The key difference between nausea and fatigue is that nausea is a term that describes a feeling of discomfort in the stomach or a need to vomit, while fatigue is a term that describes a feeling of tiredness or sluggishness.
Nausea and fatigue are two common symptoms that normally occur together. They are the common symptoms of an upset stomach or fever. Both nausea and fatigue occur one after the other or together, yet they are different in nature. In some instances, these two symptoms may develop as a result of lifestyle factors such as poor diet or sleep, stress, and lack of exercise. In other instances, they may be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires immediate treatment as they may lead to dire consequences.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Nausea
3. What is Fatigue
4. Similarities – Nausea and Fatigue
5. Nausea vs Fatigue in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Nausea vs Fatigue
What is Nausea?
Nausea is a term that describes an uneasy feeling in the stomach, usually the need to vomit. The symptoms of nausea may include the urge to vomit, weakness, sweating, and a build-up of saliva in the mouth. The two most common causes of nausea and vomiting are stomach flu and food poisoning. The other common causes include early stages of pregnancy, seasickness and other forms of motion sickness, severe pain, being exposed to chemical toxins, emotional stress such as fear, gallbladder disease, indigestion, particular smells, certain medications, and general anesthesia. Pregnant women and patients who undergo cancer treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy have an increased risk of nausea and vomiting.
Nausea can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, blood test, urine test, or pregnancy test. Furthermore, the treatment options for nausea may include getting rest, staying dehydrated, steering clear of strong odours, avoiding other triggers (stuffy rooms, heat humidity, flickering lights), eating bland food, avoiding fatty or spicy foods, medicines (dimenhydrinate, meclizine, chewable or liquid antacids, bismuth sub salicylate, a solution of glucose, fructose and phosphoric acid), and alternative medicine (acupressure).
What is Fatigue?
Fatigue is a term that describes a lack of energy or a feeling of tiredness or sluggishness. The common symptoms of fatigue include aching or sore muscles, apathy, lack of motivation, daytime drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, gastrointestinal problems (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea), headache, irritability or moodiness, slowed response time, and vision problems such as blurriness. The causes of fatigue include
- Mental health issues (stress, bereavement and grief, eating disorders, anxiety)
- Endocrine and metabolic reasons (Cushing’s syndrome, kidney disease, electrolyte problems, diabetes)
- Drugs and medications (some antidepressants, anxiety medications, antihypertensives, statins, steroids)
- Heart and lung conditions (pneumonia, arrhythmias, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Sleep problems (working late, working shifts, jet lag, sleep apnea)
- Chemical and substances (vitamin deficiencies, mineral deficiencies)
- Medical conditions (anemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease)
- Chronic pain
- Being overweight
- Too much or little activity
Moreover, the diagnosis of fatigue can be made through physical examination, sleep tests, urine tests, imaging scans, mental health questionnaires, and blood tests. The treatments for fatigue may include getting good quality sleep, maintaining a moderate and well-balanced diet, getting regular physical activity, drinking enough fluid to stay hydrated, avoiding known stressors, avoiding work or social schedule that is overly demanding, yoga and mindfulness, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit drugs.
What are the Similarities Between Nausea and Fatigue?
- Nausea and fatigue are two common symptoms that normally occur together.
- They are the common symptoms of an upset stomach or fever.
- Both nausea and fatigue can be diagnosed through physical examination.
- They can be easily treated through medications or lifestyle changes.
What is the Difference Between Nausea and Fatigue?
Nausea is a feeling of discomfort in the stomach or a need to vomit, while fatigue is a feeling of tiredness or sluggishness. This is the key difference between nausea and fatigue. Nausea can be caused by food poisoning, medications, chemotherapy, viral and bacterial intestinal infections, etc., while fatigue can be caused by anxiety, stress, insomnia, jet lag, low blood sugar level, autoimmune diseases, etc.
The following table summarizes the difference between nausea and fatigue.
Summary – Nausea vs Fatigue
Nausea and fatigue are common symptoms that occur one after the other or together, yet they are different symptoms. Nausea describes a feeling of discomfort in the stomach or a need to vomit, while fatigue describes a feeling of tiredness or sluggishness. This is the key difference between nausea and fatigue.
Reference:
1. Derrow, Paula, et al. “What Is Nausea? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.” EverydayHealth.com.
2. O’Connell, Krista. “Fatigue: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & More.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Depiction of a person suffering from Gastritis” By Myupchar.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019” By Mikael Häggström, M.D.- Author info- Reusing images- Conflicts of interest:NoneMikael Häggström – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia