Is Vomiting a Symptom of COVID-19? Here's What Doctors Say

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are pretty much what you’d expect from a respiratory disease: fever, persistent cough, fatigue, and muscle pain. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people with COVID-19 experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea—sometimes even before developing the respiratory tract symptoms. 

"COVID-19 can present in many ways. I have seen patients who only have symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, but they usually also have a fever," Jorge Vournas, MD, medical director of the Emergency Department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centerin Torrance, California, tells Health.

Anecdotally, vomiting has been linked to COVID-19. In March, 22-year-old Amy Shircel from Madison, Wisconsin, began detailing her COVID-19 symptoms in a series of tweets. "I'm 22 and I tested positive for COVID-19. Take it from me - you do NOT want to catch this," she wrote. Shircel shared that the first few days of her illness were manageable, with a mild cough, headache, chills, and a runny nose. Because she had just visited Europe recently, her state allowed her to get tested for COVID-19 with minor symptoms. But things progressed on the third day. "I couldn't keep anything down. I was vomiting constantly. I couldn't sleep, I obviously couldn't eat," she wrote. The next day, she received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. She detailed her symptoms through day 12 of her illness—after being hospitalized for dehydration—and still had "all the major symptoms" even then, but is apparently recovered now.

Shircel's not the only one: In an opinion piece for The New York Times, writer Abigail Tarttelin detailed her experience with what she thinks was the coronavirus and the symptoms that accompanied it. "Here's what happened to me," she wrote. "On the morning of Friday, March 6, I woke up with a mild sore throat and, to put it delicately, digestive issues." Just four days later, she came down with what seemed like norovirus. "Profuse vomiting. I spent the day alternating between the couch and the bathroom, feeling sorry for myself," she wrote. Days after that, she developed a cough, muscle aches, and lung pain—and though she never got tested for COVID-19, she believes it's what caused her symptoms.

Research, too, has found gastrointestinal issues, including nausea and vomiting, to be symptoms of COVID-19, in addition to other respiratory symptoms. Some of the earliest research on gastrointestinal issues as related to COVID-19 came from China, and was published in the BMJ's Gut in March. Study authors from Zhejiang University found that, among 651 patients admitted to hospitals in China's Zhejiang province between January 17 and February 8, 74 patients—or 11.4%—presented with at least one gastrointestinal symptom of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

 Other research from Beijing, published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics in May, analyzed all COVID-19 clinical studies and case reports relating to digestive issues published between December 2019 and February 2020. Researchers found that 3.6% to 15.9% of adults with COVID-19 experienced vomiting, along with other gastrointestinal issues like loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, and even gastrointestinal bleeding. The study also uncovered that vomiting was more common in children with COVID-19 than adults, with 6.5% to 66.7% of infected children presenting with the symptom.

And sometimes, vomiting and other gastrointestinal issue were the only sign of a COVID-19 infection, or a precursor to the infection. According to research published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology in April, more than 50% of 204 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in China's Hubei province between January 18 and February 28 reported digestive symptoms like lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Six of those patients had no respiratory symptoms whatsoever. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, too, identified 14 coronavirus patients who had diarrhea and nausea before they showed any signs of fever or respiratory symptoms—that was equal to about 10% of the study's 138-person sample size.

While experts aren't entirely sure why or how COVID-19 may cause vomiting or other gastrointestinal symptoms, researchers have a theory: Because the molecule that the coronavirus attacks in the body—angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2—exists not only in the lungs, but in the gastrointestinal tract as well, that may explain why some people experience stomach issues. Another study published The American Journal of Gastroenterology suggests that the virus can enter the digestive system through cell surface receptors for ACE2. Receptors for this enzyme are 100 times more common in the gastrointestinal tract than the respiratory tract. Still, more research needs to be done to identify the exact mechanism. 

All of this research and anecdotal evidence suggests that vomiting and other gastrointestinal issues shouldn't be ignored during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the symptoms may warrant a test to see if you have the virus. "It would be wise to consider that you may have COVID-19 if you develop vomiting and diarrhea and have no other obvious cause," says Dr. Vournas. "In which case, getting tested would be the next best step."

If you experience vomiting, and have been tested for COVID-19, the best thing you can do is self-isolate while you wait for your results and treat yourself at home. The CDC advises staying hydrated, getting as much rest as possible, avoiding foods that upset your stomach, and keeping an eye on your symptoms. But "if you have vomiting, you should seek medical attention if your symptoms are lasting for more than 24 hours, or if you are experiencing high fevers, abdominal pain or have blood or a dark 'coffee-ground’ appearance of your vomiting," says Dr. Vournas, as that can be a sign of a more serious issue that needs immediate care. 

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Next time you see your doctor, here are 12+ questions about magnesium you'll want answers to

It's pretty uncommon to find a magnesium deficiency in healthy individuals. If you're concerned with your overall health, schedule a physical examination with your physician to rule out any health-related problems. Pay attention to warnings signs of a magnesium deficiency; left untreated, a deficiency can result in very poor health.

Once you make an appointment with your physician, it's important to address all of your concerns relating to a magnesium deficiency. Should you change your diet? Should you take a supplement? Are there things you should or shouldn't do? Here are 12 questions to ask your doctor about magnesium deficiency. 

 1. What is the cause of magnesium deficiency?
In healthy individuals, it's extremely rare to find patients with low levels of magnesium. Low magnesium levels typically indicate a health-related condition. Magnesium deficiency is usually found in patients with chronic alcoholism, disease and/or advanced age.

2. What are the effects of low magnesium levels?
Early symptoms of a deficiency may present as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and weakness. If the deficiency is left untreated, symptoms may progress to include numbness, tingling, cramps, personality changes and abnormal heart rhythms.

3. Is magnesium deficiency a sign of disease?
Individuals with type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases or alcohol dependence typically show signs of a deficiency. Older adults may show signs of magnesium deficiency, too, as they may have chronic diseases or take medications that alter their magnesium status.

4. Can a magnesium deficiency result in death?
Because magnesium deficiency typically goes hand-in-hand with a disease or health condition, ignoring symptoms of the deficiency may result in death. Individuals can live healthy lives if they are treated for a disease and its symptoms.

5. Can diet change the status of magnesium deficiency?
If a physician determines a patient does not require magnesium supplements, he may suggest improving the quality of a daily diet. A diet rich in magnesium is essential to overall good health. 

6. Should I take magnesium supplements?
Patients should not take supplements without the approval of a physician. If a physician determines a patient needs magnesium supplements, do not exceed the amount prescribed. Too much magnesium, in the form of a supplement, can do harm to the body.

7. Can I reverse the damage from alcohol-related magnesium deficiency?
A physician can determine the course of action to take to reverse alcohol-related damage to the body. Sometimes the damage cannot be undone; however, a proper diet is essential to prevent further damage. The first step to preventing alcohol-related deficiencies is to stop consuming alcohol.

8. What foods are rich in magnesium?
Leafy green vegetables, such as kale and spinach, are rich in magnesium. For more food options, read the 12 magnesium-rich foods you should know about. Try to eat a balanced meal every day and incorporate magnesium-rich snacks into your diet, too.

9. Does water have magnesium?
Water does contain magnesium, but it's only a very small trace of the mineral. One cup of water contains 2 mg of magnesium. Water is essential to your health, though, so drink up.

10. Is milk a good source of magnesium?
Both cow's milk and soy milk contain magnesium. Soy milk has 61 mg of magnesium per cup, whereas cow's milk has approximately 25 mg per cup. Drink milk to increase levels of magnesium and prevent depletion of calcium.

11. Are there any magnesium-rich spices or dips to add to food?
Ground black pepper contains 12 mg of magnesium per 1 tbsp. If you like peanut butter, spread it on vegetables and crackers for a boost of magnesium. A mere 2 tbsp. of peanut butter provides 49 mg of magnesium.

 12. What can I do to ensure I'm getting enough magnesium in my diet?
Eat a wall-balanced meal of grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats to keep magnesium levels up. If you feel lethargic, weak, have a loss of appetite and feel bouts of nausea, make an appointment with your physician. Your doctor can take tests to ensure you do not have a magnesium deficiency. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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A new study throws light on gut function

For the first time, new insights into how the colon functions and actually expels its contents have been revealed.

The results of the study were published in the journal – Physiology.

It promises new diagnostics tools and treatments for gastrointestinal disorders to address problems with bowel movements leading to constipation, diarrhoea and pain, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

The propulsion of intestinal contents is controlled by millions of neurons within the wall of the gut, known as the enteric nervous system. Capable of operating independently of the brain, a functioning enteric nervous system is essential for life – but exactly how it functions has been a mystery.

By unraveling the neural circuits of the enteric nervous system in guinea pigs and humans researchers are able to understand how the enteric nervous system ensures that food is slowly mixed and propelled along the digestive tube, allowing for absorption of nutrients  and excretion of waste.

“For the first time, we have combined video recording intestinal movements with a pressure-measuring manometric probe, enabling movements, pressures and electrical activities to be recorded all at the same time within the colon,” the Professor said.

“This powerful combination of techniques applied to a guinea pig colon identified several distinct neural mechanisms involved in the propulsion of colonic contents. This answers the deceptively simple question of how neural mechanisms within the colon manage the propulsion of bowel contents,” he said.

The findings also show how studies in humans and animals can be complementary, identifying fundamental mechanisms that are shared across species – in this case, guinea pigs and humans.

“Currently we treat intestinal disorders by addressing the symptoms, such stopping-up diarrhea or softening stools to ease constipation, but as a result of this new understanding of the neural networks of the enteric system, clinicians may be able to develop treatments that treat the cause of the problems,” he added.

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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