Vomiting can be caused by gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, nervous system disorders, systemic diseases, structural abnormalities, inflammation, brain and nervous system diseases, endocrinological disorders, psychiatric illness, and medication side effects. Patients should discuss their condition with a doctor.
There are many different reasons for throwing up. Most people consider gastrointestinal tract dysfunction to be one of the main sources of nausea and vomiting, and indeed, many diseases of these organs can cause this symptom. However, nervous system disorders can also cause vomiting. Systemic diseases or conditions, including pregnancy and endocrinological disorders, are also causes of vomiting. Because there are so many causes of vomiting, some of which may be linked to serious illnesses, patients with this symptom should discuss their condition with a doctor.
Abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract explain some of the reasons for vomiting. Many infections, including gastritis, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, and colitis, can cause vomiting. Other causes are structural abnormalities of the gastrointestinal system, including esophageal strictures, gastric outlet obstruction, small bowel obstruction, and large bowel obstruction. Vomiting can also be due to inflammation of certain organs in the gastrointestinal tract, including the gallbladder, pancreas, or liver.
Diseases affecting the brain and nervous system of the body can also be reasons for vomiting. For example, it can be caused by an increase in pressure within the brain, due to a tumor or an infection. Classically, this pressure causes projectile vomiting that is most severe in the early morning. Infections of the brain, such as encephalitis or meningitis, can also cause vomiting even if they don’t affect intracranial pressure. Other neurological conditions associated with vomiting, including inner ear problems, migraines and motion sickness.
Some systemic conditions can also be a reason for vomiting. Pregnancy is classically associated with morning sickness, which causes recurrent vomiting in women, and is thought to be due to the hormonal changes associated with having a baby. Endocrinological disorders such as hyperthyroidism and adrenal insufficiency can produce this symptom. Many infections that affect the whole body can cause nausea and vomiting.
Another class of reasons for vomiting is psychiatric illness. Bulimia, for example, is a psychiatric disorder in which patients engage in “purging” behaviors, in which they throw up food after eating it in hopes of controlling their weight. This is a serious condition that can lead to malnutrition, damage to the esophagus, seizures and heart problems. Another condition called cyclic vomiting syndrome causes patients to have recurrent episodes of intractable vomiting. These episodes severely limit the patients ability to continue with their daily activities.
A number of medications can cause nausea and vomiting as side effects, making taking these medications another reason for vomiting. In this category, many people are familiar with chemotherapy regimens used to treat cancer as a type of therapy strongly associated with nausea and vomiting. Other medications, such as antibiotics and pain relievers, can also commonly cause this as a side effect.
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