What Is Mallory Weiss Syndrome?

By james

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

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Vomiting is an unpleasant symptom and is something we would usually try and avoid. It is something that we have little to no control over, however, as it is usually an involuntary action. Regardless, vomiting can also be very important for us, and it can even help to save our lives in some cases.

When vomiting, certain muscle groups will contract sharply to help force the contents of our stomach out through our mouths. These contractions can be aggressive enough to cause physical damage to the delicate internal tissues. It can cause tears to form in the esophagus, in a condition known as Mallory Weiss syndrome.

1. Mallory Weiss Syndrome

It is almost inevitable that we will all vomit at some point. It is not a nice experience and it can even become quite painful in some cases. Such is the potential violence of vomiting that it can result in physical damage to the body, including damage to the lining of the esophagus.

If somebody does vomit violently enough, and/or other conditions are already in place, then the lining of the esophagus can become torn. This tends to happen where the esophagus meets the stomach, resulting in a condition known as Mallory Weiss syndrome. It is not necessarily dangerous, but it can result in a number of unwelcome symptoms.