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NauseaVomiting and Nausea Overview Vomiting and nausea are not illnesses but common complaints that go along with many diseases and conditions. The problems with nausea and vomiting are related to the cause. Nausea and vomiting from motion sickness or seasickness or cancer therapy can result in loss of water and electrolytes, which can lead to dehydration. Vomiting and nausea known as morning sickness may occur during pregnancy. Nausea, the unmistakable, unpleasant, queasy feeling in your throat or stomach that may result in vomiting, is a message sent by your brain. It tells you that something isn't right. Vomiting means emptying your stomach by a strong gag and retch that leads to throwing up. The stomach's contents are forcefully expelled through the mouth. Vomiting can come in waves as the natural movement (known as peristalses) is reversed, and involuntary contractions in the walls of your stomach and esophagus force the stomach contents out. Sometimes coughing or spitting up mucus from the lungs is confused with vomiting. You can only vomit from the stomach. Retching is the movement of the stomach and esophagus without vomiting. Sometimes this is called the dry heaves. Most people experiencing the dry heaves would rather just throw up and "get it over with." Vomiting and Nausea Causes Nausea and vomiting are controlled by the same parts of the brain that control involuntary bodily functions. Vomiting is actually a reflex triggered by a signal from the brain. The signal to vomit can be stimulated by smells, taste, various illnesses and emotions (such as fear), pain, injury, infection, food irritation, dizziness, motion, and other changes in the body, specifically these: Eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) Food poisoning Certain viruses Motion sickness (car sickness, seasickness) Vertigo (the sensation that the room is spinning around) Head injuries (such as a concussion or bleeding injury) Gallbladder disease or appendicitis Migraine (a severe form of headache) Brain tumors Brain infections (such as meningitis) Hydrocephalus (too much fluid in the brain) When you take certain medications, nausea and vomiting can be a common side effect. Usually nausea is not an allergy, which is a severe reaction that can include a rash or trouble breathing, but an unwanted part of the medicine. Some medicines such as those used in cancer treatment (chemotherapy) and strong pain killers are well known for causing nausea and vomiting Many people experience nausea and vomiting as a side effect of the anesthesia from surgery. Stomach problems such as blockage (pyloric obstruction, a condition that causes forceful spitting up in infants) cause nausea and vomiting. Bleeding into the stomach from different causes can also cause vomiting. Sometimes the swallowed blood from a nosebleed can cause nausea and vomiting. Infection or irritation of the intestines can cause nausea and vomiting. Low or high body chemicals and minerals can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as toxins in the body. Alcohol from beer, wine, and liquor is turned into a chemical, which causes nausea and vomiting. This is felt the next morning as a "hangover." Early pregnancy is a common cause of nausea and vomiting. Morning sickness usually happens in the first few months but sometimes can last throughout the pregnancy. Vomiting and Nausea Symptoms Nausea is a sensation that almost everyone knows from personal experience. It is a feeling of unease that frequently includes an upset stomach, dizziness, and anxiety. There is often an urge to vomit. You often feel as if this sensation comes from your stomach, but it is mostly controlled by the brain. Vomiting, however, frequently improves the sensation of nausea, at least temporarily. Vomiting occurs when the stomach forcefully sends its contents up to and out the mouth. If the nausea is severe, vomiting can continue after all the food and liquid has been sent out. This is called the dry heaves. When vomiting leads to dehydration from loss of fluids, you may have increased thirst and dry lips and dry mouth. You may not urinate often. In children, signs of dehydration include dry lips and mouth, sunken eyes, rapid breathing, and dry diapers, indicating the child is not producing urine. When to Seek Medical Care Call your health care provider when the nausea is so severe that you are unable to take care of yourself. Call also if the vomiting is so bad that you can't keep any liquids down at all for more than 8-10 hours. Vomiting blood is a warning sign and a reason to see your health care provider. Blood may be bright red or dark red. Sometimes old blood can look brown like coffee grounds. If you are taking care of a child, call for medical advice if the child does not urinate in 6-8 hours (or has dry diapers for that period of time). Signs and symptoms of dehydration in children and dehydration in adults (severe loss of body fluids) include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness—these symptoms are worse when standing—dry mouth and lips, less urine than normal, dark-yellow and smelly urine, and severe thirst. Seek medical attention at a hospital’s emergency department in these circumstances: If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting and severe belly pain Vomiting with fever, especially in a child If you can see blood in the vomit If vomiting won't stop and you are unable to keep down any fluids If you have a known head injury If there are other medical conditions present such as heart disease or diabetes If you observe any signs of confusion or extreme weakness If a new or severe headache is also present Self-Care at Home The mainstay of home treatment is to drink fluids. Fluid intake helps correct electrolyte imbalance, which may stop vomiting. This means drinking fluids, which may be the farthest thing from your mind. But it is vital to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated from fluid loss. Start with small amounts, such as 4-8 ounces at a time for adults and 1 ounce or less at a time for children. Only use clear liquids (such as clear soup broth, juice, lemon-lime soda). If you're not sure if it's clear, put the liquid in a clear glass bowl and try to read something through it. If you can't read, it's not clear. Avoid milk and any dairy products. They can make your nausea and vomiting worse. Work your way up to soft foods, gelatin, oatmeal, yogurt, and similar soft foods and go back to liquids if the nausea and vomiting return. Dehydration in children: Children should be given oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Rehydrate, Resol, and Rice-Lyte. Cola, tea, fruit juice, and sports drinks will not correctly replace fluid or electrolytes lost from vomiting. Nor will plain water. In addition, plain water will not replace electrolytes and may dilute electrolytes to the point of seizures. In underdeveloped nations or regions without available commercial pediatric drinks, the World Health Organization has established a field recipe for fluid rehydration: Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar (or honey) with ¼ teaspoon of table salt and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda. (Baking soda may be substituted with ¼ teaspoon of table salt.) Mix in 1 litre (1 qt) of clean or previously boiled water. Dehydration in adults: Although adults and adolescents have a larger electrolyte reserve than children, electrolyte imbalance and dehydration may still occur as fluid is lost through vomiting. Severe symptoms and dehydration usually develop as complications of medication use or chronic diseases such as diabetes or kidney failure. But symptoms may occur in healthy people. Initially, adults should eat ice chips and clear, non-caffeinated, non-dairy liquids such as Gatorade, ginger ale, fruit juices, and Kool-Aid or other commercial drink mixes. After 24 hours of fluid diet without vomiting, begin a soft-bland solid diet such as the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, apple sauce without sugar, toast, pasta, and potatoes. Massage the stomach gently with Chamomile Roman, Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint essential oils diluted in carrier oil. Alternatively apply a warm compress to the stomach area. If vomiting is associated with a cold then use Black Pepper or Marjoram. If the nausea is connected to emotional upset then use Chamomile Roman and Lavender. Try sipping Chamomile, Fennel or Peppermint herbal infusions and the Bach Rescue remedy will often give relief. |
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