What to do when children and teenagers vomit with exercise.

     Some athletes vomit during exercise. This can happen at younger ages, but typically occur when teenage athletes push themselves hard during workouts. There are some things to do to help prevent this issue.
     One of my teenage sons has struggled with vomiting when pushing himself during workouts. He does vomit more easily with bad coughs or stomach upset versus some other folks, but he did not have vomiting with exercise until high school.
     If someone struggles with this issue, we would ask some other questions to make sure it was not from something more complicated. We ask questions about acid reflux and and whether the vomiting happens after coughing. We ask about timing of eating and drinking when it comes to exercise.
     If nothing else is complicated about the history, there are some helpful recommendations to help reduce the chances of vomiting during exercise.
-- Eat a small snack 30 minutes before exercise.
-- Avoid exercising in extreme heat.
-- Watch your exercise intensity. The athlete may need to dial-back their intensity.
-- Stay hydrated. Drink 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes of exercise. If the exercise is going to be high-intensity for more than 45-60 minutes, drink sports drinks instead of water.
-- Cool down gradually.

     If your child struggles with this issue and is not improving while following these recommendations, call during routine office hours to discuss.