Nausea / vomiting

Feeling nauseous means feeling the need to vomit. Nausea can be associated with a general feeling of discomfort and abdominal unease. It involves stomach contractions which may lead to vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are two different things, although nausea can develop into vomiting. Nausea is limited to the desire to vomit.

Nausea is most commonly secondary to problems in the digestive system, the most frequent of which are overeating or excessive alcohol consumption. There are actually many possible causes: digestive issues such as with gastroenteritis ('stomach flu'), severe constipation, car sickness, pregnancy, inner ear problems where nausea is accompanied by vertigo, migraines, or rarely, brain issues.

Treatment naturally depends on the cause of nausea. There are medications that can soothe nausea, such as Metoclopramide(Primperan) or Domperidone(Motilium). Rest and careful hydration are essential; the patient should drink frequently but in small amounts, such as tea, herbal tea, soup, or broth.

Even if most cases of nausea are harmless and resolve on their own, sometimes a more serious health issue is behind this symptom. Medical evaluation will be necessary if the person has severe abdominal pain, severe headaches, is confused, has known heart conditions, suffered a head injury, or also suffers from vertigo.

You can find more information about nausea and vomiting in adults on the MSD Manual website.

Vomiting involves the expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth, caused by a strong contraction of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. It is a reflex defence mechanism; vomiting empties the stomach and often eases the feeling of nausea, at least temporarily.

Nausea and vomiting are two different things, although nausea can lead to vomiting. Nausea simply refers to the need to vomit.

The most common complication of vomiting is dehydration, while less common complications include aspiration of vomit into the airways or tearing of the oesophagus. Chronic vomiting can lead to malnutrition.

Vomiting is most often secondary to a digestive system problem, most commonly gastroenteritis ('stomach flu'). Less common causes include the ingestion of toxins (contaminated food or alcohol), medication or other digestive system problems such as severe constipation, appendicitis or pancreatitis.

Vomiting can sometimes be the result of a central nervous system reaction, such as in motion sickness, during pregnancy or with brain injury.

Treatments naturally depend on the cause of the vomiting. Rest and careful intake of fluids are key; the sick person should drink frequently but in small amounts, for example, tea, herbal tea, soup or broth. There are also medications that can calm vomiting, such as Metoclopramide(Primperan) or Domperidone(Motilium).

Although most vomiting is benign and usually resolves without issues, occasionally a more serious health problem may underlie this symptom. Medical evaluation will be necessary, especially if the person has severe abdominal pain, vomits blood, has severe headaches, is confused, is known to have heart disease, has suffered a head injury, or is dizzy.

For more information on nausea and vomiting in adults, you can find more details on the MSD Manual website and in the article 'I vomited blood' on the Health Planet website.