Nausea & Vomiting Causes
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Gastritis
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Nausea and vomiting have many possible causes. Among the most common is acute gastritis. This is not so much a disease as it is a series of symptoms in which the thick layer of mucous coating the stomach has thinned. This results in widespread gastric inflammation, belching, feelings of fullness in the upper abdomen, nausea and frequent vomiting. Gastritis can be caused by frequent alcohol consumption, which disrupts this mucous layer. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen prevent this mucous layer from renewing itself by inhibiting the secretion of the stomach enzyme cyclooxygenase-1. Also, pernicious anemia, a condition in which the body is not readily able to absorb the vital nutrient B-12, results in a drastic thinning of this stomach lining. Finally, H. pylori, the bacterium believed to cause peptic ulcers, is known to infect and inflame the stomach lining.
Neural Causes
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Conflicting signals from the brain have been known to cause nausea and vomiting. Infections that create excess pressure in the labyrinth of the inner ear affect one's sense of balance. This combined with conflicting information sent from the eyes concerning the orientation of a person's surroundings can generate nausea and vomiting. Head injuries, impacts, concussions or anything similar can increase intracranial pressure as the brain swells. The body attempts to compensate for this swelling by decreasing the body's water/electrolyte content. The quickest way to expedite this is to vomit. Vasovagal episodes are moments of extreme discomfort caused by the sudden activation of the vagus nerve. They can have all sorts of triggers: sounds, smells, sensations, stress, pain, etc. In the midst of one, the body experiences something akin to the fight or flight reflex: sweating, tachycardia, urination, bowel movements, nausea, vomiting and feelings of extreme panic. While the cause is not known, it's believed to be related to a defect in the autonomic nervous system.
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Illness Associations
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Nausea and vomiting can be related to many forms of illness. Some, such as the flu or food poisoning, are self explanatory. The body is trying to prevent the consumption of any possible pathogens by every means necessary. Other illnesses don't have such an obvious link. Diabetes can often result in a secondary disorder known as gastroparesis. Nerve damage prevents the stomach from emptying itself properly and any material still in the stomach is left to sit until it's regurgitated. Likewise, any disease affecting the pancreas, gallbladder, liver and kidneys often cause nausea and vomiting; hepatitis is a prime example. This is because the body is not able to break down toxins and unnecessary compounds in the food consumed, and so forces itself to vomit as a way to prevent a build-up of said toxins.
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