Nausea is an unpleasant sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach, which is often accompanied by vomiting, the forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth.
Although most people experience these symptoms at some point in their lives, they are typically short-lived and not a cause for concern. However, if you experience frequent or persistent nausea and vomiting, dehydration, or other accompanying symptoms, we recommend seeking advice from one of our specialists.
Related Symptoms
- - Abdominal pains
- - Constipation
- - Diarrhoea
- - Bloating
Causes
Nausea and vomiting are relatively common and there are many causes, including as a symptom of certain conditions :
- - Early stages of pregnancy
- - Food poisoning
- - Infection
- - Adverse reaction to medication
- - Motion sickness
- - Intense pain
- - Emotional stress
- - Gallbladder disease
- - Reaction to certain odours
- - Reaction to certain odours
- - Ulcers
- - Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying due to diabetes
- - Ingestion of toxins or excessive amounts of alcohol
- - Functional nausea and vomiting related to increased sensitivity in the stomach
- - Cyclical vomiting syndrome
Vomiting can also be a sign of a more serious illness, such as:
- - Concussion
- - Appendicitis
- - Meningitis
- - Intestinal blockage
- - Brain tumour
Treatment
At-home remedies include :
- - Drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids
- - Avoiding solid food until the vomiting episode has passed
- - Taking an oral rehydration solution if there’s a risk of dehydration
If the above mentioned remedies are not effective in treating your nausea and vomiting, we suggest seeking advice from one of our specialists.
For some pregnant women experiencing morning sickness, eating crackers before getting out of bed or a high protein snack before going to bed may alleviate their symptoms.
In cases of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment, alternative drugs may be used for treatment. Additionally, prescription and non-prescription drugs are available to control vomiting associated with motion sickness and certain types of dizziness.