Vomiting and nausea are not illnesses but common symptoms that accompany with many diseases and conditions. The problems with nausea and vomiting are related to the cause. Nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, seasickness, food poisoning, or cancer therapy can result in loss of water and electrolytes, which can lead to dehydration. Vomiting and nausea known as morning sickness may occur during pregnancy.
• Nausea is an unpleasant, queasy feeling in the throat or stomach that may result in vomiting.
• Vomiting is emptying the stomach as a result of strong gagging and retching that leads to throwing up. The stomach's contents are forcefully expelled through the mouth. Vomiting can come in waves as the natural movement (muscle contractions of the digestive system known as peristalses) is reversed, and involuntary contractions in the walls of the stomach and esophagus force the stomach contents out. Sometimes coughing or spitting up mucus from the lungs is confused with vomiting. Vomiting can only come from the stomach.
• Retching is the reverse movement (peristalsis) of the stomach and esophagus without vomiting. Sometimes this is called the dry heaves.
Vomiting and Nausea Causes
Nausea and vomiting are controlled by the same parts of the brain that control involuntary bodily functions. Vomiting is actually a reflex triggered by a signal from the brain.
• The signal to vomit can result from several stimuli such as smells, taste, various illnesses, emotions (such as fear), pain, injury, infection, food irritation, dizziness, motion, and other changes in the body, specifically these:
o Eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia)
o Food poisoning
o Certain virus infections
o Motion sickness (car sickness, seasickness)
o Vertigo (the sensation that the room is spinning around)
o Head injuries (such as a concussion or bleeding injury)
o Gallbladder disease or appendicitis
o Migraine (a severe form of headache)
o Brain tumors
o Brain infections (such as meningitis)
o Hydrocephalus (too much fluid in the brain)
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of some medications. Usually nausea is not an allergy (which is a severe reaction that can include skin rash or trouble breathing), but an unwanted side effect of the medicine. Some medicines such as those used in cancer treatment (chemotherapy) and strong pain killers are well known for causing nausea and vomiting.
The following are common causes of nausea and vomiting.
• Side effects of anesthesia used for surgery
• Stomach problems such as blockage (pyloric obstruction, a condition that causes forceful spitting up in infants)
• Bleeding into the stomach from different causes
• Infection, irritation, or blockage of the intestines
• Low or high body chemicals and minerals
• Presence of toxins in the body
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Alcohol from beer, wine, and liquor is turned into a chemical (acetaldehyde), which results in the sensation of nausea that is felt the next morning, known as a "hangover"
• Nausea and vomiting occur frequently in pregnancy. Morning sickness usually happens in the first few months but sometimes can last throughout the pregnancy.
Symptoms
• Nausea is a feeling of unease that frequently includes an upset stomach, dizziness, and anxiety. There is often an urge to vomit. This sensation often feels as if it comes from the stomach, but it is mostly controlled by the brain.
• Vomiting, however, frequently improves the sensation of nausea, at least temporarily. Vomiting occurs when the stomach forcefully expels its contents out of the mouth. When vomiting continues after all the food and liquid has been forced out, it is called the dry heaves.
• When vomiting leads to dehydration from loss of fluids, the affected person may have increased thirst, dry lips, and dry mouth. The person may not urinate often or urine will be darker in color. In children, signs of dehydration include dry lips and mouth, sunken eyes, rapid breathing, lethargy, and dry diapers, indicating the child is not producing urine.
Seek medical attention at a hospital's emergency department if:
• You are experiencing nausea or vomiting and severe belly pain
• Vomiting accompanied with fever, especially in a child
• Vomiting blood. Blood may be bright red or dark red. Old blood may look brown (like coffee ground)
• Vomiting won't stop and you are unable to keep any fluids down
• You have a known head injury before vomiting occurred
• There are other medical conditions present such as heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes
• You are unable to take your daily medications for other medical conditions
• You observe any signs of confusion or extreme weakness
• A new or severe headache is also present
Treatment
Most of the time, nausea and vomiting go away on their own and can be managed at home.
Treatment for nausea and vomiting usually involves medications to decrease the nausea and fluid replacement for dehydration.
