
Not all types of nausea result in vomiting, but vomiting is often preceded by nausea.
Nausea is the feeling that you are soon going to throw up! Your salivary secretions increase, you feel heaviness in your chest and throat, and you feel like throwing up. We all feel uncomfortable when we are sick, and nausea goes a notch higher in making us feel terrible. Not all types of nausea result in vomiting, but vomiting is often preceded by nausea. Recurring nausea is often a sign of a serious malady such as hepatitis, gastritis, ulcer, and stomach flu and may need a consultation by a doctor.
Here are a few things that can help relieve nausea fast:
- Ginger is known to relieve nausea. Research has shown capsules of powdered ginger are effective in reducing nausea and vomiting. You can also try a cup of ginger tea, a few gingersnap cookies, or a piece of ginger candy.
- Chew on fresh mint leaves or drink a cup of mint tea. The refreshing aroma can also make you feel better.
- A sip of chilled water, or better a lime soda, can often help relieve nausea due to acid reflux.
- Smell lemon or suck on a lemon to stop the feeling of nausea.
- Acupressure, ancient healing art in traditional Chinese medicine, is also effective in relieving nausea and vomiting (especially during pregnancy and due to chemotherapy [cancer treatments]). It involves applying pressure on some points in the body. Here is how to use acupressure to get rid of nausea:
- Position your palm such that it faces toward the ceiling or the sky. Locate the two hard bands of tissue known as tendons that run just below your wrist in the line of your index finger. This is referred to as a P-6 pressure point.
- Press gently with the thumb of the opposite hand in a circling manner on the P-6 point for 2-3 minutes.
- Repeat the process on your other wrist.
- Inhalation of aromatherapy oils such as peppermint oil has been found to work in reducing the severity of nausea after surgeries. You can put a few drops of this oil in your hanky or a cotton cloth and try inhaling it when you feel nauseating.
- Try over-the-counter medications:
- Antacid: Pepto-Bismol syrup may help with nausea.
- Antihistamines: Antihistamine medications such as dimenhydrinate and meclizine hydrochloride can help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness.
- Breathe fresh air works for many people, but the reason remains unknown. You can open the window or sit in front of a fan to get rid of nausea.
- Deep breathing and other relaxation techniques such as muscle relaxation techniques may also be helpful. This helps in moving your mind away from any worries that can aggravate nausea and cause you to vomit. This technique helps, particularly in motion sickness.
- Distract yourself from nausea by calling up a friend, catching up on a movie, or performing any other light activity.
9 Tips to stop motion sickness nausea
If you suffer from motion sickness, you can prevent related nausea by following nine important things that include:
- Eat only light, bland foods, such as crackers or plain bread. These foods rich in starch help absorb gastric acid and settle a queasy stomach.
- Observe which foods worsen your nausea and avoid those. These can be any fruit, vegetable, or food preparation that upsets your stomach.
- Drink water, sports drinks, or chicken or vegetable soups. Avoid juices and soft drinks. Small sips of fluid throughout the day will hydrate you without triggering nausea.
- Avoid eating fried, too oily, or greasy foods
- Limit the consumption of sweets
- Eat small meals and eat them slowly
- Do not lie down immediately after meals. You can rest a while with your head elevated. Avoid heavy activities after eating such as lifting weights, cycling, or jogging.
- If you suffer from motion sickness, avoid activities that require intense focus while traveling. This can include reading a book or any stuff on digital screens (such as smartphones).
- A medication known as promethazine if taken at least half an hour before the start of your journey can help prevent motion sickness-associated nausea. Because it is available only on a doctor’s prescription, ask your doctor if you can take it.
If your nausea persists and interferes with your personal, professional, and social life, you should seek additional advice from your doctor.
SLIDESHOW
Super Tips to Boost Digestive Health: Bloating, Constipation, and More See Slideshow
Why do I feel nauseous in the morning not pregnant?
Twelve most common causes of waking up in the morning feeling nauseated include:
- Low blood sugar levels:
- When waking up in the morning, there can be nausea or discomfort due to low blood sugar.
- Drinking sugary beverages, such as fruit juice, in the morning is a simple way to balance blood sugar and relieve nausea.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD):
- GERD or acid reflux is an extremely prevalent cause of nausea in the morning.
- GERD causes nausea because acid builds up in the stomach and flows to the upper region of the esophagus.
- Nausea due to GERD can present at any time; however, there is a high risk of nausea while waking up if one sleeps fully flat. This makes it easier for stomach acid to flow up the esophagus.
- Making lifestyle adjustments such as avoiding acidic meals, not eating for at least two hours before night, and sleeping with your head end elevated can help.
- Migraine:
- Migraine headache is often associated with nausea and vomiting or just nausea.
- Because of changes in the central nervous system and slowing of digestion, a migraine can often get triggered in the morning.
- Having breakfast, drinking fluids as soon as possible in the morning, and taking over-the-counter migraine medicines can help.
- If over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications don’t work or if the nausea is severe and there’s vomiting involved, prescription drugs for migraines and nausea are available.
- Infection and other disorders of the ear:
- Disorders of the ear such as inner ear diseases can disrupt balance and stomach rhythm and cause nausea while waking up.
- Ear pain and pressure, as well as abnormalities in hearing, nasal congestion, and fever, are symptoms of an ear infection.
- Nausea resolves once the ear problem is treated with prescription medication.
- Anxiety and stress:
- A neural reaction is triggered by anxiety and stress, and it affects the stomach lining, which might lead to nausea in the morning.
- Lifestyle modifications to reduce stress and anxiety can help, for example, exercise, spending time on hobbies, adequate sleep, and counseling if needed.
- Constipation:
- Consumption of low dietary fiber, irritable bowel syndrome, and a sedentary lifestyle are some factors that can affect digestion.
- The distention in the intestines from extra feces and gas activates stretch receptors in the lining of the digestive tract, which transmits signals to the brainstem and activates the sensation of nausea.
- The increasing fiber content in the diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly can help.
- Laxatives and other treatments may be taken after consulting a doctor.
- Medications:
- Many medications can produce nausea, but some such as pain relievers, cancer medication, certain antibiotics, birth control pills, and antidepressants are more likely to do so, especially in the morning.
- The doctor can help by changing doses of the medication or switching to a different drug.
- Dehydration:
- When the body is dehydrated, there is an electrolyte imbalance, especially of sodium and potassium, which can cause nausea.
- Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration can help.
- Eating certain foods before bedtime:
- The foods you eat before bed can have a huge effect on how your body feels the next morning.
- Eating a substantial meal late at night might create intestinal distress, resulting in nausea in the morning. This is especially true in the case of dietary allergies or sensitivities.
- It is recommended to eat the final meal about three hours before sleeping, as well as avoid eating any difficult-to-digest foods in the evening, fried/fatty foods, dairy products, and spicy foods.
- Not eating enough before going to bed:
- Hunger can be a cause of morning nausea.
- When the body goes long periods without eating, blood sugar level lowers, which can result in morning nausea.
- To increase satiety (remaining full), aim for a decent balance of macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat) and eat enough veggies.
- Veggies are high in fiber that aids in blood sugar regulation.
- Reproductive health problems:
- If you have recently started a new birth control method, it could be the source of your morning nausea.
- Nausea and vomiting might be an indication of morning sickness, a symptom of early pregnancy. Morning sickness is frequently precipitated by specific scents or spicy foods, but it can occur without a trigger.
- Hangover:
- Excess alcohol consumption on the previous night may result in nausea and vomiting in the morning.
Latest Digestion News
Daily Health News
Trending on MedicineNet
Medically Reviewed on 2/2/2022
References
Understanding Nausea and Vomiting – Treatment. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-nausea-vomiting-treatment
Belluomini J, et al. Acupressure for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomized, blinded study. Obstet Gynecol. 1994 Aug;84(2):245-8.
Lua PL, Zakaria NS. A brief review of current scientific evidence involving aromatherapy use for nausea and vomiting. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2012 Jun 1;18(6):534-40.