WHAT DO YOU CALL NAUSEA AND VOMITING?

WHAT DO YOU CALL NAUSEA AND VOMITING?

WHAT DO YOU CALL NAUSEA AND VOMITING?

Nausea is an uncomfortable sensation in the stomach and throat that corresponds to a desire to vomit. We often talk about "heartache", "smeared stomach feeling", "heart".

Vomiting is the rejection of the contents of the stomach by the mouth. It corresponds to a mechanical reflex of defense of the organism destined to empty the stomach. It is possible to vomit food,bile or much more rarely, blood.

Nausea and vomiting are sometimes accompanied by:

• a slightly accelerated heart rate,
• cold sweats,
• of pallor,
• hypersalivation (excess saliva in the mouth),
• a feeling of discomfort,
• of abdominal pain ,
• diarrhea.
• Vomiting that is repeated for more than 7 days is called "chronic".

The digestive system

Diagram showing the human digestive system composed of the pharynx, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine (see detailed description below)

THE MECHANISM OF VOMITING

Vomiting occurs in several phases:

closure of the pylorus (orifice that communicates the stomach and duodenum);

contraction of the stomach;

contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles;

opening of the cardia (opening communicating the esophagus and the stomach);

violent evacuation of gastric fluid.

Coordination of vomiting is controlled by a nerve center in the brain.

This nerve center is stimulated:

by peripheral nervous information coming from the digestive tract ( oral intoxication for example) or from the inner ear ( motion sickness , for example),

or by information coming from the brain (thoughts, smells, images, emotions).

Do not confuse vomiting and regurgitation

Regurgitation is a passive rise of gastric or esophageal contents in the mouth, without vomiting or nausea.

Regurgitation is present in the gastroesophageal reflux of the adult as well as in the gastroesophageal reflux of the infant .

CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING

The causes of nausea and vomiting are multiple and most often benign.

Episodic nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting can occur in several cases:

during gastroenteritis  : this is the most common cause in adults and children . If people around you are vomiting or an outbreak is in progress, you or your child is likely to have viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning;

during drug treatment;

after heavy consumption of alcohol : it is the "hangover" with a heavy headache upon awakening, headache and nausea, due to dehydration due to excessive water loss, toxicity of certain components of the alcohol and disruption of the sleep cycle;

after an excess of food responsible for indigestion;

at a vagal discomfort ;

during a trip in a vehicle: it's motion sickness ...

Nausea or vomiting are possible:

during a migraine episode  ;

a liver colic ;

in case of food allergy ;

in association with vertigo in Meniere's disease;

after the administration of anesthesia products, upon awakening of a surgical intervention ...

Vomiting may be a symptom of an illness requiring urgent care:

a appendicitis ;

an acute cholecystitis ;

a pyelonephritis ;

an oral poisoning ;

a myocardial infarction ;

a meningitis ;

a bowel obstruction...

The vomiting is then accompanied by other symptoms. It is important to recognize the signs of seriousness for quick consultation.

The main drugs responsible for vomiting

These are antimitotics in the treatment of cancers, some antibiotics, derivatives of ergot rye, theophylline, digitalis, levodopa, opiates, quinine, salicylates.

But other drugs may be involved. If you experience nausea during treatment, read the medicine leaflet.

Nausea and vomiting that last and repeat themselves

Repeated vomiting may be related to:

the pregnancy  : this is the main cause of chronic vomiting: nearly 50% of pregnant women vomit during the first quarter;

anorexia and bulimia : in this case, vomiting is caused;

anxiety can trigger vomiting;

chronic lead poisoning or lead poisoning ;

a food intolerance, especially lactose .

When vomiting is accompanied by other symptoms, more rare causes are sought: stenosis of the digestive tract, chronic disease, cancer ...