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Nausea and Vomiting
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Symptoms

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of various conditions, and while usually not serious, they require medical attention if they lead to dehydration or persist for extended periods.

What are nausea and vomiting?

Nausea is when you feel sick to your stomach, as if you are going to throw up. Vomiting is when you throw up.

Causes

Nausea and vomiting can be symptoms of many different conditions, including:

  • Morning sickness during pregnancy
  • Gastroenteritis (infection of your intestines) and other infections
  • Migraines
  • Motion sickness
  • Food poisoning
  • Medicines, including those for cancer chemotherapy
  • GERD (reflux) and ulcers
  • Intestinal obstruction

When to See a Health Care Provider

Nausea and vomiting are common. They are usually not serious. However, you should contact your health care provider immediately if you have:

  • A reason to think that your vomiting is from poisoning
  • Vomited for longer than 24 hours
  • Blood in the vomit
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Severe headache and stiff neck
  • Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, infrequent urination or dark urine

Diagnosis

Your health care provider will take your medical history, ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. The provider will look for signs of dehydration. You may have some tests, including blood and urine tests. Women may also have a pregnancy test.

Treatment and Management

Treatments for nausea and vomiting depend on the cause. You may get treatment for the underlying problem. There are some medicines that can treat nausea and vomiting. For severe cases of vomiting, you may need extra fluids through an IV (intravenous).

There are things that you can do to feel better:

  • Get enough fluids, to avoid dehydration. If you are having trouble keeping liquids down, drink small amounts of clear liquids often.
  • Eat bland foods; stay away from spicy, fatty, or salty foods
  • Eat smaller meals more often
  • Avoid strong smells, since they can sometimes trigger nausea and vomiting
  • If you are pregnant and have morning sickness, eat crackers before you get out of bed in the morning

Frequently Asked Questions

Migraine-associated nausea often presents with a throbbing, unilateral headache, sensitivity to light and sound, and may occur before, during, or after the headache peaks. Gastrointestinal infections typically present with diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever, and the nausea is usually accompanied by a general feeling of malaise rather than specific neurological symptoms. If you have a history of migraines and the nausea follows your typical headache pattern, it is likely migraine-related, but persistent vomiting warrants medical evaluation to rule out other causes.
Instead of drinking large volumes of water at once, which can trigger more vomiting, take small sips of an oral rehydration solution (ORS) or electrolyte drink every 5 to 10 minutes. Start with one teaspoon or a few sips and gradually increase the amount as tolerated. Avoid plain water for the first few hours as it lacks the necessary salts and sugars to replace what is lost through vomiting. Once you can keep fluids down for several hours, you can slowly introduce bland, low-fat foods like crackers or toast.
Immediate medical attention is required if you experience dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing, a rapid heart rate, dry or sticky mouth, and significantly reduced urine output (less than once every 8 hours) or dark yellow urine. In infants and young children, look for a sunken soft spot on the head, no tears when crying, and extreme lethargy. These signs indicate that oral rehydration is no longer sufficient and intravenous fluids may be necessary.
Wait at least 4 to 6 hours after the last episode of vomiting before attempting to eat solid food. Start with bland, easily digestible foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) or plain crackers. Avoid dairy, fatty, spicy, or high-fiber foods for the first 24 to 48 hours, as these can irritate the stomach lining and trigger further nausea. Gradually reintroduce your regular diet as your tolerance improves.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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