Nausea and vomiting may occur separately or together. Common causes include:

  1. Chemotherapy
  2. Gastroparesis (a condition in which the muscles of the stomach wall don't function properly, interfering with digestion)
  3. General anesthesia
  4. Intestinal obstruction — when something blocks food or liquid from moving through the small or large intestine.
  5. Migraine
  6. Morning sickness
  7. Motion sickness: First aid
  8. Rotavirus or infections caused by other viruses.
  9. Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
  10. Vestibular neuritis

Other possible causes of nausea and vomiting include:

  1. Acute liver failure
  2. Alcohol use disorder
  3. Anaphylaxis
  4. Anorexia nervosa
  5. Appendicitis — when the appendix becomes inflamed.
  6. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  7. Brain tumor
  8. Bulimia nervosa
  9. Cannabis (marijuana) use
  10. Cholecystitis
  11. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  12. Crohn's disease — which causes tissues in the digestive tract to become inflamed.
  13. Cyclic vomiting syndrome
  14. Depression (major depressive disorder)
  15. Diabetic ketoacidosis (in which the body has high levels of blood acids called ketones)
  16. Dizziness
  17. Ear infection (middle ear)
  18. Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
  19. Fever
  20. Food allergy (for example, cow's milk, soy or eggs)
  21. Food poisoning
  22. Gallstones
  23. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  24. Generalized anxiety disorder
  25. Heart attack
  26. Heart failure — a condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood as well as it should.
  27. Hepatitis
  28. Hiatal hernia
  29. Hydrocephalus
  30. Hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid)
  31. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) also known as overactive thyroid.
  32. Hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid)
  33. Intestinal ischemia
  34. Intestinal obstruction — when something blocks food or liquid from moving through the small or large intestine.
  35. Intracranial hematoma
  36. Intussusception (in children)
  37. Irritable bowel syndrome — a group of symptoms that affect the stomach and intestines.
  38. Medications (including aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, oral contraceptives, digitalis, narcotics and antibiotics)
  39. Meniere's disease
  40. Meningitis
  41. Pancreatic cancer
  42. Pancreatitis
  43. Peptic ulcer
  44. Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
  45. Pyloric stenosis (in infants)
  46. Radiation therapy
  47. Severe pain
  48. Toxic hepatitis

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Dec. 07, 2023

See also

  1. Acute coronary syndrome
  2. Acute kidney injury
  3. Acute liver failure
  4. Addison's disease
  5. Adrenal fatigue: What causes it?
  6. Airplane ear
  7. Alcohol intolerance
  8. Alcohol poisoning
  9. Alcohol use disorder
  10. Alcoholic hepatitis
  11. Allergies
  12. Allergy medications: Know your options
  13. Allergy-proof your home
  14. Alpha-gal syndrome
  15. Amniotic fluid embolism
  16. Anaphylaxis
  17. Anaphylaxis: First aid
  18. Aneurysm Surgery
  19. Aneurysms
  20. Angina
  21. Anthrax
  22. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
  23. Appendicitis
  24. Ascariasis
  25. Aspirin allergy
  26. Autoimmune hepatitis
  27. Beating Ovarian Cancer
  28. Bee sting
  29. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  30. Bile reflux
  31. Bird flu (avian influenza)
  32. Blastocystis hominis
  33. Botulism
  34. Brain aneurysm
  35. Brain tumor
  36. Brain Tumor
  37. What is a brain tumor? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  38. Brain tumor FAQs
  39. How kidneys work
  40. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
  41. C. difficile infection
  42. CA 125 test: A screening test for ovarian cancer?
  43. Calcium supplements: A risk factor for heart attack?
  44. COVID-19 and vitamin D
  45. Carbon monoxide poisoning
  46. Carcinoid tumors
  47. Cardiac asthma: What causes it?
  48. Cardiogenic shock
  49. Castleman disease
  50. Celiac disease
  51. Chagas disease
  52. Chest pain
  53. Cholecystitis
  54. Cholera
  55. Choroid plexus carcinoma
  56. Chronic daily headaches
  57. Chronic granulomatous disease
  58. Chronic kidney disease
  59. Chronic kidney disease: Is a clinical trial right for me?
  60. Chronic sinusitis
  61. Churg-Strauss syndrome
  62. Cirrhosis
  63. What is cirrhosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  64. Cirrhosis FAQs
  65. Colon polyps
  66. Concussion
  67. Concussion in children
  68. Concussion Recovery
  69. Concussion Telemedicine
  70. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  71. Constipation in children
  72. Coronary artery spasm: Cause for concern?
  73. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  74. COVID-19: How can I protect myself?
  75. Herd immunity and coronavirus
  76. COVID-19 and pets
  77. COVID-19 and your mental health
  78. COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu
  79. COVID-19 drugs: Are there any that work?
  80. COVID-19 in babies and children
  81. Coronavirus infection by race
  82. COVID-19 travel advice
  83. COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know
  84. COVID-19 vaccines
  85. COVID-19 variant
  86. COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences
  87. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  88. Craniopharyngioma
  89. CSF leak (Cerebrospinal fluid leak)
  90. Cyclic vomiting syndrome
  91. Debunking coronavirus myths
  92. Dengue fever
  93. Diabetes insipidus
  94. Diabetic coma
  95. Diabetic Gastroparesis
  96. Diabetic ketoacidosis
  97. Diabetic neuropathy
  98. Diabetic neuropathy and dietary supplements
  99. Types of diabetic neuropathy
  100. Different COVID-19 vaccines
  101. Digestion: How long does it take?
  102. Diverticulitis
  103. Drinking after hepatitis C cure: Is it safe?
  104. Drug allergy
  105. Dumping syndrome
  106. Dysphagia
  107. E. coli
  108. Ear infection (middle ear)
  109. Eating right for chronic kidney disease
  110. Ectopic pregnancy
  111. Egg allergy
  112. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis
  113. Encephalitis
  114. Endometriosis
  115. What is endometriosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  116. Endometriosis FAQs
  117. Enlarged liver
  118. Eosinophilic esophagitis
  119. Esophagitis
  120. Exercise headaches
  121. Fainting during urination (micturition syncope): What causes it?
  122. Fight coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission at home
  123. Flu masks
  124. Flu Shot Prevents Heart Attack
  125. Flu vaccine: Safe for people with egg allergy?
  126. Food allergy
  127. Food allergy or intolerance?
  128. Food poisoning
  129. Functional dyspepsia
  130. Gallbladder cancer
  131. Gallbladder polyps: Can they be cancerous?
  132. Gastritis
  133. Gastroparesis
  134. Giardia infection (giardiasis)
  135. Glaucoma
  136. Glioblastoma
  137. Glioma
  138. Guide to different tick species and the diseases they carry
  139. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
  140. H1N1 flu (swine flu)
  141. Hangovers
  142. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
  143. Headache and Migraine
  144. Headaches and hormones
  145. Headaches in children
  146. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  147. Heart attack
  148. Heart attack prevention: Should I avoid secondhand smoke?
  149. Heart attack symptoms
  150. Heart Attack Timing
  151. Heart failure
  152. Heart failure and sex: Is it safe?
  153. Heat exhaustion
  154. Heatstroke
  155. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
  156. Hemophilia
  157. Henoch-Schonlein purpura
  158. Hepatitis A
  159. Hepatitis B
  160. Hepatitis C
  161. Hepatitis C: How common is sexual transmission?
  162. Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?
  163. Hidden Heart Attack
  164. Hirschsprung's disease
  165. Holiday Heart
  166. How do COVID-19 antibody tests differ from diagnostic tests?
  167. How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?
  168. Hydrocele
  169. Hypercalcemia
  170. Hyperglycemia in diabetes
  171. Hyponatremia
  172. Indigestion
  173. Infant reflux
  174. Intestinal ischemia
  175. Intestinal obstruction
  176. Intracranial hematoma
  177. Intussusception
  178. Is hydroxychloroquine a treatment for COVID-19?
  179. Jellyfish stings
  180. Kawasaki disease
  181. What is kidney disease? An expert explains
  182. Kidney disease FAQs
  183. Kidney stones
  184. Krabbe disease
  185. Lactose intolerance
  186. Lead poisoning
  187. Legionnaires' disease
  188. Listeria infection
  189. Liver cancer
  190. Liver Cancer
  191. What is liver cancer? An expert explains
  192. Liver cancer FAQs
  193. Liver cysts: A cause of stomach pain?
  194. Liver disease
  195. Liver Diseases
  196. Liver hemangioma
  197. Living with Brain Tumors
  198. Long-term effects of COVID-19
  199. Long Term Brain Cancer Survivor
  200. Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  201. Low blood sodium in older adults: A concern?
  202. Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease?
  203. Malaria
  204. Managing Headaches
  205. Managing Meningitis
  206. Marathon and the Heat
  207. Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoiding summer E. coli infection
  208. Mayo Clinic Minute: What you need to know about polyps in your colon
  209. Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong
  210. Mayo Clinic Minute: How dirty are common surfaces?
  211. Mayo Clinic Minute: Meningitis 101 for college students
  212. Mayo Clinic Minute: Prevent migraines with magnetic stimulation
  213. Mayo Clinic Minute: Weathering migraines
  214. Mayo Clinic Minute: What is an aneurysm?
  215. MCAD deficiency
  216. Measles Virus as a Cancer Fighter
  217. Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)
  218. Meningitis
  219. Menstrual cramps
  220. Mesenteric lymphadenitis
  221. Migraine
  222. What is a migraine? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  223. Migraine medicines and antidepressants
  224. Migraine FAQs
  225. Migraine treatment: Can antidepressants help?
  226. Migraines and gastrointestinal problems: Is there a link?
  227. Migraines and Vertigo
  228. Migraines: Are they triggered by weather changes?
  229. Alleviating migraine pain
  230. Milk allergy
  231. Molar pregnancy
  232. Morning sickness
  233. MRI: Is gadolinium safe for people with kidney problems?
  234. Multiple myeloma
  235. Infographic: Multiple Myeloma
  236. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
  237. Myocardial ischemia
  238. Nasal Cleaning
  239. New Hep C Treatment
  240. New Test for Preeclampsia
  241. New Way to Fix Aneurysms
  242. Nighttime headaches: Relief
  243. Nighttime panic attacks: What causes them?
  244. Norovirus infection
  245. NSAIDs: Do they increase my risk of heart attack and stroke?
  246. He's the bravest kid I've ever seen
  247. Occipital nerve stimulation: Effective migraine treatment?
  248. Ocular migraine: When to seek help
  249. Orchitis
  250. Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)
  251. Ovarian cancer
  252. Ovarian cancer: Still possible after hysterectomy?
  253. Ovarian cysts
  254. Ovarian cysts and infertility: A connection?
  255. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
  256. Pacemaker and ICDs
  257. Pain Management
  258. Pancreatic cysts
  259. Pancreatitis
  260. Panic attacks and panic disorder
  261. Pap test: Can it detect ovarian cancer?
  262. Parvovirus infection
  263. Peanut allergy
  264. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  265. Peptic ulcer
  266. Peritonitis
  267. Pinworm infection
  268. Pituitary tumors
  269. Plague
  270. Polio
  271. Polymorphous light eruption
  272. Porphyria
  273. Postpartum preeclampsia
  274. Preeclampsia
  275. Pregnancy and COVID-19
  276. Preventing Kidney Stones
  277. Pseudomembranous colitis
  278. Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
  279. Punk Guitarist Survives Brain Tumor
  280. Pyloric stenosis
  281. Radiation sickness
  282. Recurrent breast cancer
  283. Recurring strep throat: When is tonsillectomy useful?
  284. Renal diet for vegetarians
  285. Reye's syndrome
  286. Rhabdomyolysis
  287. Rotavirus
  288. Ruptured eardrum (perforated eardrum)
  289. Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic
  290. Safety tips for attending school during COVID-19
  291. Salmonella infection
  292. Salt craving: A symptom of Addison's disease?
  293. SCAD 2 Social Media as a Lifesaving Link
  294. Scarlet fever
  295. Scrotal masses
  296. Self-care for the flu
  297. Sex and COVID-19
  298. Shaken baby syndrome
  299. Shellfish allergy
  300. Silent heart attack
  301. Small bowel obstruction
  302. Smallpox
  303. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
  304. Spider bites
  305. Spinal headaches
  306. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
  307. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
  308. Staph infections
  309. Stomach cancer
  310. What is stomach cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  311. Stomach cancer FAQs
  312. Strep throat
  313. Strep throat in young children: A common diagnosis?
  314. Sudden cardiac arrest
  315. Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed
  316. Sulfa allergy
  317. Swallowing gum: Is it harmful?
  318. Symptom Checker
  319. Tapeworm infection
  320. Testicular torsion
  321. Thunderclap headaches
  322. Toxic hepatitis
  323. Toxic shock syndrome
  324. Transplants
  325. Traumatic brain injury
  326. Traumatic Brain Injury
  327. Traveler's diarrhea
  328. Treating COVID-19 at home
  329. Unusual symptoms of coronavirus
  330. Vascular rings
  331. Vasovagal syncope
  332. Ventricular fibrillation
  333. Vertigo
  334. Heart failure action plan
  335. What's the difference between H1N1 flu and influenza A?
  336. Wheat allergy
  337. Whooping cough
  338. Whooping cough
  339. Why isn't there a hepatitis C vaccine?
  340. Wilson's disease
  341. Fecal transplant treatment of C. difficile at Mayo Clinic
  342. Mayo Clinic study reporting increased incidence of C. difficile infection
  343. Effectively managing chronic kidney disease
  344. Mayo Clinic Research Finds Risk of Glaucoma Blindness Drops by Half
  345. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome