Nausea and Vomiting in New Jersey
The Digestive Health & Nutrition Center has two convenient locations in Lawrenceville and Princeton, New Jersey where you can receive the exceptional care you deserve. Angela Merlo, MD is an experienced Gastroenterologist and expert in the diagnosis and treatment of nausea and vomiting in adults and children.
What is Nausea? What is Vomiting?
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents. Retching differs from vomiting in the absence of gastric contents. People sometimes confuse the terms regurgitation and vomiting. Regurgitation refers to the effortless return of esophageal contents into the throat. Nausea is the unpleasant sensation of being about to vomit. Nausea can occur alone or can accompany vomiting. Nausea can also accompany many other digestive symptoms such as heartburn, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and bloating.
What Causes Nausea or Vomiting?
The list of what causes nausea is enormous and encompasses disorders in many organ systems as well side effects to commonly prescribed medications.
- Alcohol in excess
- Anxiety disorders
- Bowel obstruction
- Cancer chemotherapy
- Crohn’s Disease
- Delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis)
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Food poisoning
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders
- Head trauma
- Gallstones and gallbladder disease
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Disorder)
- Infectious Gastroenteritis
- Medications (antibiotics, anesthesia, narcotics, heart medications, anti-inflammatory)
- Meniere disease
- Meningitis
- Metabolic Disorders (kidney failure, diabetes, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism)
- Migraine headaches
- Motion sickness
- Pancreatitis
- Pregnancy
- Stroke or intracranial bleeding
- Ulcers of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum
Do I Need a Gastroenterologist for My Nausea and Vomiting?
Nausea with or without vomiting that is short duration is best handled conservatively. However, severe nausea and vomiting can result in dehydration and depletion of essential salts. Children are particularly susceptible and need rapid replenishment of fluids and salts to maintain health. Severe nausea, persistent nausea, or recurrent nausea with or without vomiting could signal a serious underlying condition. Dr. Merlo is an experienced Gastroenterologist and will be able to diagnose the underlying cause so that your health and sense of well-being can be restored with proper treatment. Alarm features accompanying nausea and/or vomiting include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal distension
- Confusion
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Headache and stiff neck
- Muscle cramps
- Stools that are black, purple or red in color
- Vomiting blood
- Vomiting recognizable food eaten several hours earlier
- Weight loss
If you or your children are experiencing nausea and/or vomiting and seek an adult or pediatric Gastroenterologist, contact the Digestive Health and Nutrition Center in Lawrenceville or Princeton, New Jersey for an appointment with Dr. Merlo.
