It is crucial to seek immediate medical care even if you feel fine after a car wreck because it may be too late if you cough up blood. Read on to learn about nausea and vomiting causes risks and underlying injury.
Possible Underlying Cause Of Nausea and Vomiting After a Car Accident
Don’t wonder if nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms do not reveal immediately after a car accident. Most car accident victims feel fine after a car accident. This is because the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and endorphins in a traumatic situation. The biochemical reactions raise alertness, help the body respond to a fight-or-flight situation, and temporarily mask the pain from internal injuries. Once the biochemical response subsides, pain and accompanying symptoms from serious injuries can kick in.
Here are potential causes of nausea and vomiting after an auto accident:
Anxiety
It is normal to feel anxious in a stressful situation. An acid build-up in your stomach makes you nauseous and throw up.
Concussions
When you hit your head in a car crash and experience nausea and vomiting, it may be a sign of concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.
Damage to the digestive system
The abdominal region may get injured in a car accident. Nausea, vomiting, stomach bloating, and diarrhea are symptoms of stomach injury. They are signs of serious injury in the digestive system.
Damage to soft tissues
Have you heard about sprains, strains, and contusions? These are acute injuries to soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments caused by a blow to the body. The pain is so unbearable it makes the victim nauseous and vomit.
Fractures or broken limbs
The pain from fractures like broken bones and limbs is too tough to handle. Nausea and vomiting are the body’s reactions to high-level pain.
Internal bleeding
A traumatic force on the body may cause hemorrhage or internal bleeding of the organs. This life-threatening severe injury is not visible to the naked eye but shows symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
Traumatic brain injuries
A violent impact to the head in a car accident may cause the brain to twist or move around and hit the sides of the skull. The symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include nausea, vomiting, headache, slurred speech, loss of motor coordination, confusion, convulsion, and fatigue.
Whiplash
A sudden jolt in a car crash makes the upper body move back and forth in a whiplash motion. The lack of circulation in a whiplash affects the inner ear and head, causing nausea and vomiting.
Common Car Accident Injuries Sustained
Minor injuries sustained in a car crash may not be life-threatening, but they still have a lasting impact.
The usual car accident injuries that need immediate medical attention include: