
These causes should be taken seriously as your body indicates that something is wrong and needs medical attention.
- Anxiety
You have fewer distractions at night, and it can cause sudden vomit as your brain and gut health are connected through millions of nerves.
Overthinking several personal or professional topics leads to restlessness, panic attacks, sweating, and high blood pressure, which are symptoms of anxiety that trigger your digestion and physical health.
- Peptic Ulcer
The sharp pain in your abdomen and sudden vomiting at night are significant symptoms of peptic ulcer.
This health condition may occur due to the extreme use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the bacterium helicobacter pylori.
It makes the stomach produce excess acid, destroying the stomach lining and causing sores and lesions to develop around it.
- Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition of weak diaphragm tissue around the stomach that throws food into the chest area.
This makes you feel nauseous and want to puke at night. Moreover, there is no specific reason for the hiatal hernia, but some experts suggest that lifting heavy weights can strain the muscles, and it might worsen with age.
- Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
This rare disorder developed in childhood due to genes, nervous system, and hormonal problems.
And if you are having continuous vomiting and nausea episodes while sleeping, then CVS might be the reason. It’s a gastrointestinal disease, and headaches, fatigue, and exhaustion are the main symptoms of CVS.
- Gastroenteritis
Mostly, children are affected by gastroenteritis due to exposure to gut infection, as they have fragile immune systems.
You might suffer from this condition, as gastroenteritis is a tummy parasite that attacks the gut and causes sudden vomiting throughout the night.
Although, there is nothing to worry about as it’s a short-term illness that will heal within a week.
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- Medication Side-Effect
Aspirin, antibiotics, and blood pressure pills after dinner or before bed contain some chemicals that can irritate the stomach, resulting in vomiting at night. However, never take another dose with the same medication after throwing up, as it can become an overdose.
- GORD
According to the National Institute of Health. around 1.03 billion people are struggling from GORD. This condition develops when the bottom of the esophagus muscles weaken and fail to separate the food pipe and stomach acid for digestion.
Still, when it passes again to the esophagus, it triggers the system, resulting in vomiting at night.
- Gastroparesis
When your stomach is unable to empty digested food, it causes gastroparesis disorder, leading to sudden vomiting at night.
Gastroparesis Society, confirms that around four percent of the population is suffering from this disease, and most of them are women.
And, you are at high risk because of diabetes or had recent abdomen surgery, which means the vagus nerve and special cells are damaged, causing sudden vomiting while sleeping.
- Pregnancy
Due to excessive production of hormones, most pregnant women face sudden vomiting at night, and it is entirely normal.
It’s also known as morning sickness, you might go through this phase for six to eight weeks.
Although it’s not dangerous for your baby, trigger smells or food at night worsen this condition.
Symptoms of Sudden Vomiting in the Middle of the Night
- Sensation of Impending Vomiting
- Feeling the urge to vomit during the night.
- Heightened Perspiration
- Experiencing excessive sweating along with the urge to vomit.
- Abdominal Discomfort
- Noticing stomach pain as a concurrent symptom.
- Retching and Dry Heaves
- Engaging in the effort to vomit, but with no actual material expelled.
- Actual Vomiting
- Undergoing the act of vomiting during nighttime episodes.
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
Sudden Vomiting In The Middle Of The Night Toddler
I understand how alarming it can be when your toddler suddenly vomits in the middle of the night. Children vomiting at night often happens because of a short-term sickness like a virus or food poisoning. It can also signal a possible underlying health issue.
Different illnesses, with the most common being short-term viral infections like gastroenteritis, can lead to nighttime vomiting in children.
Watch for symptoms like diarrhea, lethargy, and fever. Keep your little one hydrated with water or a rehydration solution. In the case of acid reflux, symptoms may include heartburn and breathing difficulties.
Remember, these issues often resolve on their own, but consult a doctor for guidance and the best treatment.
Must read : Can Polycystic Ovaries Make You Feel Sick
Home Remedies To Prevent Sudden Vomiting In The Middle Of The Night
Home remedies work best to manage minor health issues, and if you are clueless about sudden vomiting at night.
These tricks reduce stomach or gastric pain and treat the condition without side effects.
Eating banana, a piece of bread, and peppermint can prevent vomiting as they contain antioxidants that eliminate stomach acid.
- Tea
Some teas can eliminate vomit episodes by improving digestion and spreading a sweet aroma. You can try ginger, basil, cinnamon or peppermint tea to decrease nausea before bed.
- Juices
Fresh juice keeps your metabolism active while you sleep by boosting insulin for easy digestion. However, avoid sour juices and store juices because they contain preservatives.
Other Prevention Strategies Lifestyles can impact multiple health problems, so addressing the cause is a better prevention strategy.
- Cognitive behavioral Therapy
It could be a small thing that triggers you and leads to negative thoughts at night. But, in therapy, you will learn to control thoughts rather than be carried away.
- Head Position
Sudden vomiting episodes are manageable by avoiding lying on your back and sleeping on your side. Also, pile-up pillows to elevate your head around twelve inches high for better posture.
- Avoid food and caffeine
An unhealthy lifestyle like late-night parties and drinking alcohol leads to a hangover. It makes you sick and nauseous, which can lead to multiple episodes of vomiting, so it is good to avoid these habits.
- Eating Habit
Vomiting at night might be connected to eating habits, so avoid spicy and fatty foods at dinner. Even some experts suggest that you should eat dinner three to four hours earlier before bed for better digestion.
Wrap Up
So there you have it. Suddenly throwing up in the middle of the night can be scary, and it’s often a sign of deeper health problems. The main causes in the US are digestive problems, anxiety, and side effects from medications.
Different conditions, like peptic ulcers and hiatal hernias, can cause symptoms like stomach pain and chest pain.
For minor problems, home remedies like drinking peppermint tea or bananas can help.
But figuring out the real reasons behind these upsetting events at night and taking steps to stop them, like switching sleep positions and living a healthy life, can greatly reduce the chances of having them.
