Is vomiting after drinking alcohol beneficial or harmful?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Vomiting after drinking alcohol is the body's natural mechanism to eliminate harmful substances.

Vomiting after drinking alcohol usually helps remove the alcohol from the body before it is absorbed. Drinking water and eating a light meal will help someone who has just vomit to recover.

Vomiting after drinking alcohol can cause more health problems than benefits. (Illustrative image: Unsplash).

According to Medical News Today , vomiting after drinking alcohol is a natural reaction of the body to eliminate harmful substances, especially acetaldehyde, a toxic substance produced when the liver processes alcohol.

Drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time is a major cause of vomiting. The liver can only process a certain amount of acetaldehyde at a time. If the level of acetaldehyde exceeds the liver's metabolic capacity, the body will vomit to eliminate the substance.

In addition, some other conditions that can cause vomiting when drinking alcohol include gastritis, alcoholic ketoacidosis, or alcohol poisoning.

Vomiting after drinking alcohol helps reduce symptoms caused by excessively high blood alcohol levels. Therefore, drinkers often feel better after vomiting. If you vomit shortly after drinking, the body hasn't yet absorbed the alcohol, thus reducing its effects.

However, the risks of vomiting can outweigh the benefits, whether the intoxicated person intentionally vomits or not. Therefore, vomiting should not be seen as a way to flush out alcohol so that they can continue drinking at that moment.

Vomiting can cause malnutrition, as it removes not only alcohol but also nutrients from food in the stomach. Common symptoms of malnutrition include dizziness, fatigue, muscle loss, and loss of appetite.

People who vomit are also at risk of pneumonia, gastrointestinal complications such as meningitis, stomach problems, stomach ulcers and stomach cancer, and dehydration.

Some people who are not drunk may vomit due to their ability to absorb alcohol, low alcohol tolerance, or the reactions of substances in the body when drinking alcohol while taking medication.

Medical experts recommend drinking alcohol in moderation or abstaining completely to avoid vomiting. Eating and drinking plenty of water are also ways to prevent this condition.

Furthermore, you should not intentionally induce vomiting, for example by inserting an object down your throat, as this carries the risk of esophageal injury or tearing, electrolyte imbalance, and tooth decay.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/non-sau-khi-uong-ruou-loi-hay-hai-20250528094342804.htm