What Causes Nausea?
The discomfort of your stomach’s churning and grinding completely consume your attention and leave you wondering how this state will conclude. Will you spend hours vomiting uncontrollably, or will the feeling quickly pass so you can return to your life?
Nausea is a condition every person struggles with throughout their life, but it is impossible to get used to. No matter how many times you’ve been nauseous, the uneasiness never gets easier.
Hundreds of sources trigger nausea, so finding the exact cause of your symptoms is complicated. You may be tempted to consider the worst-case scenario when determining your cause, but practice restraint by focusing on the most common sources of nausea people experience.
The best course of action is to understand how your body works to predict what leads to your nausea and what you can do to prevent it. To reduce your nausea, you’ll need to use your brain and your gut to find out what is causing your nausea.
Pregnancy
Within the first months of pregnancy, nearly half of all women will feel waves of nausea associated with the hormonal and blood sugar changes their body is experiencing. Usually called morning sickness, this nausea presents throughout the day and night and often results in vomiting.
Although nausea is usually related to illness, it can indicate a healthy and successful pregnancy in this situation. Symptoms should alleviate into the second trimester.
Pregnancy Nausea Treatments
With generation after generation searching for solutions, there are many home remedies to treat pregnancy-related nausea. Although no one option will be right for everyone, you can hopefully find something that works for you.
Good options include:
- Watching your diet
- Getting plenty of rest
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Try ginger and peppermint teas
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid flickering screens like computers
Brain and Spinal Fluid Issues
Although very different, many conditions affecting the brain and spinal fluid contribute to feelings of nausea. These conditions include:
- Migraines
- Head trauma including concussions
- Brain tumors
- Stroke
- Meningitis
Brain and Spine Treatments
Since each of these are serious medical conditions, be sure to seek out a complete medical evaluation. Only a medical professional can confirm or rule out any of these conditions as the source of your nausea.
Treatments for these types of nausea sources can be a simple as a medication or quite involved. With early intervention, medical providers can help to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Inner Ear Issues
Your nausea and vomiting could come from another location in your head: the inner ear. The intricate structures of the ear do much to maintain balance and orientation in space, so when these become disturbed, nausea and dizziness result.
Nausea related to travel, called motion sickness, is common with people getting sick in cars, planes, boats, and even space shuttles. Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear, which causes similar symptoms.
Strep throat is an infection caused by bacteria living in the body. Learn about the causes and symptoms, and ways to treat strep throat here.
Inner Ear Treatments
More complicated inner ear issues require medical intervention to evaluate and treat correctly, but some at home and over-the-counter remedies exist for motion sickness. Consider patches, pills, and acupressure options to reduce nausea.
Pelvic and Abdomen Issues
From benign causes like overeating or undereating to serious conditions like organ failure, some nausea sources occur in and around your stomach. Some common conditions include:
- Hepatitis
- Pancreatitis
- Constipation
- Stomach or intestinal blockage
- Kidney or gallbladder issues
- Menstruation
- Acid reflux and indigestion
Pelvic and Abdomen Treatments
To help determine if your nausea is related to any of these sources, pay close attention to your symptoms. Track certain foods, eating habits, or times of the day, week, or month that affect your nausea.
Once you can determine the patters in your nausea, you can make slight adjustments to study the effects. If your symptoms seem unrelated to your period and there is little progress with diet changes, consult your physician for the next step in treatment.
Psychological Issues
Physical health conditions will cause many cases of nausea, but you can never discount the influence of mental health on your physical state. After all, the mind and body are always connected.
Some people may experience nausea with their depression, but anxiety will present as the most significant culprit. Anxiety impacts several aspects of health including blood pressure, heart rate, and digestion, which could trigger the sensation of nausea.
Eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia center around food, leading to possible consequences like nausea and vomiting.
Psychological Treatments
Anxiety and eating disorders can be quite serious concerns with the ability to affect all aspects of your mental and physical health. If your symptoms seem out-of-control, consult with a mental health professional like a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist quickly, since these conditions can be dangerous.
If you want to attempt some at-home treatments initially, some good options include:
- Meditation and other relaxation techniques
- Increased physical activity like walking or yoga
- Practicing positive thinking patterns
- Surrounding yourself with supportive people
- Journaling your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
As stated, numerous issues spark the uneasy feeling in your stomach. By narrowing your potential causes, making subtle adjustments and seeking professional interventions when needed, you can put nausea behind you
