Nausea is not a disease. Neither is vomiting. Both are symptoms that can be caused by many medical conditions such as motion sickness, migraine, food poisoning, pregnancy, infection and overeating among others. These can also be symptoms of more serious illnesses such as liver or kidney disorders, heart attacks, brain tumors, neurological disorders and some forms of cancer.
Nausea vs Vomiting
Nausea is an uneasy and unpleasant feeling of the stomach that is often accompanied by the urge to vomit. Even though it does not lead to vomiting sometimes, it is still considered nausea. On the other hand, vomiting is the voluntary or involuntary emptying of the contents of the stomach through the esophagus and the mouth. It may be triggered by problems in the digestive tract such as injury and infection, in the inner ear such as motion sickness, and in the brain such as tumors and migraines. Suffice it to say that vomiting is the act of emptying the stomach while nausea is the urge to vomit.
Risk Factors
Both adults and children can experience nausea and vomiting. However, there are people who have an increased risk to experiencing these. People undergoing cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are very likely to suffer from these. Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester, have higher risks as well. Up to 90 percent of expectant women experience nausea while 25 to 55 percent experience vomiting.
Causes
Many elements can cause nausea. Some of the most common are early pregnancy, motion sickness, exposure to chemical toxins, intense pain, emotional stress, indigestion, food poisoning and certain odors among others.
On the other hand, the most common causes of vomiting vary according to age. Adults usually experience vomiting as a result of food poisoning and viral infection. For children, vomiting is usually brought on by motion sickness, viral infection, overeating, food poisoning and coughing. Blocked intestines can also cause vomiting, more commonly in infants but it is very rare. Vomiting is usually harmless. However, it can be a sign of a more serious disease or disorder. Some of these conditions include appendicitis, meningitis, encephalitis, concussions, intestinal blockage and brain tumors.
Usually, vomiting also comes with dehydration as the fluids taken are being thrown up. Children have a higher risk of being dehydrated and it can be really dangerous. That’s why it is important to replace the lost fluids.