Is Nausea a Symptom or a Sign?

The uncomfortable feeling of needing or wanting is called nausea raleigh north carolina. Nausea can be a warning sign for vomiting what is in the stomach. But is nausea a sign or a symptom?

Many underlying causes can contribute to nausea. Sensitivity to motion, medications, and certain types of foods can all cause nausea, as can certain medical conditions. Some common causes of nausea include:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Also known as Heartburn, GERD is often associated with a burning sensation when you eat caused when what is in your stomach makes its way back up into your esophagus, which can bring on nausea.
  • Virus and/or infection: Viruses and bacteria often lead to nausea because they are hard on the stomach. Bacteria that is food borne can cause food poisoning, which is often accompanied by extreme nausea and vomiting.
  • Medications: Medications such as those used for chemotherapy can really bother the stomach and cause nausea.
  • Motion Sickness and seasickness: Some people are very sensitive to the movement from a bumpy trip in or on a moving vehicle both on land and water. This motion can trigger messages in the brain to not “sync” with various senses, which can contribute to nausea and dizziness and can lead to vomiting.
  • Diet: Certain types of foods like high-fat foods and spicy foods can be harder for the stomach to digest and cause an upset stomach and/or nausea. Overeating and food allergies can also cause similar conditions.
  • Pain: Extreme pain of any kind can trigger the body to respond with nausea. Especially for very painful conditions like gallbladder stones, kidney stones, or pancreatitis.
  • Ulcer: An ulcer is a sore in the small intestine lining or stomach and can cause burning sensations when you eat; and can bring on nausea.

Nausea can also be a symptom of health conditions such as migraines, meningitis, liver failure, liver cancer, intestinal blockage, ear infections, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (also called BPPV)

When To Get Help

It is important to get medical advice and attention for nausea if you are experiencing any heart attack symptoms, which included chest pain, intense headache, seating, pain of the left arm, and jaw pain.

You should get emergency medical attention if the nausea is accompanied by a severe headache, any difficulty with breathing, mental confusion, or a stick neck.

If you have any reason to believe you have ingested chemicals or poison substance of any kind seek help immediately.

Also, if you are experiencing dehydration, medical attention is advised.

It is also important to get help if nausea lasts more than 24 hours.

Nausea Treatment

There are various treatments for nausea depending on if the nausea is a sign or a symptom.
Some common treatments include:

  • Dramamine, scopolamine patches, and sitting in front seat of a moving vehicle are all used for motion sickness
  • Medications related to underlying cause: such as acid reducing medicines for GERD, or pain relievers for migraines or bad headaches.
  • Hydration: including small sips of water or electrolyte based beverage.

Nausea Prevention

The best way to avoid nausea is to avoid the triggers associated with the onset. Avoiding things such as flickering lights if you get migraines, or heat and humidity, car trips or boat trips, strong smells can help prevent nausea. As a preventative measure you might take anti-nausea medications before a trip, or change your diet or the way or what you eat. You might also avoid being extremely physically active after a eating meals.

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