Many people throw up after they eat too much, eat something that makes them feel bad, or taste something foul. All the associated reflexes in these cases are usually natural, and since they take place involuntarily, you usually do not experience serious discomfort. However, you may experience some discomfort when you throw up in case you have certain ailments, such as gastritis – these ailments induce vomiting because the food can irritate the digestive tract. Interestingly, there are people who throw up deliberately. Some are of the view that this is actually beneficial, but others believe this can cause biological damage. So, what is the truth?

Is Making Yourself Throw Up Bad?

A number of factors go into answering this question actually. It may seem like a good idea to induce vomiting if you have eaten something that is making you feel bad. Throwing up in this case will help you stop that disgusting feeling. It is also safe to induce vomiting if you have ingested something poisonous or toxic. In other words, it is not bad to throw up deliberately if it is a one-time thing. You should not make it a habit though.

Side Effects of Making Yourself Throw Up Frequently

Is making yourself throw up bad? Yes, it's bad if you do it often.

• Forcing yourself to throw up often can cause damage to the esophagus as well as the upper digestive tract. It can also leave tears in the tissue of your throat and food pipe. 
• Sometimes, you also throw up the semi-digested food along with the contents of your stomach, which may include the gastric fluid that is a combination of potassium chloride, hydrochloric acid, and sodium chloride. The fluid can corrode the enamel on your teeth and make them extremely sensitive.
• Moreover, vomiting deliberately every time you feel queasy can make your body adjust to it and think that it is the right way to deal with the feeling. It means you will become dependent on regurgitation to feel better after eating anything, which is only going to make matters worse.

What's more, there will be only acid in your stomach if you fill and empty your stomach often. This in turn will lead to stomach ulcers and other serious problems. For instance:

• Serious Dehydration and Body Fluid Imbalances: You lose a significant amount of water, stomach acid, and other important body fluids if you continue to throw up after every other meal. This imbalance can cause serious issues, including dehydration. Whatever the reason to throw up, be sure to drink plenty of water soon after it. This will prevent dehydration and flush away the stomach acid left in your mouth or esophagus.
• Digestive Problems: Deliberate puking can also cause digestive problems, including acid reflux in which acids in your stomach move up your esophagus to cause irritation. Not only can this damage the lining of your esophagus, it can also cause heartburn and other issues.
• Your stomach Acid Erode Your Teeth and Mouth: As mentioned already, stomach acid can be extremely acidic. In the pH scale, gastric acid is between 1.5 and 3.5 – keep in mind that the pH scale is from zero to fourteen, with fourteen being the most alkaline and zero being the most acidic. This acidity is essential for proper digestion of food, but it can eat away at your teeth enamel when you are engaged in chronic puking. This may also lead to toothaches, tooth decay, gum disease, and swollen gums.

Throwing Up and Eating Disorder

Is making yourself throw up bad? Yes, you may eventually develop a bulimic mindset if you continue to throw up after every giant meal you have. It means that you may get into the habit of throwing up after food. You may start enjoying it and start throwing up more and more often. Doing this regularly will lead to the eating disorder called Bulimia Nervosa. If you develop this disorder, you may have to deal with other serious health conditions. For instance:

• You may develop osteoporosis for not paying attention to your eating disorder
• You may have to experience electrolyte imbalances that often change your metabolism and lead to cardiovascular problems, including arrhythmia and even death
• You may become dehydrated that can lead to fainting, weakness, or kidney damage
• You may have swollen salivary glands due to irritation
• You may end up having tears or inflammation in the esophagus
• You may experience bloody vomit due to tears of the esophagus
• You may become unconscious due to low blood pressure
• Your body temperature may become very low due to the disorder
• Your disorder may make you feel discouraged that increases your suicide risk
• You may end up developing problems with bowel movements usually because of laxative abuse