PRACTICAL HEALTH · SYMPTOMS
🤢 Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can accompany many illnesses. Hydration and warning signs are especially important.
What should you notice?
- How often vomiting occurs and how long it has lasted.
- Ability to keep fluids down.
- Blood, coffee-ground material or green vomit.
- Severe abdominal pain or severe headache.
- Signs of dehydration such as little urine, dark urine, dry mouth or dizziness.
Possible causes
These are examples, not a diagnosis. The same symptom can have many different causes.
- Gastrointestinal infections.
- Food-related illness.
- Migraine.
- Medication effects.
- Many digestive, neurologic, metabolic and other causes.
What can you do initially?
- Take small amounts of fluid frequently if tolerated.
- Monitor urine output and dehydration symptoms.
- Seek medical assessment if vomiting persists or fluids cannot be kept down.
🚨 Warning signs
- Blood or coffee-ground material in vomit.
- Severe abdominal pain or a new severe headache.
- Confusion, high fever with stiff neck or chest pain.
- Significant dehydration.
- Green vomit or rapid deterioration.
If you believe the situation is life-threatening, call 911 in the United States.
Medical sources
Medical review: September 2026.
Educational information: This page provides general health information. It does not establish a diagnosis, prescribe treatment or replace evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.