Nausea is a sensation of discomfort in the upper abdomen, accompanied by an urge to vomit. Also known of as qualm, nausea may be a side effect associated with several medications or a symptom of disease or disorder. Sometimes large, fatty or sugary meals may also lead to a feeling of nausea.
Some of the causes of nausea are:Nausea may occur for a variety of reasons that may not be particularly serious, such as in the case of motion sickness, or may be a symptom of a more damaging underlying pathology such as liver infection with the hepatitis virus. Nausea may also manifest during the early months of pregnancy, known of as morning sickness.
- Alcohol, caffeine, excess sugar
- Anxiety, depression and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa
- Addison's disease
- Appendicitis
- Brain tumor
- Hydrocephalus or "water on the brain"
- Cancer and chemotherapy
- Viral infections including chicken pox, influenza, stomach flu and norovirus
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Head injuries
- Diabetes and associated gastroparesis
- Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder
- Gastroenteritis or food poisoning
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic ulcer
- Ear disorders, dizziness, Meniere's disease, vertigo
- Certain medications
- Drugs of abuse
- Heart attack or acute myocardial infarction
- Electrolyte imbalance, mainly a rise in blood levels of potassium
- Raised pressure within the skull
- Meningitis or inflammation and infection of the membranes covering the brain
- Kidney failure and kidney disorders
- Migraine
- Morning sickness associated with pregnancy
- Premenstrual syndrome and menstruation
- Pneumonia
- Stress and sleep deprivation
- Withdrawal syndrome
- Liver disorders and hepatitis
