Nausea and Vomiting – Common Causes and How To Treat It

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Causes Nausea or Vomiting?
• Is Vomiting Harmful?
• When to Call the Doctor About Nausea and Vomiting
• How Is Vomiting Treated?
• How Can I Prevent Nausea?
• How Do I Prevent Vomiting Once I Feel Nauseated?
• More

Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying (“throwing up”) of stomach contents through the mouth.

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions such as:

• Motion sickness or seasickness
• Early stages of pregnancy (nausea occurs in approximately 50%-90% of all pregnancies; vomiting in 25%-55%)
• Medication-induced vomiting
• Intense pain
• Emotional stress (such as fear)
• Gallbladder disease
• Food poisoning
• Infections (such as the “stomach flu”)
• Overeating
• A reaction to certain smells or odors
• Heart attack
• Concussion or brain injury
• Brain tumor
• Ulcers
• Some forms of cancer
• Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
• Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying (a condition that can be seen in people with diabetes)
• Ingestion of toxins or excessive amounts of alcohol
• Bowel obstruction 
• Appendicitis

The causes of vomiting differ according to age. For children, it is common for vomiting to occur from a viral infection, food poisoning, milk allergy, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, or blocked intestines and illnesses in which the child has a high fever.

The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When appearing shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may be caused by food poisoning, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), an ulcer, or bulimia. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may also indicate food poisoning. However, certain food- borne bacteria, such as salmonella, can take longer to produce symptoms.

Usually, vomiting is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Some examples of serious conditions that may result in nausea or vomiting include concussions, meningitis (infection of the membrane linings of the brain), intestinal blockage, appendicitis, and brain tumors.

Another concern is dehydration. Adults have a lower risk of becoming dehydrated, because they can usually detect the symptoms of dehydration (such as increased thirst and dry lips or mouth). But young children have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated, especially if they also have diarrhea, because they often are unable to communicate symptoms of dehydration. Adults caring for sick children need to be aware of these visible signs of dehydration: dry lips and mouth, sunken eyes, and rapid breathing or pulse. In infants, also watch for decreased urination and a sunken fontanelle (soft spot on top of the baby’s head).

Recurrent vomiting in pregnancy can lead to a serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum in which the mother may develop fluid and mineral imbalances that can endanger their life or that of their unborn child.

Rarely, excessive vomiting can tear the lining of the esophagus, also known as a Mallory-Weiss tear. If the esophagus is ruptured, this is called Boerhaave’s syndrome, and is a medical emergency.

Call a doctor about nausea and vomiting:

• If the nausea lasts for more than a few days or if there is a possibility of being pregnant
• If home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury has occurred (such as head injury or infection) that may be causing the vomiting
• Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, or there are signs of dehydration.
• Take an infant or child under six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts more than a few hours, diarrhea is present, signs of dehydration occur, there is a fever, or if the child hasn’t urinated for 4-6 hours.
• Take a child over age six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts one day, diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, there are any signs of dehydration, there is a fever higher than 101 degrees, or the child hasn’t urinated for six hours.

You should seek immediate medical care if any of the following situations occur with vomiting:

• There is blood in the vomit (bright red or “coffee grounds” in appearance)
• Severe headache or stiff neck
• Lethargy, confusion, or a decreased alertness
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Rapid breathing or pulse

Treatment for vomiting (regardless of age or cause) includes:

• Drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids
• Avoiding solid food until the vomiting episode has passed
• If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, an oral rehydrating solution such as Pedialyte should be used to prevent and treat dehydration.
• Pregnant women experiencing morning sickness can eat some crackers before getting out of bed or eat a high protein snack before going to bed (lean meat or cheese).
• Vomiting associated with cancer treatments can often be treated with another type of drug therapy. There are also prescription and nonprescription drugs that can be used to control vomiting associated with pregnancy, motion sickness, and some forms of dizziness. However, consult with a doctor before using any of these treatments.

There are several ways to try and prevent nausea from developing:

• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
• Eat slowly.
• Avoid hard-to-digest foods.
• Consume foods that are cold or room temperature if you are nauseated by the smell of hot or warm foods.
• Rest after eating with your head elevated about 12 inches above your feet.
• Drink liquids between meals rather than during meals.
• Try to eat when you feel less nauseated.

When you begin to feel nauseated, you may be able to prevent vomiting by:

• Drinking small amounts of clear, sweetened liquids such as soda or fruit juices (except orange and grapefruit juices, because these are too acidic)
• Resting either in a sitting position or in a propped lying position; activity may worsen nausea and may lead to vomiting.

To prevent nausea and vomiting in children:

• To treat motion sickness in a car, seat your child so they face the front windshield (watching fast movement out the side windows can make the nausea worse). Also, reading or playing video games in the car could cause motion sickness.
• Don’t let kids eat and play at the same time.

Top Picks

Nausea and Vomiting – Common Causes and How To Treat It

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Causes Nausea or Vomiting?
• Is Vomiting Harmful?
• When to Call the Doctor About Nausea and Vomiting
• How Is Vomiting Treated?
• How Can I Prevent Nausea?
• How Do I Prevent Vomiting Once I Feel Nauseated?
• More

Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying (“throwing up”) of stomach contents through the mouth.

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions such as:

• Motion sickness or seasickness
• Early stages of pregnancy (nausea occurs in approximately 50%-90% of all pregnancies; vomiting in 25%-55%)
• Medication-induced vomiting
• Intense pain
• Emotional stress (such as fear)
• Gallbladder disease
• Food poisoning
• Infections (such as the “stomach flu”)
• Overeating
• A reaction to certain smells or odors
• Heart attack
• Concussion or brain injury
• Brain tumor
• Ulcers
• Some forms of cancer
• Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
• Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying (a condition that can be seen in people with diabetes)
• Ingestion of toxins or excessive amounts of alcohol
• Bowel obstruction 
• Appendicitis

The causes of vomiting differ according to age. For children, it is common for vomiting to occur from a viral infection, food poisoning, milk allergy, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, or blocked intestines and illnesses in which the child has a high fever.

The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When appearing shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may be caused by food poisoning, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), an ulcer, or bulimia. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may also indicate food poisoning. However, certain food- borne bacteria, such as salmonella, can take longer to produce symptoms.

Usually, vomiting is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Some examples of serious conditions that may result in nausea or vomiting include concussions, meningitis (infection of the membrane linings of the brain), intestinal blockage, appendicitis, and brain tumors.

Another concern is dehydration. Adults have a lower risk of becoming dehydrated, because they can usually detect the symptoms of dehydration (such as increased thirst and dry lips or mouth). But young children have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated, especially if they also have diarrhea, because they often are unable to communicate symptoms of dehydration. Adults caring for sick children need to be aware of these visible signs of dehydration: dry lips and mouth, sunken eyes, and rapid breathing or pulse. In infants, also watch for decreased urination and a sunken fontanelle (soft spot on top of the baby’s head).

Recurrent vomiting in pregnancy can lead to a serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum in which the mother may develop fluid and mineral imbalances that can endanger their life or that of their unborn child.

Rarely, excessive vomiting can tear the lining of the esophagus, also known as a Mallory-Weiss tear. If the esophagus is ruptured, this is called Boerhaave’s syndrome, and is a medical emergency.

Call a doctor about nausea and vomiting:

• If the nausea lasts for more than a few days or if there is a possibility of being pregnant
• If home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury has occurred (such as head injury or infection) that may be causing the vomiting
• Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, or there are signs of dehydration.
• Take an infant or child under six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts more than a few hours, diarrhea is present, signs of dehydration occur, there is a fever, or if the child hasn’t urinated for 4-6 hours.
• Take a child over age six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts one day, diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, there are any signs of dehydration, there is a fever higher than 101 degrees, or the child hasn’t urinated for six hours.

You should seek immediate medical care if any of the following situations occur with vomiting:

• There is blood in the vomit (bright red or “coffee grounds” in appearance)
• Severe headache or stiff neck
• Lethargy, confusion, or a decreased alertness
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Rapid breathing or pulse

Treatment for vomiting (regardless of age or cause) includes:

• Drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids
• Avoiding solid food until the vomiting episode has passed
• If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, an oral rehydrating solution such as Pedialyte should be used to prevent and treat dehydration.
• Pregnant women experiencing morning sickness can eat some crackers before getting out of bed or eat a high protein snack before going to bed (lean meat or cheese).
• Vomiting associated with cancer treatments can often be treated with another type of drug therapy. There are also prescription and nonprescription drugs that can be used to control vomiting associated with pregnancy, motion sickness, and some forms of dizziness. However, consult with a doctor before using any of these treatments.

There are several ways to try and prevent nausea from developing:

• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
• Eat slowly.
• Avoid hard-to-digest foods.
• Consume foods that are cold or room temperature if you are nauseated by the smell of hot or warm foods.
• Rest after eating with your head elevated about 12 inches above your feet.
• Drink liquids between meals rather than during meals.
• Try to eat when you feel less nauseated.

When you begin to feel nauseated, you may be able to prevent vomiting by:

• Drinking small amounts of clear, sweetened liquids such as soda or fruit juices (except orange and grapefruit juices, because these are too acidic)
• Resting either in a sitting position or in a propped lying position; activity may worsen nausea and may lead to vomiting.

To prevent nausea and vomiting in children:

• To treat motion sickness in a car, seat your child so they face the front windshield (watching fast movement out the side windows can make the nausea worse). Also, reading or playing video games in the car could cause motion sickness.
• Don’t let kids eat and play at the same time.

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Why do I feel sick? | Beauty and health

Currently, there are a huge number of diseases that accompany the feeling of nausea. For example, cholecystitis, gastritis, duodenitis, cholelithiasis, intestinal infections – and this is only a small part.

I feel sick in the morning

If you regularly feel nauseous in the morning, then you should think about possible problems with the liver or digestive system. But it can also be a symptom of problems in the cardiovascular system or a sign of the presence of endocrine disorders. Can cause nausea in the morning and helminths.

As you can see, there are many reasons, you can’t just diagnose this or that disease. Therefore, a number of examinations should be carried out:

Pass a general and biochemical blood test.
Undergo an ultrasound examination of the organs located in the abdominal cavity.
Perform a gastroscopy.
Get tested for antibodies to Helicobacter pylori.

Based on this, the doctor will be able to draw a conclusion about the presence of a particular disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

I feel sick after eating

To analyze the causes of this type of nausea, you need to analyze your eating habits and your overall lifestyle. Stress, nutrition, poor in terms of vitamins and minerals, a sedentary lifestyle – all this accompanies almost every inhabitant of a large metropolis. Nausea after eating is a kind of signal of danger and the need to reconsider your regimen.

Try changing your diet to include more fruits and vegetables, avoid heavy and fatty foods, reduce spices and salt. A great way to relieve stress and physical activity can be a visit to the pool. Swimming just twice a week will improve your well-being. After a couple of weeks of the “new” lifestyle, not only nausea after eating will go away, but headaches will decrease and sleep will improve.

If you have started taking new medications and feel sick after every meal, you should see a specialist to adjust your treatment. Perhaps he will prescribe a substitute drug that will not have such a side effect on your body.

If you experience nausea within a few hours of eating, you may have become toxic. To put it simply, you were poisoned. The release of toxins provokes the digestive system, a certain part of the brain will receive this information and give the command to increase the secretion of saliva and activate all the organs that are involved in the vomiting act.

Help yourself and induce vomiting. To do this, drink a couple of glasses of water in small sips. Then take activated charcoal and lie down. If possible, continue to drink sour fruit drinks or water. If vomiting persists, call an ambulance.

I am constantly sick

Severe nausea for a long time may indicate a pre-infarction condition. If, in addition to nausea, a person becomes stuffy, the skin turns pale, there is pain in the heart or irradiating (entering) pain in the arm, then an ambulance should be urgently called.

Severe nausea in the morning, decreasing during the day, combined with headache, fatigue and swelling, indicates high blood pressure. Be sure to see a cardiologist. You may need to take medication to help control your blood pressure.

Nausea without interruption, regardless of food intake, accompanied by pain in the abdomen from its top to the right side, high temperature – a dangerous signal, appendicitis may have become inflamed. It is urgent to call an ambulance.

It is worth remembering that constant nausea is dangerous and not normal. A doctor’s consultation is required. And the sooner the better.

I feel sick before my period – is that bad?

On certain days of the menstrual cycle, the amount of serotonin in the cerebrospinal fluid of a woman changes, its excess causes nausea. This type of nausea is not dangerous, but it is still worth trying to alleviate the situation. Do not overload the digestive tract, stop drinking alcohol and smoking, spend more time outdoors. If you work out in the gym, then before menstruation, refuse to visit it, devote the same hour of free time to walking in the park.

If the menstrual cycle is disturbed – dysmenorrhea, nausea can be quite severe. Be sure to consult a gynecologist. Proper treatment will help get rid of both the discomfort and the disease itself.

I feel sick in the evening

Most often, evening sickness haunts those who suffer from diseases of the biliary tract, such as dyskinesia. Again, you can’t diagnose this on your own, contact a gastroenterologist, he will prescribe a series of studies to prescribe drug treatment. For your part, you can change the diet – eat fats in small quantities, and bake or steam food.

Modern man is accustomed to falling asleep late. Without tracking his food during working hours, at dinner he gorges himself to satiety. And in the end, he goes to bed with a stomach full of undigested food. No wonder nausea occurs. Try to have dinner 2-3 hours before bed and give preference to protein foods cooked without fried, boiled vegetables and a small amount of garnish in the form of cereals or pasta.

Summary. If you feel sick, what should you do?

1. Consult a doctor. For severe and persistent nausea, call an ambulance. In case of irregular, but annoying nausea, contact the local therapist at the clinic at the place of registration. After evaluating other complaints and ailments (in addition to nausea), he will be able to refer you to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

2. Watch your lifestyle. Healthy nutrition, sound sleep, fresh air are the first helpers in the fight against such an obsessive phenomenon as nausea. During an attack of nausea, open a window and breathe deeply.

3. Relieve discomfort with an improvised remedy. Put some valerian infusion on a handkerchief and inhale its scent. Eat something sour, drink sour drink.

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health,
feeling of nausea,
vomiting

Reader’s question: “People make me sick, loved ones annoy me – what is happening to me?”

• Lifestyle

Sometimes it is very difficult to find answers to medical questions on your own. “Doctor Peter” together with doctors helps readers to understand by answering their questions.

April 9, 2022

If in the case of physical health a person can independently determine what exactly hurts him (and that is far from always the case!), then in the case of our psyche, everything is much more complicated.

“Dr. Peter” launched a column in which readers can ask any questions they are interested in, and we will pass them on to a specialist.

You can ask your question by clicking on the button at the bottom of the article.

“I read your article “If you have at least one of these 22 thoughts, you cannot do without a psychologist.” I have everything, except “I live for the sake of children” – I have no children.

For the last three years, I began to feel that, in the truest sense of the word, “dumb” began to grow dull. At the moment I can forget why I went to the kitchen or the bathroom.

Before going to bed, already lying in pastels, random thoughts come into my head: the past, childhood, studies, personal mistakes, insults. Literally everything! I can’t stop this flow in any way. I pass out by 4 o’clock, namely, I “pass out” from physical overwork.

Irritating people, even just passers-by, not to mention relatives. I can’t talk to them, I don’t even want to listen, it’s disgusting on a physical level. There are moments, after a conversation, I go into the bathroom and I vomit.

I feel lies, flattery, lack of sincerity from people, they all “coo” in front of each other, smile in the eyes… It makes me sick to look at it and participate in it.

In 2018, I was not like that. I loved the holidays, my favorite was the New Year. Participated in most events as a singer and presenter, I thought that everything would continue like this. But alas, something broke. The problem is that I don’t know: what? When? Why? Why can’t I remember the last day I felt good?! I only remember a year… What is happening to me?”

Hello. Thank you for sharing a personal, difficult. First, it is important to exclude somatics, physiological causes. See a general practitioner, a doctor who can prescribe tests. Based on the results, it will be clearer in which direction to move.

If no biological cause is found for your condition, see a psychotherapist or psychologist. Or check both physical and mental health at the same time.

You labeled “ three years ago ” as a moment of change in thinking. What happened during that period: a new activity, more responsibility, the collapse of the usual way of life, or another situation?

Five interrelated aspects in our lives: changes in behavior affect mood, events transform behavior, thoughts into emotions , and the latter in turn physical condition .

Try to remember and appreciate what happened in 2018 (when you loved the holidays), then disappeared?

Read also

Your question contains a lot about ruminations — thoughts that prevent you from resting like a broken record.