What Is Nausea?
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Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD
Nausea refers to the sensation of feeling like you might vomit. While the sensation is painless, it can certainly be unpleasant. You may also have heard nausea referred to as feeling queasy or having an upset stomach. Nausea may be accompanied by vomiting, but it can also occur on its own.
Nausea is a common feeling with a wide range of possible causes. It can occur as a result of certain foods, illnesses, movements, and medications. While nausea is usually not serious, in some cases it can be a symptom of a more serious condition. Knowing when you should see a healthcare provider and how you can calm your nausea can put you on the road to feeling better.
What Causes Nausea?
Nausea is often the symptom of a temporary problem, condition, or situation. Certain medications can also cause nausea.
Frequently, nausea can be a result of eating too much or eating food that irritates your stomach, such as strong-tasting, strong-smelling, or spicy foods. In some cases, getting food poisoning or eating a food you're allergic to can cause you to feel nauseous.
Some other common causes of nausea include:
Motion sickness or seasickness
Vertigo, an internal or external spinning sensation
Anxiety
Norovirus, or a stomach flu
Morning sickness during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester
Gastroenteritis, or an intestinal infection
Certain treatments and medicines, such as chemotherapy for cancer
Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which cause stomach acid to come back up into the esophagus
Drug or alcohol use
Usually, nausea isn’t a sign of an underlying health problem. However, when nausea is chronic or is accompanied by other symptoms—such as headaches or severe vomiting—it may point to a more serious condition, such as:
Labyrinthitis, or an inner ear infection
Peptic ulcers in the stomach lining, intestines, or esophagus
Meningitis, which is inflammation around the brain and spinal cord
Bowel obstruction
Gastroparesis, a condition that causes the stomach to empty its contents more slowly
Appendicitis, or inflammation of the appendix
Problems with the brain, such as a tumor or injury
Certain cancers
Ingestion of poison
Related: Constipation Can Cause Nausea—What To Do About It
Is Nausea Related to Vomiting?
Nausea often occurs just before vomiting, or throwing up, which is when the contents in your stomach come back up through your esophagus (throat) and out through your mouth. However, you can also experience nausea without vomiting. In rare cases, you may throw up without feeling nauseated first.
Although they are closely related, vomiting and nausea are brought about in different ways. Nausea happens when there is a disruption in the gastric rhythm, or the way in which the gut and the central nervous system interact. Meanwhile, vomiting is a reflex that allows your body to get rid of a poison, harmful substance, or anything that has irritated your stomach.
How to Get Rid of Nausea
There are many possible ways to get rid of nausea. Some lifestyle changes and home remedies you can use to relieve nausea include:
Sitting quietly and not moving around
Getting fresh air
Taking ginger in supplements, foods, or tea
Drinking peppermint tea
Drinking something cold and sweet, such as soda
Eating small, frequent meals
Eating bland, low-fat foods
Avoiding strong-smelling, fatty, and spicy foods
There are also several over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help relieve nausea. The right medication for you will depend on the reason you’re feeling sick.
For example, antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or patches that contain scopolamine and go on the skin can treat or prevent nausea. During pregnancy, your healthcare provider may prescribe Diclegis (doxylamine and pyridoxine) to treat morning sickness.
People undergoing chemotherapy may be prescribed anti-nausea drugs such as Zofran (ondansetron). Benzodiazepines, steroids, and cannabinoids are also often prescribed to help with nausea related to chemotherapy or surgery.
If your nausea is due to an underlying health condition, it should go away once you have treated the root issue. For example, if you have anxiety-related nausea, addressing your anxiety effectively should help your symptoms subside.
Related: Nausea After a Workout
When Should You See a Healthcare Provider?
Feeling nauseated isn’t usually a cause for deeper concern. Nausea should typically resolve on its own. However, if your nausea persists or gets worse over time, it could be a sign of a more serious condition. A healthcare provider can help rule out any possible underlying causes.
Seek emergency medical help right away if you’re experiencing nausea alongside any of these other symptoms:
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Persistent vomiting for over 24 hours or vomiting more than three times in a day
Inability to keep down fluids for 12 or more hours
Blood in your vomit
Signs of dehydration, such as inability to urinate, dark urine, tearless crying, thirst, or sunken eyes
Severe abdominal pain
Severe diarrhea
High fever
You should also seek medical help immediately if you have nausea and think you may have ingested a harmful substance or poison.
A Quick Review
Nausea refers to the feeling of having to throw up. Common causes of nausea include motion sickness, food poisoning, and migraine headaches. In rare cases, chronic or severe nausea may point to a more serious problem, such as stomach ulcers, bowel obstructions, or inflammation of the appendix.
Typically, nausea isn’t a cause for concern and should resolve on its own. However, you should contact your healthcare provider if your nausea doesn’t go away or worsens. Get medical help right away if you experience nausea alongside a stiff neck, bloody vomiting, or any symptoms of dehydration.
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Read the original article on Health.
