Throwing up Foam

Throwing up foam means when a person vomits, there is a discharge of foam like white or yellow substance from the gut. Throwing up is not a disease in itself but can be a symptom of many underlying diseases. The foam that comes out could be either white or a yellow liquid depending on what is coming out of your stomach.

Throwing out usually is the body’s way to discard unwanted substances from the stomach. There might not always be the need to discard something out of the gut and sometimes the brain might send wrong signals leading to throwing up foam for no reason. The diseases associated with it are usually stomach and gastrointestinal tract diseases. The throwing up is usually not attached to anything lethal that can happen to the body and can be easily treated with some home remedies, antibiotics, and some diet alteration. It can be dangerous in the cases when a person has consumed something poisonous and is unconsciously throwing up foam.

Throwing up can also be followed by a headache and weakness which is only specific to some cases. If along with the foam, there is some blood or mucus that comes out then immediate medical assistance is required otherwise this might lead to something big. Foam is vomited by the body usually in the case of empty stomach since there is nothing else left to come out. But after eating something poisonous the body starts to discard it as soon as possible leading to only foam coming out of the mouth. Since the gastrointestinal tract is irritated by the substance, the reverse peristalsis happens even before the poisonous substance reaches the stomach. Even though this can be easily treated at home, it should not be taken lightly especially while pregnant and doctors should be consulted immediately.

Symptoms of Throwing up Foam

There are no symptoms of the throwing up foam since it is in itself a symptom of another disease but there are some symptoms associated with it that are worth discussing:

Acidity and Nausea

Acidity is a condition in which there is an excess production of acids in the stomach that leads to the discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach secretes some acids and bile to properly digest foods and kill the harmful organisms that come in the gut with the food. But sometimes when the stomach is empty and there is a wrong signal that gets sent to the brain and extra acid is produced, this is acidity. Things like smoking, stress, bad eating habits etc. are the reasons for acidity.

Nausea is a feeling of discomfort in the upper wall of the stomach. It is also a sensation of vomiting, which happens when there is a problem with the stomach. The cause may be food poisoning, acidity, motion sickness, morning sickness etc.

Acidity and nausea are followed by vomiting which usually results in throwing up foam. Sometimes after coughing a person throws up foam and phlegm which can be because of the accumulation of the mucus in the throat. Pregnant women might feel nauseous in morning or after eating something that the body is repelling during pregnancy.

Stomach Ache

Mostly after a person has thrown out foam, stomach ache happens. During vomiting a lot of pressure is applied by the gastrointestinal tract to throw the substance out of the body, this might sometimes feel like there is some sort of bruising in the stomach and a little stomach ache might also happen.

Vomiting

Throwing up means vomiting, so it is obvious vomiting will be a symptom of throwing up foam. Vomiting in the other words is known as reverse peristalsis and requires a lot of effort from the gastrointestinal tract to throw substance out of the body by defying gravity. Vomiting can be the reason for a lot of things like you might end up throwing bile that is mixed up in other gastric juices and it is usually colored yellow. Sometimes after throwing up a lot, the body starts throwing up the acids from the stomach which looks like foam.

Headache

After vomiting or while the body is rejecting something from the body, some people tend to experience headaches. The headache does not last very long and vanishes within 15 to 20 minutes and is not very severe.

Weakness and Dehydration

Weakness is usually due to the other diseases that are causing the throwing up foam like bacterial or yeast infections etc.

Excessive throwing up leads to loss of water from the body which in turn leads to dehydration. If a person does not compensate for the water the body has lost, it can be very harmful. The foam that comes out of the stomach consists of a large amount of water in it.

Causes of Throwing up Foam

As it has been already mentioned that throwing up foam is not a disease in itself, it just might be a symptom of an underlying condition. Here are a few reasons why throwing up foam happens:

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux happens when the stomach acid goes back up to the esophagus and is thrown out of the mouth. This causes a burning sensation in the stomach and esophagus and also the acid comes out in the form of foam. Acid reflux is again not a disease,, it is a symptom. The acid that comes out gets mixed with other juices to give out a foam-like semi solid substance. Sometimes after coughing, an acid reflux can happen because of the extra force that was applied in coughing. This might lead to throwing up.

Candida Albicans

This is another big reason for a person throwing up foam. Candida Albicans is a type of yeast infection that happens in the stomach. This can be easily treated with simple medication if the immune system is healthy and if not, there is no cure for this infection. Candida is a yeast that helps in the process of digestion and absorption in the stomach. Sometimes it divides and grows in huge numbers than the required amount and hence cause infection in the stomach.

Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal Hernia happens when some part of the stomach gets pushed above the chest causing it to compress through the diaphragm. Since the stomach has been pushed up to the chest, the content of the stomach will also be pushed up to the chest hence leading in the acid refluxes and hence throwing up foam. This is usually seen in the people that are above 50 years old but it can also happen to the people at a younger age but it is very rare.

Bacterial Infection

The bacterial infection is also another cause of throwing up foam by the body. The bacteria Helicobacter pylori is present in the gastrointestinal tract and is usually responsible for causing irritation in the lining of the stomach. They eventually lead to ulcers in the stomach and intestines.

Alcohol

Sometimes excessive alcohol consumption irritates the inner lining of the stomach. This leads the brain to send signals to the stomach to throw the alcohol out. Alcohol that is thrown out is usually a yellow liquid with foam. The yellow liquid that is thrown out is bile that sometimes comes out along with the alcohol.

Pregnancy

While pregnant, women tend to suffer from morning sickness. They might face from nausea in morning and suffer vomiting too. When the morning sickness happens foam comes out with some other liquids from the stomach.

Treatment

Throwing up foam is usually treated with home remedies only and there is very rarely any need to see the doctor. Here are a few things that can treat throwing up foam:

Diet

The main cause of acidity is empty stomach and unhealthy habits of eating. Eating should be done time to time and in small portions. The stomach should not remain empty. People try to cut meals to lose weight. This is not a healthy habit. The more you stay hungry, your body produces bile and acids to digest the food that it thinks has been provided to the stomach. If there is not food, acid will get accumulated in the stomach. This will lead to acid refluxes and vomiting of foam. Also, eating a balanced diet is important for a healthy stomach. The food items and hands must be washed properly to avoid bacterial and yeast infection. Since these diseases are communicable, it is very important to take care of personal hygiene.

Exercise

The basic way to avoid throwing up foam is keeping your stomach healthy. So, exercise along with a good diet helps in digestion and also helps the body to avoid situations like acidity. Also, it is advisable not to sleep for at least two hours prior to eating any meal and sitting upright after eating for at least half an hour.

Home Remedies

Some home remedies can also be put to use if a person keeps throwing up foam regularly:

• Eating raw almonds balances the pH of the stomach.
• One tablespoon of baking soda with water if consumed can help neutralize acidity.
• Apple cider vinegar with a glass of water is helpful in maintaining acid levels of the stomach.
• A cup of chamomile tea or half a cup of Aloe Vera juice can also be consumed to reduce stomach inflammation.