Throwing up yellow liquid typically means you are vomiting bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile is usually yellow or greenish and helps digest fats
. Common reasons for vomiting yellow bile include:
- Vomiting on an empty stomach, when there is no food to vomit, so bile is expelled instead
- Bile reflux, where bile backs up into the stomach and esophagus, causing discomfort and vomiting
- Stomach flu or gastrointestinal infections that cause vomiting
- Intestinal blockage, which prevents food from passing and causes bile to be vomited. This is a serious condition requiring urgent medical attention
- Other causes like hiatal hernia, effects of certain medications, obesity, smoking, or neurological conditions
If vomiting yellow bile is accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, dehydration, weakness, or persists for a long time, it is important to seek medical care promptly, as it may indicate a serious underlying problem
. In less severe cases, vomiting bile from an empty stomach or mild irritation may resolve with lifestyle changes such as eating small frequent meals, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and staying hydrated
. In summary, yellow vomit is bile and can range from a mild issue like an empty stomach to serious conditions like bile reflux or intestinal obstruction. Persistent or severe symptoms warrant medical evaluation
