What happens in vomiting?
A. First, let’s talk about the bodily functions that lead to vomiting. There are three phases to the vomiting act: nausea, retching, and expulsion.2 Vomiting is ordinarily preceded by nausea. It is not unheard of for a person to vomit without feeling nauseated, particularly in cases of sudden injury or sudden shock, such as witnessing an awful sight or breathing a particularly noxious smell. Vomiting that occurs suddenly and without warning is called precipitate vomiting. But most people experience nausea for a period of time before they vomit.