What is nausea?

Nausea is an uncomfortable sensation you feel in your stomach that triggers the urge to vomit. When you vomit, your body forcibly empties the contents of your stomach. 

Nausea and vomiting are protective mechanisms that help rid your body of harmful substances. You can feel nauseous without vomiting. You can also retch, or dry heave, without vomiting. 

What causes nausea?

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that occur from a wide range of causes. In most cases, the cause of nausea isn’t a serious health concern. 

Nausea may occur from:

• Motion sickness
• Pregnancy
• Emotional stress
• Indigestion
• Medications
• Psychiatric disorders
• Smelling certain odors
• Inhaling chemical toxins

However, nausea and vomiting are also symptoms of serious health issues like gallbladder disease, appendicitis, gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), and intestinal blockage. You may also feel nauseous following a concussion or when you have a migraine headache. 

If you feel nauseous and don’t know why, the team at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates can help identify the cause.

What happens during a nausea evaluation?

The specifics of your nausea evaluation at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates depend on the severity of your symptoms. For acute nausea and vomiting, the team reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam.

In most cases, they can determine the cause of your nausea after a thorough history and physical. However, if the cause of your nausea remains unknown, the team may run diagnostic tests such as bloodwork, urinalysis, and stool testing.

The Richmond Gastroenterology Associates team may also suggest an upper endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, or colonoscopy if they suspect your nausea and vomiting is due to a gastrointestinal (GI) condition.

What treatments can help my nausea?

The Richmond Gastroenterology Associates team customizes your nausea and vomiting treatment plan based on the underlying cause. However, initial treatment may focus on rehydration and nutrition, ensuring your body gets the fluids and nutrients it needs to function correctly.

Depending on the cause, the team may prescribe anti-nausea medication to ease your symptoms. They may recommend gastric stimulation for patients with ongoing nausea and vomiting due to gastroparesis.

Gastric stimulation is an implanted device that delivers mild electrical impulses to the stomach muscles, improving the movement of food through the stomach and easing nausea and vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are unpleasant symptoms of many conditions. To get professional help for your GI symptoms, call Richmond Gastroenterology Associates or schedule an appointment online today.