Disease and Condition

Nausea and Vomiting
What is it?Nausea is a feeling of sickness in the stomach, usually accompanied by the urge to vomit. Vomiting is the forceful ejection of the stomach contents through the mouth.

Who gets it?
Anyone can experience nausea and vomiting.

What causes it?
Nausea and vomiting occur when the vomiting center in the brain is activated by any number of causes. These can include overeating, eating foods that are spoiled, drinking too much alcohol, food allergies, medication, or illness. Drugs used in the treatment of cancer and for pain relief frequently cause nausea and vomiting. Some people become nauseated and vomit from the motion of a vehicle, boat, or airplane. Nausea and vomiting are common in the early stages of pregnancy, especially in the morning. Migraine headaches are also frequent causes of nausea and vomiting. Other physical causes include gallstones, intestinal obstructions, gastroenteritis, and irritation or inflammation of the stomach. There are psychological causes of nausea and vomiting also. These range from stress and fear, to more serious causes like bulimia (intentional vomiting to control weight). Because the treatment and severity of the problem depends upon the cause, you should always check with your doctor if you have persistent, unexplained, or recurring nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting in infants and young children should always be treated by a doctor. Projectile vomiting in infants can be a sign of pyloric stenosis, a blockage at the stomach outlet that must be treated immediately.

What are the symptoms?
The symptom of nausea is a general feeling of sickness in the stomach. You may or may not feel slightly dizzy. Just before vomiting, you may salivate considerably and begin to retch (dry heaves). People generally feel relieved after vomiting.

How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you and ask questions to help identify the cause of the nausea and vomiting. When vomiting is frequent and severe, he or she may order blood tests and urinalysis. You may need to have x-rays or ultrasound studies of the stomach, intestine, pancreas, and gallbladder.

What is the treatment?
The treatment of nausea and vomiting depends upon the cause. If the cause is simple stomach upset, you can relieve symptoms by eating a bland diet and drinking clear liquids until the symptoms are gone. Because frequent vomiting can cause dehydration, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks are effective for replacing lost fluids and minerals without irritating the stomach. Return to your normal diet gradually. If you suffer from motion sickness, ask your doctor about effective medications or acupressure wristbands to counteract this problem. Nausea and vomiting with psychological causes may require medications and psychotherapy.

Self-care tips
Make sure foods are properly cooked before eating them and don’t eat foods you are allergic to. If you suffer from motions sickness, try sitting in the front seat and taking anti-nausea medication before you travel. Call your doctor if nausea and vomiting last longer than 48 hours, and if they occur after eating spoiled food, food you know you are allergic to, or after taking a new medication. Also contact your doctor if nausea and vomiting are stomach pain, dehydration, severe headache, drowsiness or confusion, difficulty swallowing or urinating, or fruity breath odor. These symptoms can be signs of a more serious condition.
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