nausea

Nausea is a feeling of queasiness in the stomach. It is usually associated with the feeling that one might vomit.

 

Nausea is a feeling that almost everyone has had at some point in their lives. It can be caused by many different conditions, ranging from pregnancy or exercising too much to infection or cancer. Determining the cause of nausea is not always easy.

 

Most people with nausea have some of the following symptoms as well:

 

There may be other symptoms, too, depending on the cause of the nausea.

 

The list of conditions that can cause nausea is very long. It is best broken down into general categories. These include: a viral or bacterial infection in the digestive tract, spread from person to person through the community or by food poisoning an infection in another part of the body, such as the flu or an ear infection known as acute otitis media pregnancy alcohol gastroesophageal reflux peptic ulcers problems with balance and equilibrium, such as motion sickness anxiety and other psychological conditionscertain drugs, such as antibiotics, narcotics, cancer chemotherapy, oral contraceptives, and pain medications disease processes involving the abdomen, such as appendicitis, gallbladder disease, gallstones, kidney stones, hepatitis, pancreatitis, or bowel inflammationa blockage in the stomach, bowels, or esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal atresia is an example of this type of blockage.systemwide conditions, such as poorly controlled diabetes, headaches, cancer, chronic renal failure, heart attacks, being overly tired, overexerting oneself, and hormone or salt imbalances birth defects in the digestive tract, such as a poorly formed stomach or intestine. These may include duodenal atresia, pyloric stenosis or imperforate anus.

Prevention is related to the underlying cause. For example, avoiding alcohol can prevent nausea from drinking too much. Medications can help with the nausea caused by traveling. If the nausea is due to morning sickness during pregnancy, eating crackers and avoiding fatty foods can help. There are many other examples of prevention depending on the specific cause.

People can diagnose nausea on their own. A healthcare professional can help a person figure out the cause of the nausea. The first step is a history and physical exam. In some cases, this may be all that is needed to diagnose the cause. In other cases, many other tests may be needed. Blood, urine, and x-ray tests are commonly done.