Vomiting can have many different causes. Most people know it as a symptom of a gastrointestinal infection. But besides an infection, vomiting can also have other causes.
One example is vomiting due to stress. These are usually situations of extreme tension in which vomiting can occur. Almost everyone knows the typical unpleasant feeling in the stomach area in such a situation. Vomiting due to stress follows the same mechanism. Not only situations of great tension, but also lighter stress over a longer period of time can strike the stomach.
Causes
As part of the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach has its own nervous system. This so-called enteric nervous system consists of millions of nerve cells, which are mainly responsible for the regulation of intestinal activity. The brain can influence the enteric nervous system via hormones or direct connections.
In this way, the intestinal activity is adapted to the external circumstances. In stressful situations one is under great pressure. The body assumes to be in a dangerous situation.
Nowadays, this can be an examination or an unpleasant appointment. However, just several thousand years ago, this could be a danger to life and limb. Due to the perceived danger situation, the body falls back on mechanisms from that time.
Since the digestion is not of great benefit for survival in dangerous situations for a short time, it is downregulated. Thousands of years ago this was a sensible reaction to be able to spend more energy for fight or flight. It initially manifests itself as a feeling of discomfort or mild nausea. Proverbially this is also called a bad gut feeling.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of vomiting due to stress is not easy to make. Other causes of vomiting must be excluded. These include gastro-intestinal infections but also rarer diseases such as oesophageal disorders or migraines.
The time of vomiting is an important differentiating factor. Vomiting typically occurs due to stress in situations of extreme tension. However, in some cases such tension cannot be consciously perceived.
If a single vomiting occurs under very high stress, this can still be a normal reaction of the body. A medical checkup should be made especially for frequent or very strong vomiting. Accompanying symptoms such as dizziness, ringing in the ears, diarrhoea, indisposition or visual disturbances can also be an important indication of the cause of the vomiting. If no further vomiting occurs after stress reduction, this can be another important indication of vomiting due to stress.
