Understanding Nausea and Vomiting: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Motion Sickness
• Medications and Treatments
• Pregnancy
• Infections
• Psychological Factors

• Nausea: This is the main symptom and is characterized by a feeling of queasiness or discomfort in the stomach. It may be also accompanied by a sensation of unease or a need to vomit.
• Vomiting: This refers to the act of forcefully expelling the food contents of the stomach through the mouth. It may provide temporary relief from nausea, but it can also be distressing and exhausting.
• Dry heaves: These are repetitive involuntary movements of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, similar to vomiting, but without any expulsion of stomach contents. Dry heaves can be accompanied by a retching or gagging sensation.
• Loss of appetite: Nausea and vomiting can lead to a decreased desire to eat, resulting in a loss of appetite.
• Dehydration: If vomiting is persistent or severe, it can lead to dehydration. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased urine output, dark-colored urine, fatigue, and dizziness.
• Abdominal discomfort: Nausea and vomiting can be accompanied by abdominal pain or discomfort. This can vary in intensity and location depending on the underlying cause.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness: Nausea and vomiting can cause a sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness, which may be due to dehydration or the body’s response to distressing symptoms.

• Gastrointestinal disorders like appendicitis, gallbladder disease, or pancreatitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Kidney or liver problems
• Thyroid disorders
• Migraine headaches
• Inner ear disorders (associated with motion sickness)

What Are Some Reasons for Nausea?

• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Several conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract can lead to nausea and vomiting. These include gastroenteritis (stomach flu), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and gallbladder disease. These conditions can irritate the digestive system and trigger the symptoms.
• Infections: Viral or bacterial infections, such as viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) or food poisoning, can cause nausea and vomiting also as part of their symptoms. These infections often result from consuming contaminated food or water.
• Motion Sickness: Motion sickness mostly occurs when there is a disconnect between the sensory input received by the brain, such as visual cues and signals from the inner ear. This discrepancy can be triggered by movements during travel, like in cars, airplanes, boats, or amusement park rides. The resulting conflict in sensory information can lead to nausea and vomiting.
• Medications and Treatments: Certain medications and medical treatments can cause nausea and also vomiting as side effects. These can include chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment, opioid painkillers, antibiotics, antidepressants, and medications that affect the central nervous system. Additionally, some medical treatments like radiation therapy can also induce these symptoms.
• Pregnancy: Nausea and vomiting, commonly referred to as morning sickness, are common during early pregnancy. Although the definite cause is not fully understood, hormonal changes, particularly increased levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), are believed to play a role.
• Psychological Factors: Emotional stress, anxiety, and certain psychiatric disorders like generalized anxiety disorder and also panic disorder can contribute to nausea and vomiting. The exact mechanisms linking psychological factors to these symptoms are not well understood but are thought to involve complex interactions between the brain, gut, and nervous system.
• Other Medical Conditions: Nausea and vomiting can be associated with various medical conditions not directly related to the gastrointestinal tract. These can include migraines, inner ear disorders (such as Meniere’s disease), kidney or liver disease, thyroid disorders, and certain autoimmune conditions.

• Laboratory tests: Blood tests may be conducted to check for signs of infection, electrolyte imbalances, liver or kidney problems, or other abnormalities that may contribute to nausea and vomiting.
• Imaging tests: Depending on the suspected cause, the doctor may also order imaging tests such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to visualize the gastrointestinal tract, organs, or other structures to identify any abnormalities or potential causes.
• Endoscopy: In some cases, an endoscopy may be performed to examine the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. This procedure involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera through the mouth to visually inspect the digestive tract and obtain biopsies if necessary.
• Pregnancy test: If the patient is a woman of reproductive age, a pregnancy test may be performed to rule out or confirm pregnancy as a cause of nausea and vomiting.
• Allergy or intolerance testing: If food allergies or intolerances are suspected, the doctor may recommend specific tests to identify potential triggers.
• Psychological evaluation: If psychological factors are suspected to be contributing to nausea and vomiting, a psychological evaluation may be conducted to assess emotional stress, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.

What Are the Nausea and Vomiting Treatment Options?

• Antiemetics: These are medications specifically designed to relieve nausea and vomiting. They work by blocking receptors in the brain and gastrointestinal tract that are responsible for triggering these symptoms. Examples include ondansetron, promethazine, and metoclopramide.
• Antihistamines: Certain antihistamines, such as dimenhydrinate or meclizine, can be used to alleviate motion sickness-related nausea and vomiting.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers: If the symptoms are caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or stomach ulcers, medications that reduce stomach acid production, such as PPIs (omeprazole, pantoprazole) or H2 blockers (ranitidine, famotidine), may be prescribed.
• Other medications: In some cases, medications to manage underlying conditions, such as antibiotics for infections, pain medications for migraines, or anti-inflammatory drugs for gastrointestinal disorders, may be necessary to alleviate nausea and vomiting.

• Ginger:> Ginger has natural antiemetic properties and can help alleviate nausea. It can be consumed as ginger tea, ginger candies, or taken in supplement form.

What Helps with Nausea and Vomiting?

• Stay hydrated: Sip small amounts of clear fluids such as water, electrolyte-rich drinks, or ginger ale to prevent dehydration. Take frequent, small sips rather than large amounts at once. Avoid sugary or caffeinated beverages, as they can worsen symptoms.
• Rest and relax: Allow yourself time to rest and recover. Lie down in a very comfortable position and try to relax your body and mind. Stress and anxiety can exacerbate nausea, so finding ways to reduce any stress.
• Avoid triggers: Identify and avoid any triggers that may worsen your symptoms. This may include certain foods, strong odors, or environments that induce nausea and vomiting. Pay attention to what worsens your symptoms and try to minimize exposure to those triggers.
• Eat small, bland meals: Stick to easily digestible foods such as crackers, toast, plain rice, or bananas. Avoid fatty, greasy, or spicy foods that can trigger or aggravate nausea. Eat small, frequent filling meals throughout the day to prevent an empty stomach, but avoid overeating.
• Ginger: Ginger has natural antiemetic properties and can help alleviate nausea. Try sipping ginger tea, chewing on ginger candies, or using ginger supplements as directed.
• Cold compress: Applying a cold compress or ice pack to the back of your neck or forehead can help alleviate nausea and provide a soothing effect. Fresh air: Open windows or step outside for some fresh air, as stuffy environments can sometimes exacerbate nausea. Taking gentle walks outdoors may also provide relief.
• Acupressure: Applying pressure to the P6 or Neiguan point on your wrist may help alleviate nausea. You can do this by using acupressure wristbands specifically designed for this purpose or by applying gentle pressure with your thumb.
• Medications: Over-the-counter medications such as antacids or motion sickness medications may help provide temporary relief. However, it’s important to read and follow the instructions carefully and consult with a pharmacist or healthcare professional if you have any concerns or if your symptoms persist.
• Seek medical attention: While self-care measures can help alleviate mild cases of nausea and vomiting.

What is Good for Nausea and Vomiting?

How to Help with Nausea?

• Severe or persistent vomiting: If vomiting persists for more than 24 hours or is severe and uncontrollable, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
• Signs of dehydration: If you are unable to keep fluids down, and you experience signs of dehydration such as extreme thirst, dry mouth, infrequent urination, dark urine, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fatigue, it is important to seek medical care promptly.
• Blood in vomit: If you notice blood in your vomit, which may appear bright red or like coffee grounds, it could indicate bleeding in the digestive tract.
• Abdominal pain: If you experience severe or worsening abdominal pain along with nausea and vomiting, it could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition that needs medical evaluation.
• High fever: If you have a high fever (typically above 101°F or 38.3°C) along with nausea and vomiting, it may indicate an infection or another medical condition that requires medical attention.
• Signs of severe illness: If you experience other concerning symptoms along with nausea and vomiting, like confusion, rapid heartbeat, or changes in vision, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
• Persistent or recurrent symptoms: If you have recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting without an apparent cause or if the symptoms persist or worsen despite self-care measures, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for further evaluation and management.

• Access to healthcare professionals: Ongo Care provides easy access to healthcare professionals from the comfort of your own home and help you in finding a “stomach specialist near me.”
• Convenient and flexible consultations: Ongo Care allows you to schedule your appointments with a “gastroenterologist near me” at a time that works best for you, eliminating the need to travel to a physical healthcare facility.
• Comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis: Through virtual consultations, healthcare professionals on the Ongo Care platform can conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions