Nausea

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS

What is nausea?

Nausea is a very common symptom that people often describe as a feeling of queasiness or wooziness, or a need to vomit. Nausea accompanies a wide variety of mild to serious infections, diseases, conditions, and injuries. It occurs in all age groups and populations.

Nausea symptoms can be short-term and disappear quickly, as in the case of indigestion. But symptoms can also be long-lasting or recur over a period of days, weeks, and months, such as nausea induced by migraine, cancer, pancreatitis, certain medications, or body trauma.

Nausea occurs with other symptoms affecting the digestive system as well as other body systems.

Nausea associated with head injury, bloody stools, or vomiting of blood can be a symptom of a serious, potentially life-threatening condition and should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting.

What other symptoms might occur with nausea?

Nausea may be accompanied by other symptoms depending on the underlying disease, disorder, or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the digestive tract may also involve other body systems.

Digestive symptoms that may occur along with nausea

Nausea may accompany other symptoms affecting the digestive tract including:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Indigestion
  • Vomiting

Other symptoms that may occur along with nausea

Nausea can also be caused by problems in body systems other than the digestive tract including:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache

If you think about it, nausea can occur in virtually any situation.

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, nausea may accompany symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Symptoms that may indicate a serious or life-threatening condition include:

  • Bloody or black stools
  • Fainting or change in level of consciousness or lethargy
  • Head injury
  • Rapid pulse or rapid breathing
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Severe headache or stiff neck
  • Vomiting blood or black material (resembling coffee grounds)

What causes nausea?

Causes of nausea include infection, poisoning, malignancy (cancer), inflammation, uncontrolled diabetes, trauma, obstruction, and other abnormal processes within the digestive, nervous, reproductive, cardiovascular, or endocrine systems.

Gastrointestinal causes of nausea

Nausea may arise from problems in the digestive tract including:

  • Overeating or eating a high-fat meal
  • Pancreatitis

Other causes of nausea

Nausea can also be caused by problems in body systems other than the digestive tract including:

  • Exposure to smoke or toxic fumes or substances
  • Medication side effects
  • Meniere’s disease

Life-threatening causes of nausea

In some cases, nausea may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting.

Call your doctor or poison-control hotline immediately or take the child to an emergency care facility if you suspect poisoning or drug ingestion.

  • Intestinal blockage
  • Poisoning

When should you see a doctor for nausea?

Nausea does not always lead to vomiting. Most causes of nausea are not serious and will usually resolve with home treatment. However, there are times when it is best to see your doctor.

Contact your doctor when nausea lasts for more than a week. For women, if there is any possibility of pregnancy, make an appointment with your doctor. Early and regular medical care during pregnancy is important for both you and your baby.

See a doctor promptly when:

  • Episodes of nausea or vomiting recur for more than a month
  • Vomiting—not spitting up—in a baby less than two months old
  • Vomiting lasts for more than 12 hours in infants, 24 hours in older children, and 48 hours in adults

Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for nausea and vomiting when:

  • You also have a severe headache or abdominal pain.
  • You have not been able to keep fluids down for 12 hours.
  • You have signs of dehydration, including excessive thirst, dark-colored urine, urinating less than normal, headache, skin that remains raised after pinching it, or dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.
  • Your child has signs of dehydration, including dry mouth and tongue, irritability, no tears with crying, no wet diapers for three hours, skin that stays tented when pinched, or sunken eyes cheeks, or soft spots.

How do doctors diagnose the cause of nausea?

To diagnose your nausea, your doctor may ask you several questions including:

  • When did the nausea start?
  • How long have you had nausea? How often does it occur?
  • Is the nausea constant or intermittent?
  • Does vomiting occur with the nausea?
  • What, if anything, seems to make the nausea better or worse?
  • Do you have any other symptoms, such as fever, diarrhea or headache?
  • Have you lost weight?
  • Have you recently traveled outside the country or been around anyone who is sick?
  • What other medical conditions do you have?
  • What medications do you take?

Your doctor will perform a physical exam that includes feeling your abdomen. Your doctor will also look for signs of dehydration. Depending on the results and your answers to the questions, your doctor may recommend tests. This could include blood tests, urinalysis, or imaging exams of the abdomen, such as ultrasound or CT (computerized tomography) scan.

It is not always possible to diagnose an underlying cause or condition. If the problem persists and your provider is unable to determine a cause, seeking a second opinion may give you more information and answers.

How do you treat nausea?

Treating nausea is not always necessary. It depends on the cause and your comfort. For simple causes of nausea, such as indigestion, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments are available. This includes antacids, various acid blockers, and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). There are also OTC antihistamines that can help control nausea, including dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Antivert). However, women who may be pregnant should not take any nausea medicine without consulting a doctor first.

Prescription medicines are also available to treat nausea and prevent vomiting. The need for these medications depend on the cause of nausea. They can be extremely helpful for certain causes, such as cancer chemotherapy.

Home remedies for nausea

There are several nausea remedies you can try at home to relieve and prevent it including:

  • Avoiding alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and spicy or fried foods
  • Drinking small amounts of clear, cold, sweet liquids, including ginger ale and non-citrus juices, frequently
  • Eating small, frequent meals of cold or room temperature, bland foods, such as crackers, plain bread, rice, or chicken soup, slowly
  • Keeping away from strong odors, including cooking smells
  • Sitting or reclining instead of lying flat and avoiding physical activity

If you get nausea due to motion sickness, talk with your doctor about strategies to prevent it and manage it.

Alternative treatments for nausea

Alternative or complementary treatments can be very useful for preventing and controlling nausea. Many of them do not use drugs at all, but rely on a mind-body connection. These strategies can be especially helpful for causes like cancer treatments. Alternative treatments include:

  • Biofeedback, which teaches you how to gain conscious control over physical processes
  • Guided imagery
  • Music therapy
  • Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation
  • Systematic desensitization, which teaches you how to reduce anxiety-related problems, such as nausea

Essential oils and some herbs and plants may also help relieve nausea. This includes ginger, peppermint, lemon and chamomile. While teas and aromatherapy with essential oils are generally safe, talk with your doctor before taking a supplement for nausea.

What are the potential complications of nausea?

Left untreated, nausea can lead to serious complications including:

  • Dehydration due to a decreased desire to drink or ability to hold fluids
  • Poor nutrition due to a decreased desire to eat
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Medical Reviewer: William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Last Review Date: 2021 Apr 28
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