BODY SIGNAL ALERT VOMITING: DESCRIPTION AND POSSIBLE MEDICAL PROBLEMS
In this chapter, there are a lot of symptoms and illnesses that are not suited to polite conversation. Vomiting is one of them. But the fact is that you need to evaluate the symptoms that accompany vomiting in order to know if you should contact your doctor or just rest until you start to feel better.
Though vomiting is most often the result of eating a food that doesn’t agree with you, or dizziness or nausea, it may also occur because you’re nervous or anxious about, say, an upcoming speech you have to give, or you’re facing another big event.
If, however, you continue to vomit and a particular food or dizziness is not the cause, you should see your doctor. When vomiting continues, it could be a sign of gallbladder disease, an ulcer, a gynecological problem, or a bowel obstruction.
If you have been vomiting, ask yourself the following:
1. Is there blood in the vomit?
2. Is the vomit foul-smelling? Does it resemble coffee grounds in its appearance?
3. Do I have a fever?
4. Am I frequently nauseous?
5. Have I been anxious or upset lately?
6. Have I started chemotherapy or a new medication recently?
7. Do I get motion sickness?
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