Nausea

Definition

Nausea and vomiting are protective functions of the body. Nausea is caused by activation of the vomiting center in the brain and usually precedes vomiting. During vomiting (emesis), the stomach contracts and the contents of the stomach are vomited up through the esophagus and mouth. In this way, the body tries to remove harmful substances from the gastrointestinal tract.

symptoms of nausea

Nausea describes a sinking feeling in the upper digestive tract. Nausea can occur after eating, with or without vomiting, among other things. This can also lead to loss of appetite and vomiting. In addition, increased salivation, paleness and sweating can occur. Sometimes the nausea is accompanied by fever , circulatory weakness and dizziness. The duration of nausea can vary widely depending on the cause.

When to seek help for nausea

There are some warning symptoms to look out for. The following reasons make an immediate medical consultation necessary:

• Nausea and vomiting lasting more than three days .
• If you can not drink enough for a long time .
• Children, infants, the elderly, and the elderly should always see a doctor for nausea and vomiting. In the case of infants, particular care should be taken to ensure that they do not become dehydrated. This could manifest itself as poor feeding, soft crying, sagging skin, and a sunken fontanel (diamond-shaped indentation in the center of the skull).
• If the vomit is very dark in color and resembles coffee grounds. This may indicate bleeding in the upper digestive tract.
• If you have a history of cancer or immunosuppression.
• For symptoms such as confusion, severe tiredness, headache or muscle cramps .
• If high fever occurs.
• If you feel a new aversion to (red) meat .
• For nausea and vomiting after returning from the trip .
• If, in addition to the nausea , tachycardia, sweating and severe abdominal pain occur.

causes of nausea

There are many different triggers for feeling sick. The central vomiting center, which is responsible for feeling sick, can be activated by different organs.

• Centrally triggered nausea : Disorders in the brain can cause nausea and vomiting. This can happen, for example, as part of a concussion, meningitis or sunstroke . In addition to strong sensitivity to light and headaches, severe migraine attacks sometimes lead to nausea and vomiting.
• Disgust, excitement, and fear : When the emotions are very strong, some people tend to throw up.
• Abdominal Disorders : Nausea can be caused by a number of disorders affecting the organs in the abdomen. This includes, for example, inflammation of the gastric mucosa(gastritis), in which the symptoms appear mainly after eating. The stomach lining is irritated, and this leads to the symptoms of nausea, belching and stomach pain. Appendicitis can also cause severe pain in the lower right abdomen, as well as nausea and vomiting. As a rule, the inflamed part of the intestine must be surgically removed. In the case of stomach ulcers (Ulcus ventriculi) and duodenal ulcers (Ulcus duodeni), mucosal defects in the digestive tract cause nausea, loss of appetite, belching and abdominal pain. Acid-suppressing medications are available as treatment options.
• Stomach Infection : Stomach flu, caused by viruses or bacteria, often causes symptoms of constant nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea . The symptoms usually start surprisingly and usually end within a few days. During treatment, the focus is on drinking enough liquid and minerals. Read more about the topic here.
• Medications : You may experience nausea after taking some medications. This side effect is particularly well known with chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics and iron tablets. Even after waking up from anesthesia, patients often complain about these symptoms. The body perceives the anesthetic as toxic and thereby activates the vomiting center in the brain.
• Motion sickness : Some patients experience nausea on shaky boat trips or winding roads. Seasickness is caused by receiving different stimuli from the balance organ and the eyes. The differences activate the vomiting center in the brain and subsequently lead to the symptoms.
• Heart diseases : In rare cases, a heart attack, for example, can express itself with the non-specific symptom of nausea. If a cardiac cause of the symptoms is suspected, an emergency doctor should be contacted immediately.
• Inflammation of the urinary tract can lead to pain in the flanks and problems with urination, as well as nausea. Other diseases affecting the kidneys can also be associated with the symptom of nausea.
• Glaucoma (Glaucoma) : If you experience redness and pain in the eye, along with vomiting and nausea, you may have a glaucoma attack. In this case, an ambulance should be called.
• Food poisoning : Here, the symptoms usually appear six to twenty-four hours after eating. In addition to nausea, there is diarrhea and severe abdominal pain.
• Alcohol Intoxication and Nicotine Intoxication : Commonly known as stimulants, alcohol and cigarettes are intrinsically toxic to the body. Excessive ingestion of the toxins by the body can cause nervousness, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms can also occur with drug use. If the suspicion of poisoning is confirmed, or if circulation and breathing are restricted, the emergency doctor should be called immediately.
• Nausea in pregnancy : In the early weeks of pregnancy, morning sickness is particularly common. The altered hormonal balance is suspected to be the trigger for the symptoms. Morning sickness is not considered a disease, but should be treated in particularly severe cases.
• Food intolerance : Certain components of food such as lactose or gluten can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in patients. In these cases, the symptoms often appear immediately after eating. In order to be able to better investigate the cause, it is advisable to keep a diary of eating habits and the occurrence of nausea.

diagnosis of nausea

In order to make the correct diagnosis, the doctor will ask you some questions about your symptoms. He will inquire about the nature and duration of the symptoms, followed by the physical exam. As a further diagnostic, the practitioner can use an ultrasound examination to get an overview of the condition and size of your internal organs. In addition, a blood test, a stool test and a urine test can also provide information about the cause of the nausea.

If you often suffer from nausea and suspect a food intolerance behind the symptoms, it is advisable to keep a diary of eating habits and nausea. This can help you and the doctor make a connection between what you eat and the onset of symptoms.

You can do this yourself if you are nauseous

• Herbal home remedies such as herbal teas help against the symptoms. Peppermint tea, chamomile tea, ginger tea or fennel tea have a calming effect on the stomach.
• Try to eat easily digestible food in small bites and sips. Rusks, bananas, carrot soup, water and tea are suitable for this. Avoid greasy food so as not to put additional strain on your gastrointestinal tract.
• Travel nausea : Always look outside and try to choose your seat in the direction of travel. If the symptoms are very severe, there are various medications that can help against the nausea.

therapy for nausea

The causal therapy varies depending on the cause of the nausea.
Some medications are available to treat nausea. These so-called antiemetic drugs (antiemetics) are usually freely available in pharmacies.

During treatment, it is important to ensure that sufficient liquid is consumed and that any loss of liquid through vomiting is compensated. Very long and very strong vomiting can lead to dehydration (exsiccosis) . In this case, inpatient admission should take place in order to compensate for the fluid loss with infusions and to replace the vital electrolytes. If the nausea can be attributed to taking certain medications, switching to a different preparation should be considered. However, this should always be done in consultation with the doctor treating you.

How can Med-Healths help with nausea?

Are you suffering from nausea and would you like to get it checked out by a doctor? You can use the Med-Healths app to talk to a doctor about your symptoms. She or he can help you find the cause of your symptoms and choose the right treatment. If you need a prescription or a sick leave, the doctor can issue it for you via the app. If necessary, he or she will recommend a more thorough physical exam and refer you to a local practice.