Nausea and vomiting

DEFINITION

Nausea is an unpleasant sensation characterised by loss of
appetite and impending vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible expulsion
of the contents of the stomach through the mouth.

DESCRIPTION

There are few people who have not experienced severe nausea
and vomiting at some stage. Vomiting is an unpleasant yet important
defence mechanism by which the body attempts to rid itself of a
variety of toxins and poisons. Vomiting occurs when the stomach and
sometimes the upper part of the small intestine go into spasm and
the contents of the gut are expelled via the oesophagus and mouth.
There are a variety of reasons why nausea and vomiting can occur,
some of which may be relatively harmless and others which may
indicate a serious medical condition.

Complications- Vomiting may produce complications that
include; dehydration, malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, tooth
erosion and tears in the oesophagus producing blood in the vomit.
Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk of becoming
dehydrated quickly from vomiting, especially if diarrhoea is
present. If an infant is vomiting, seek urgent medical attention.
(See the Vomiting – Children topic for more information).

Vomiting that continues for more than two days may indicate a
serious underlying condition and should be investigated by a
Doctor. The vomiting of blood may indicate serious disease such as
a haemorrhage from peptic ulcers or stomach cancer. Sometimes the
trauma of vomiting can cause a small bleed, due to a tear in the
gut lining. Very foul smelling vomit may indicate that a blockage
exists somewhere in the digestive tract and this requires urgent
medical attention.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

As with all conditions your Doctor should be consulted to
diagnose and treat the condition. The cause of the nausea and/or
vomiting will determine the treatment. If a toxic substance has
been consumed or inhaled the patient must receive urgent medical
attention. In some cases, such as pregnancy, motion sickness or to
relieve the side effects of chemotherapy your Doctor may recommend
some anti-nausea medication. To prevent dehydration your Doctor may
recommend a rehydration solution to drink at regular
intervals.

DIET HINTS

A person with nausea and/or vomiting should avoid solid foods.
When the symptoms are acute, it is best to continually sip water,
electrolyte replacement drinks, herbal teas, strained broth or
bouillon with added salt to help prevent or to treat mild
dehydration.
When the symptoms begin to improve, the patient may be able to
tolerate warm fluids, cooked bland cereals, jelly, dry biscuits and
other bland foods.
It is advisable for the patient to avoid rich foods such as
dairy products and meat as well as spicy, sugary and fatty foods
for a period of time after symptoms have ceased. Re-introduce these
types of foods gradually and avoid them if the symptoms recur.
Foods which are very high in fibre may also aggravate the symptoms.
Rice may be the most tolerated grain.
When vomiting stops, include some garlic in the diet each day.
Garlic has natural antibiotic properties that can help to combat
infection.
To restore a healthy balance of bowel flora, which can be
disturbed by continual vomiting, diarrhoea and antibiotics, have
fresh yoghurt containing acidophilus each day.
Fresh fruit juices such as pawpaw, pineapple, apple and ginger
juice, diluted with water may help Nausea and Vomiting.
Ginger is an effective remedy for nausea. Add freshly grated
ginger to a tea or into cooking.

VITAMINS/MINERALS/HERBS

Nutritional supplements are only to be used if the dietary
vitamin intake is inadequate.

Ginger is well known for its anti-nausea action. Ginger may
stop nausea and vomiting and also cramps.
Peppermint is believed to have a strong anti-nausea action and
also acts as an anti-spasmodic herb (reduces cramps).
Vitamin B6 and magnesium may help to prevent nausea,
particularly during pregnancy
Charcoal capsules may relieve nausea.

NOTES

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only take anti-nausea
medication or nutritional supplements under medical supervision.
Certain substances may be harmful to the developing infant.

PHARMACIST’S ADVICE

Ask your Pharmacist for advice.

Your Pharmacist can answer any queries you may have regarding
your medication. If your medication is making you feel sick, ask
your Pharmacist for advice.
If you are feeling nauseous and/or have been vomiting for more
than 2 days it is important to see your Doctor or Pharmacist for
advice.
If an infant or a child under 2 years of age is vomiting he/she
should receive immediate medical attention to avoid complications
such as dehydration.
Chronic vomiting, such as often occurs with morning sickness
during pregnancy and certain eating disorders, can damage the
teeth. Ask your Pharmacist for advice about ways to protect the
teeth from erosion.
To avoid dehydration and the development of an electrolyte
imbalance, your Pharmacist may recommend an oral rehydration
powder. This is a powder that contains essential substances that
are lost in large amounts during vomiting and diarrhoea. Water does
not contain electrolytes and is not always an adequate means of
rehydrating the body. Some tablets might be suggested to help stop
vomiting.
If motion sickness is a problem it is advisable to take
anti-nausea medication prior to travelling. Motion sickness is much
easier to prevent than it is to treat.
Over eating and/or drinking alcohol can produce symptoms of
nausea. In these cases your Pharmacist may recommend an antacid to
provide relief.
Acidophilus powder or capsules may help to restore a healthy
balance of bowel flora after vomiting has ceased. This balance can
be disturbed by continual vomiting, diarrhoea and antibiotics. An
overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria in the bowel may result in
digestive problems and/or thrush.
If your diet is inadequate, consider the nutritional
supplements suggested in this topic.

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