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Nausea and Vomiting
Overview
Common causes of
nausea and vomiting are viral infections (the “stomach flu”),
drinking too much alcohol, bacterial infections (including food
poisoning), motion sickness, and intolerance to certain foods or
medications. Inner ear problems, pregnancy, stress, sinus
drainage, migraine headaches, increased pressure on the brain
due to head trauma or meningitis, and other health
conditions—some minor and some serious—can also cause
nausea/vomiting.
Signs and Symptoms
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Feeling like you’re going to vomit
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Throwing up the contents of your stomach
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Dry heaving
Self-Care Measures
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For motion sickness, take an OTC anti-motion sickness
medication.
If you are
nauseated, but not vomiting:
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Eat small amounts of dry foods like toast or plain crackers.
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Sip clear liquids.
If you are vomiting:
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Stop eating solid food.
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Every hour, for 12 to 24 hours, drink 4 to 8 total ounces of
clear, non-caffeinated liquids such as water, sports drinks,
broth/bouillon, diluted fruit juice or flat ginger ale or
sodas, but sip only 1 to 2 ounces at a time. Avoid acidic
drinks like lemonade or orange, grapefruit and tomato juice.
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Suck on ice chips if nothing else will stay down.
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For fever, take an OTC analgesic with acetaminophen only.
Other types of analgesics may irritate your already upset
stomach.
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If
necessary, take an OTC antinausea medication.
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Four to 8 hours after the last time you’ve thrown up and
when you can keep clear liquids down, start eating small
amounts of bland foods like crackers, toast, Jell-O, rice,
noodles, or other easily-digestible, non-irritating foods.
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If
you throw up your birth control pill within an hour of
taking it, use a back up method of contraception—such as
condoms—until your next period starts, but keep taking your
pills on schedule.
Red Flags
Check in with the
nurse if....
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Nausea/vomiting following a recent discontinuation of
long-term steroid use.
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Vomiting within one hour of taking any prescription
medication.
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Severe dizziness or a spinning sensation.
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Pain in one or both sides of your back with fever and/or
shaking chills.
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Yellow discoloration of your skin or the whites of your
eyes.
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Signs of significant dehydration including: dizziness,
especially when you stand up; dry mouth; decreased urination
and/or dark yellow urine; mild confusion; or weakness.
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Nausea/vomiting lasting more than one week.
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Inability to hold down any fluids for more than 24 hours.
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Fever of 100.5 degrees F (38 degrees C) or more or fever
that lasts longer than 72 hours.
CALL 911 OR GO DIRECTLY TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM IF ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING OCCURS:
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Signs of a heart attack including: pain, pressure or
tightness in your chest; pain that spreads to your arm, jaw,
or neck; or pain that is associated with shortness of
breath, irregular heart beat, profuse sweating and/or
significant weakness—especially if you have a personal or
family history of heart disease.
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Nausea/vomiting following a recent injury to your head.
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Severe headache and stiff neck with fever or shaking chills.
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Vomiting large or repeated amounts of bloody or
coffee-ground-appearing material.
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Severe difficulty breathing or severe dizziness, weakness,
confusion or stupor.
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Severe abdominal pain (being doubled over or unable to stand
up) or severe pain associated with a hard abdomen.
Go to Health Center Information
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