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Nausea

Nausea is the sensation you feel when you think you’re going to vomit.

It’s not an illness itself. Rather, feeling nauseous is a symptom that indicates an area of the body is ‘out of balance’.

Feeling nauseated is a horrible experience that may begin, and pass, quickly. But, in some instances nausea symptoms persist and need medical investigations. Fortunately, nausea medications and remedies help most people get relief.

What is nausea?

Nausea is technically known as hyperemesis gravidarum. It’s the unpleasant sensation you get when you think you’re going to vomit.

It occurs when nerve endings in certain parts of your body become irritated. This sends messages along your nerves, up to the vomiting centre in your brain.

The vomiting centre receives inputs from many areas. Most causes relate to messages being received from the:

  • vestibular system in your inner ear
  • nervous system in your gut
  • vagus nerve, especially when the back of your throat or pharynx is irritated. This is commonly called the ‘gag reflex’.

You will feel queasy and nauseous anytime these areas ‘talk’ to the vomiting centre in your brain. If the activation is extreme, you will move beyond wanting to throw up and onto vomiting.

What causes nausea?

There are many causes of nausea. That’s because the vomiting centre in your brain can receive messages from all around your body.

Most instances relate to one of the following:

  • Overeating

  • Undereating

  • Heartburn

  • Reflux

  • Stomach Ulcer

  • Constipation

  • Pain

  • Pregnancy, most likely during their first trimester

  • Medication side effect

  • Gastroenteritis (food poisoning)

  • Headaches/Migraines

  • Motion sickness

  • Drinking too much alcohol

  • Dehydration

  • Liver dysfunction

  • Gallbladder inflammation

  • Hormone imbalances

  • Some cancer treatments.

Signs and Symptoms of Nausea

Nausea symptoms and signs can be difficult to describe. That’s because many of them are invisible to others, which makes them hard to measure and observe. The most common nausea symptoms include:

  • Feeling like you’re going to vomit
  • Dry retching
  • Lack of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Stomach pain
  • Increased saliva production
  • Profuse sweating, which often begins suddenly
  • Uneasy sensation in your chest, upper abdomen or the back of your throat
  • Uncontrollable contractions, especially in the respiratory and abdominal muscles.

Sometimes, nausea is the symptom of a serious health problem. Seek medical attention if your nausea presents with:

  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • High fever
  • Stiff neck
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Severe headache
  • Intense pain in your stomach.

Treatment and Medications for Nausea

If you’re feeling queasy, there are many nausea treatment options.

Medications

Doctors prescribe nausea medications according to the underlying cause of your problem. Options include:

  • Antiemetics – A  large class of medications that help to relieve nausea and vomiting from various causes.
  • Antihistamines – Help nausea related to motion sickness.
  • Proton-pump inhibitors: Modulate stomach acid levels and are useful when nausea relates to digestion issues, e.g. reflux.
  • Analgesics – Ease nausea that’s triggered by pain.

Natural Remedies

Natural nausea remedies can be a first line of treatment, before medication. Options include:

  • Simple foods – Eat easy-to-digest foods until your nausea subsides. Try bananas, plain rice, applesauce, clear soup, dry biscuits or toast.
  • Don’t skip meals – Being overly hungry can intensify nausea symptoms. It’s best to eat small amounts of simple foods, rather than skip meals altogether.
  • Herbal Tea – Sip on teas that help to soothe your stomach. Good choices include chamomile, peppermint, ginger.
  • Vitamin B6 – Helps relieve nausea related to pregnancy (morning sickness) and PMS.
  • Acupuncture and Acupressure – Can help the brain’s vomiting centre be less active. The P6 acu-point is commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting.

Prevention for Nausea

Use these suggestions to help with nausea prevention.

  • Stay hydrated
  • Eat small amounts regularly and avoid skipping meals
  • Minimise alcohol intake
  • Limit fatty and spicy foods
  • Sit in the front seat of the car, rather than the back
  • Hold the P6 acu-point as soon as you start to feel uneasy

It’s also important to speak with your doctor each time you’re prescribed a new medication. Ask about potential side-effects, so you can prepare ahead of time. Sometimes, supplements can help counteract nausea side-effects. For example, Theophylline treats asthma. But it also depletes vitamin B6, and deficiency of this vitamin can make you nauseous. That’s why the best doctors also recommend taking vitamin B6 along with this drug.

Find health experts who treat Nausea

FAQs

What can nausea be a symptom of?

There are many causes of feeling nauseous. It’s most often a symptom of:

  • Infections
  • Food poisoning
  • Motion sickness
  • Overeating
  • Migraines
  • Excess alcohol intake
  • Digestion problems, like constipation or reflux.

When should I be concerned about nausea?

Visit a doctor if your nausea lasts longer than one month or is accompanied by:

  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • High fever
  • Stiff neck
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Severe headache
  • Intense pain in your stomach.

Can dehydration cause nauseous?

Yes, dehydration can make you feel nauseous, weak and dizzy. They’re signs the body doesn’t have enough fluid to circulate vital elements around your body. These symptoms relate to heat exhaustion.