Can acid reflux cause vomiting
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Can Acid Reflux Cause Vomiting?
Understanding Acid Reflux and Its Symptoms
Acid reflux occurs when acidic gastric contents flow back into the esophagus, leading to discomfort and various symptoms. It can manifest as gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), each with distinct clinical presentations. GER typically involves heartburn and acid regurgitation, while LPR can cause symptoms like hoarseness due to the acidic content reaching the larynx .
Acid Reflux and Vomiting in Eating Disorders
Patients with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, often engage in self-induced vomiting, which increases their risk of developing acid reflux. This reflux can lead to both GER and LPR, with vomiting being a potential outcome of the reflux itself. The repeated act of vomiting exacerbates the reflux, creating a vicious cycle .
Acid Reflux and Vomiting During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another condition where acid reflux is commonly observed. A study among Singaporean women found that those experiencing heartburn and acid regurgitation were significantly more likely to suffer from daily nausea and vomiting compared to those without these symptoms. This suggests a strong association between acid reflux and vomiting during pregnancy, likely due to hormonal changes and physical pressure on the stomach .
Severity of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Further research indicates that heartburn and acid reflux can increase the severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. Women experiencing both nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) along with heartburn or acid reflux reported higher severity scores for their symptoms. This highlights that managing acid reflux could potentially alleviate the severity of NVP .
Case Study: Acid Reflux Leading to Vomiting
An unusual case of a 14-year-old boy with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) presented with vomiting immediately after swallowing. The diagnosis was confirmed through esophageal biopsies and pH monitoring. The vomiting was attributed to acid-induced hypersensitivity in the esophagus, which resolved with effective acid suppression therapy .
Conclusion
In summary, acid reflux can indeed cause vomiting. This is evident in various conditions such as eating disorders, pregnancy, and specific cases of GERD. Managing acid reflux through appropriate medical interventions can help reduce the incidence and severity of vomiting associated with this condition.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Hoarseness: a sign of self-induced vomiting?
Hoarseness in young women may suggest an eating disorder, particularly when accompanied by self-induced vomiting.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease and bulimia nervosa--a review of the literature.
An association between bulimia nervosa and gastroesophageal reflux disease is suggested but not conclusively proven.
DOI