Nausea

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Nausea is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit.[1] It may precede vomiting, but a person can have nausea without vomiting. When prolonged, it is a debilitating symptom.[2]

Nausea is a relatively common symptom experienced by patients with ME/CFS. It can range from mild to severe and can be relapsing or constant.

Prevalence[edit | edit source]

Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 60-90% for nausea (as well as a wider prevalence of 50-90% for IBS symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, gas, and abdominal pain).[3]

Symptom recognition[edit | edit source]

Although nausea is not listed as a symptom necessary for diagnosis in any of the current case definitions, it is frequently listed as a secondary symptom in information for patients and physicians.[4][5]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

Possible causes[edit | edit source]

Possible causes of nausea in ME/CFS patients include orthostatic intolerance,[6] gut inflammation,[7] and slower gastric motility.[8]

Severe nausea may be caused by the digestive motility disorder, gastroparesis, that can be a co-morbid condition with ME/CFS.

Gastroparesis is a neuromuscular abnormality that causes delayed gastric emptying which, in turn, causes a premature full feeling while eating, bloating, nausea, acid reflux, regurgitation, belching, and occasional vomiting.[8]

Nausea may be caused by a comorbidity such as celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (gluten intolerance).

Potential treatments[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Metz, A; Hebbard, G (September 2007), "Nausea and vomiting in adults--a diagnostic approach", Aust Fam Physician, 36 (9): 668–692, PMID 17885699
  2. "Nausea: Check Your Symptoms and Signs". MedicineNet. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  3. Berne, Katrina (December 1, 1995). Running on Empty: The Complete Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) (2nd ed.). Hunter House. p. 58. ISBN 978-0897931915.
  4. "Think You Might Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Here are The Symptoms". WebMD. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  5. http://www.openmedicinefoundation.org/what-is-mecfs/
  6. http://www.ncf-net.org/library/orthostaticreview.htm
  7. Lakhan, S.E., & Kirchgessner, A. (2010). Gut inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome. Nutrition & Metabolism, 7, 79. http://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-7-79
  8. 8.0 8.1 http://www.digestivedistress.com/sites/default/files/pdf/ibs.pdf