Nausea and Vomiting Treatment Doctor Q&A

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many health issues that can affect adults and children, indicating a range of different potential causes. These causes vary from acute incidences, such as the stomach flu, food poisoning, and motion sickness, to indications of more serious health issues, including gastrointestinal conditions like gastritis and peptic ulcers.

In some cases, nausea is one of the first signs associated with pregnancy but commonly presents among all individuals due to various reasons. Certain treatments and medications, especially when not used as directed, can lead to nausea and vomiting.

Other potential causes include intense pain, indigestion, vertigo, exposure to certain odors and smells, and overuse of alcohol or marijuana. While nausea and vomiting often indicate a fairly harmless acute issue that will resolve on its own, they can also signal something more serious, such as concussions or brain tumors.

Given this wide range of causes, it’s important to seek medical attention if nausea and vomiting are intense, disruptive, or persistent.

Nausea presents as a queasy feeling, often described as being on the verge of vomiting. It is primarily experienced in the stomach but can also present as a general unease affecting the upper abdomen, chest, or the back of the throat.

Signs of nausea include a lack of appetite, stomach ache, excessive sweating, and a retching feeling which involves the repeated contractions of abdominal and respiratory muscles without the actual act of vomiting.

Individuals may also experience weakness, a buildup of saliva, or an unsettled feeling in the stomach. These symptoms can vary in duration and intensity according to the cause, often occurring alongside or independently of vomiting.

Managing nausea and vomiting involves a combination of home remedies and lifestyle adjustments tailored to the individual’s specific health factors and the underlying cause.

Eating slowly and consuming small meals throughout the day, while avoiding hard-to-digest foods, can help prevent nausea. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and timing meals for when nausea is not present can also be beneficial.

Resting in a seated or propped-up position helps alleviate nausea, especially for those prone to motion sickness. In some cases, changing the environment or using certain medications and herbal supplements may provide relief.

Deep breathing techniques, where one breathes deeply through the nose allowing the abdomen to expand, and then exhales slowly, can ease feelings of nausea. It’s important to stay hydrated, especially after vomiting, to prevent dehydration, but fluids should be consumed slowly to avoid inducing more vomiting.

Consulting medical professionals, such as those at Columbia Clinic Urgent Care, ensure the most effective treatment and identification of underlying causes.

It can be challenging to determine the root cause, and seriousness of nausea and vomiting on your own. So being proactive in seeking medical advice is rarely a bad idea.

This is especially true if the vomiting is intense, accompanied by additional symptoms, or is a recurring issue. For mild cases, such as those resulting from motion sickness, immediate medical attention may not be necessary unless there’s a desire to manage the condition better.
However, if the cause is unknown or if nausea and vomiting have been ongoing, medical attention is warranted. This is particularly true for vomiting that lasts more than 24 hours for a child, 12 hours for an infant, or two days for adults, or if nausea and vomiting occur intermittently over a month.

Symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, severe headaches, blood in the vomit, signs of dehydration, chest pain, confusion, rectal bleeding, blurred vision, or severe abdominal pain require immediate care. In such cases, it’s best to err on the side of caution and visit healthcare providers like those at Columbia Clinic Urgent Care for fast, effective treatment and to rule out any serious health concerns.
Nausea and vomiting treatments are available at Columbia Clinic Urgent Care. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Tibbetts St Portland, Milwaukie OR, Oak Grove OR, Stark Street Portland, Fairview OR, Happy Valley OR, Gladstone OR, Cedar Mill OR, Tibbetts Street Portland OR, West Linn OR, Aloha OR, Tigard OR, Lake Oswego OR, Tualatin OR, Oregon City OR.