Dizziness is the condition in which one feels lightheaded or faint, with everything around appearing to be spinning. It is generally caused due to high or low blood pressure, anemia, dehydration, heat stroke, heart or brain-health problems or vertigo. Vomiting on the other hand is a condition in which one throws up the contents of the stomach through the mouth. It is generally caused due to a gastrointestinal illness like food poisoning or flu. There are times when both these conditions, occur simultaneously. Going through one is uncomfortable enough, not to mention being troubled by both.
Causes of Vomiting and Dizziness
There are several medical conditions in which these two symptoms; vomiting and dizziness are seen occurring together. They are as follows:
Several people experience motion sickness while aboard a ship or riding in a bus, car, etc. The constant motion causes their sense of balance and equilibrium to be disturbed, thereby resulting in a feeling of dizziness and nausea. Vomiting follows. Air hostess are often giving instructions to flight passengers, to use the brown bags provided if they feel nauseous. Dizziness and vomiting-like symptoms of motion sickness occur when conflicting messages are sent to the brain. This confusion and conflict results in these symptoms.
Dizziness and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy, is commonly seen in most women. Dizziness may be a sign of low blood pressure. Moreover, when a pregnant woman stands up quickly, the sudden standing-up movement causes drop in blood pressure (postural hypotension), resulting in a feeling of lightheadedness. Standing in hot stuffy rooms and crowded places also results in overheating of the body and conduces to dizziness and nausea. As the uterus expands in the second trimester, it applies pressure on the blood vessels, which again spearheads dizziness. The high level of hormones in the body during pregnancy is believed to cause nausea and vomiting.
This anxiety disorder is believed to involve fear of public places, crowds, crossing bridges and open spaces. This phobia typically affects women in early adulthood. The sufferer gets anxious in unfamiliar environment or places where she feels very little control is in her hands. This condition leaves her feeling trapped in a situation, or surrounding and she begins to panic. Dizziness, vomiting, abdominal distress, excessive sweating, etc. are some of the symptoms of agoraphobia. Dizziness may also cause the person to lose balance or fall unconscious in extreme cases.
This disorder involves inflammation and irritation of the inner ear. The irritation and swelling conduces to dysfunctional ear, wherein the ability of the inner ear to maintain balance is disturbed. Thus, a person feels nauseous and giddy. Besides these symptoms, the person may also encounter hearing loss and tinnitus.
Taking more than the required amounts of caffeine results in caffeine overdose. Soft drinks, chocolates, coffee, certain teas usually contain small amounts of caffeine and usually do not end up in overdose cases. However, over-the-counter stimulants that help a person stay mentally active, when taken in excess, result in caffeine overdose that conduces to symptoms like breathing problems, muscle twitching, increased heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, tremors and even shock. Dizziness is caused because the stimulant caffeine reduces the amount of blood flow to the brain.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide, the odorless gas emitted from automobiles or anything that burns gasoline, wood, coal, etc. is a reason for causing thousands of deaths every year in North America. This dangerous gas when inhaled replaces the oxygen molecules in the red blood cells of the blood stream. They also prevent oxygen from entering the blood, thereby depriving vital organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, etc. of oxygen supply. Mostly children and elderly folks, are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and results in dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, shock, nausea, vomiting or unconsciousness. It is important to identify these symptoms quickly and move away from the source of carbon monoxide.
The uterus is lined with a tissue layer called endometrium, whose actual function comes into play, when a woman conceives. The rest of the time, the uterus gets rid of the endometrium every month, during the menstrual cycle. However, when the endometrium begins to grow outside the uterus, such as fallopian tubes, ovaries and other regions in the pelvic cavity, the person is said to suffer from endometriosis. The symptoms of this condition are dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, vomiting, etc. are seen to occur. Heavy blood flow during menstruation is what is mostly responsible for dizziness.
Dizziness and vomiting appear together in many other medical conditions like endometriosis, Meniere's disease, panic disorders, peptic ulcers, flu, hyperemesis gravidarum, etc. Though vomiting and dizziness are not grave situations, they can be indicators of something deleterious. So, if at all these symptoms are accompanied by fever, head injury, blurred vision, shortness of breath or chest pain, one should consult the doctor immediately.