Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea

Nausea

What is nausea?

Nausea is the feeling that you are going to vomit. When you are feeling nauseated, you may or may not actually vomit. But the feeling is still uncomfortable, especially when combined with other symptoms. Nausea is associated with many different conditions, illnesses, injuries, and infections. It may come and go, or subside as the other medical issue subsides. Frequent or constant nausea can also be associated with other health conditions.

What causes nausea?

There are many causes of nausea. In fact, it may be hard to tell exactly what is causing your nausea unless other symptoms are detected. A FastMed healthcare provider can help you find the cause of feeling nauseated, and offer treatment suggestions, such as nausea medicine. The following is not a comprehensive list of all nausea causes.

Nausea after eating: When people feel nausea after eating, they often self-diagnose an overindulgence of food, or a touch of food poisoning. But, in fact, there are many other possibilities, such as a stomach ulcer or a problem with your digestive system. Or, you may be ill with a case of the stomach flu, which may not be associated with food intake at all. If you regularly feel nauseated after eating, visit your healthcare provider.

Nausea after consuming alcohol: The physical effects of alcohol, and your body’s reaction to it, can cause nausea, either during alcohol consumption or after.

Nausea caused by a condition, a disease, or an infection: There is a long list of conditions, infections, and diseases— from influenza and dehydration to gastroenteritis and cancer—that can cause nausea. However, because it is a common symptom, nausea alone is not necessarily a sign of a particular illness. If nausea is present along with other symptoms, it helps healthcare providers diagnose your condition. When you speak to a healthcare provider about your nausea, list any other symptoms you have.

Nausea caused by pain & injuries: Pain itself, whether or not it comes from an injury, can cause nausea. For instance, migraine headache sufferers can experience nausea, as well. Nausea can also be associated with particular injuries, such as concussions. If you are in pain or have been injured and visit your healthcare provider, let them know about the nausea.

Nausea caused by psychological conditions: Stress nausea is not “just your imagination,” it is a real physical symptom. Fear, anxiety, and depression can all bring about feelings of nausea.

Pregnancy nausea: Morning sickness can cause nausea, and can happen any time of the day.

Nausea caused by an overdose or poisoning: Overdosing on medications, breathing in poison gases, or ingesting chemicals can cause nausea. In addition, poisonous plants, animals, and insects can cause nausea when the poison enters your body. Many serious health complications can arise from overdoses and poisons. See a healthcare professional immediately if you think you may have overdosed or been poisoned.

Nausea from motion sickness: Motion sickness is caused when the movement you observe with your eyes does not agree with your body’s sense of motion. People can experience motion sickness in many places, such as cars, ships, and airplanes.

Constant nausea: Frequent or constant nausea can have many causes. If you experience constant nausea, whether you are pregnant or not pregnant, please see a qualified healthcare professional.

How to stop nausea

Usually, resolving the cause of the nausea will also end the nausea. But nausea can come and go, or pass on its own, even if its cause is still a problem. There are many options for nausea medicine and over-the-counter nausea remedies available at the pharmacy. A healthcare provider may also prescribe an anti-nausea medication.

Where to stop nausea

FastMed offers you a convenient and affordable alternative to visiting your primary care provider for nausea. Our experienced healthcare providers will help you determine the cause of the nausea, and provide treatment suggestions. We won’t just treat nausea, we will do our best to start the healing process for anything that might be the problem.

Vomiting

What causes vomiting?

Vomiting is when the stomach’s contents are forced up the digestive tract and out of the mouth. It is caused by many different infections, injuries, conditions, and illnesses. Examples range from well-understood causes, such as influenza or food poisoning, to less-understood causes, like morning sickness and cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Causes of vomiting

Vomiting can be caused by many different things. Identifying the root cause may not be possible until all symptoms have been evaluated. A FastMed healthcare provider can help you discover why you are vomiting and start the healing process by offering treatment suggestions, such as a nausea medicine. Patients experiencing vomiting may also be throwing up bile or throwing up blood. Both, and especially the latter, can indicate a serious health condition. The following list of vomiting causes is not comprehensive:

Vomiting after eating: When a person vomits after eating, they may assume it is due to spoiled food. There are many other possibilities. You may be ill with the stomach flu. It could be caused by a problem with your digestive system, like an ulcer or a side effect of long-standing diabetes. If you regularly feel nauseated and vomit after eating, visit your healthcare provider.

Self-induced vomiting after eating: Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating and self-induced vomiting. This is a serious condition. Talk to a doctor or a counselor immediately if you think you may have bulimia, or you suspect bulimia in a family member.

Vomiting after consuming alcohol: Vomiting can occur during alcohol consumption, or after. Alcohol poisoning, which can occur from an overindulgence of alcohol in a short time period, is a serious health condition requiring immediate medical attention.

Vomiting caused by a disease, an infection, or another condition: Many conditions—from influenza and meningitis, to appendicitis and cancer—can cause vomiting. The cause of vomiting can be found by assessing all the symptoms you are experiencing. When you speak to a healthcare provider about vomiting, they will ask you about other symptoms you may have.

Vomiting caused by injuries & pain: Pain and injuries can cause vomiting. For instance, migraine headache sufferers can vomit.

Vomiting caused by psychological conditions: Stress, anxiety, and depression can cause someone to throw up. Psychological conditions, like bulimia, cause a person to induce vomiting.

Pregnancy vomiting: Women who are pregnant may suffer from morning sickness, which can cause them to throw up throughout the day.

Vomiting caused by an overdose or a poisoning: Drug overdoses, poisons, and chemicals can cause vomiting. Poisonous insects, plants, and animals can also cause vomiting when the poison enters your body. These are all serious health conditions requiring medical attention.

Vomiting bile: Bile is a substance produced by your digestive system. If you are throwing up bile, your vomitus might take on a yellowish or greenish hue. Vomiting bile is caused by many of the same conditions that cause vomiting in general.

Vomiting blood: If you are throwing up blood, this can be a sign of many serious health conditions. Seek medical attention. Throwing up blood is a symptom you must take seriously.

Unexplained vomiting: If you are vomiting frequently without other symptoms, that can be a sign of a serious medical condition. Seek a healthcare provider.

Where to stop vomiting

Vomiting is very unpleasant, and it is understandable why you want to start the healing process as soon as possible. FastMed offers you a convenient and affordable alternative to visiting your primary care provider. Our healthcare providers will work to identify the cause of the vomiting, and offer treatment suggestions for both the vomiting and whatever else you are facing. In a few cases, vomiting may be serious enough to mandate a trip to the emergency room. For all other times, FastMed is here for you.

Diarrhea

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is loose and watery bowel movements. If you have three or more episodes of loose and watery bowel movements in a day, you have diarrhea. Causes of diarrhea are many and varied. Diarrhea causes can be anything from food poisoning to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The seriousness of the condition depends on its causes, and how long it lasts. If you have diarrhea for one or two days, this is called acute diarrhea. It may or may not be a sign of a serious health condition. If you have loose and watery diarrhea for more than four weeks, this is chronic diarrhea. See a healthcare professional.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea can have many causes. Identifying its cause can only come after all symptoms have been evaluated. An experienced FastMed healthcare provider can help you find out the reason for diarrhea, and suggest treatment options. Diarrhea causes below are not comprehensive.

Food or water contaminated with bacteria: This is not a pleasant condition, but is usually not too serious. Visit a healthcare provider if you become concerned.

Viruses: A variety of viruses can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea itself is usually not too serious, but it depends on the severity of other symptoms.

Parasites: It is possible to get parasites in your digestive system from contaminated food and water, which cause diarrhea.

Diseases and conditions that affect the digestive system: This could include colon cancer or Crohn’s disease. Many serious conditions are associated with diarrhea. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned.

Food intolerances: Lactose intolerance is a common condition that causes diarrhea. Symptoms will usually go away if the food is avoided.

Medications: Many over-the-counter and prescription medications can cause diarrhea. If this is a recurring problem, alert your healthcare provider.

Can the color indicate a serious problem?

Even if you are experiencing diarrhea without other symptoms, you should look for signs of a more serious problem. The color of the diarrhea can indicate trouble. Yellow, black, bright red, light-colored, and green diarrhea can indicate serious health problems. Alternatively, they may look that way from a food you ate or medication you are using. Talk to your healthcare provider if your diarrhea is an unusual color.

How to stop diarrhea

Diarrhea treatment may not be necessary for it to go away. But there are many over-the-counter and prescription diarrhea medicines available. After determining the cause, your provider may prescribe medicine for diarrhea, or another treatment. If you are wondering how to treat your diarrhea, a FastMed healthcare professional can help.

How to get rid of diarrhea

Experiencing diarrhea is not pleasant, and you may have other symptoms that are a cause for concern. FastMed’s health professionals can see you right away to identify your symptoms and provide treatment suggestions that will help you get rid of diarrhea. We will also check to see if your diarrhea is a sign of another, more serious, condition.