Nausea is a feeling like throwing up and discomfort in the stomach. These symptoms can occur if you:
- Too much to eat.
- Inhale a scent that is disgusting or you don't like.
- Be in the vehicle.
- Being pregnant, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.
- Drinking too much liquor.
Apart from these factors, the onset of nausea can also be triggered by certain diseases or medications, such as:
- Gastric pains.
- Acid reflux disease (GERD).
- Inflammation of the digestive tract (gastroenteritis).
- Appendicitis.
- Digestive tract obstruction.
- Food poisoning.
- Gallstones.
- Liver disease.
- Kidney illness.
- Vertigo.
- Migraine.
- Ear infection.
- Brain tumor.
- bulimia.
- Heart attack or heart failure.
- Side effects of medications, such as antibiotics (erythromycin), pain relievers (ibuprofen, aspirin), or high blood pressure medication (nifefipine).
- Chemotherapy side effects.
- Side effects after surgery.
Symptom Associated Nausea to Watch Out for
The following are some of the symptoms to watch out for and see a doctor if they occur along with nausea:
- Vomiting for more than 24 hours.
- Symptoms of dehydration occur, such as excessive thirst, dry lips and mouth, little urination, dark urine, sunken eyes, dizziness or lightheadedness making it difficult to stand and walk, and heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
- There is blood in the vomit. The vomit may be bright red or resemble the color of coffee.
- Severe pain in the chest or stomach.
- Severe headache or neck stiffness.
- High fever.
- Fatigue, confusion, or loss of consciousness.
- Blurred vision.
Nausea Diagnosis and Treatment
The doctor will look for the cause of nausea and it is usually not a serious condition. However, it is different if your nausea is accompanied by the symptoms mentioned above.
If your doctor suspects that your nausea is a sign of an illness, such as kidney disease, gallstones, or heart disease, the doctor may ask you to undergo additional tests to confirm this, such as blood tests, urine tests, or scans.
The results of the examination will determine the treatment to be given. For example bismuth subsalicylate for nausea due to gastroenteritis, or pyridoxine and promethazine for severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum).
If the nausea is caused by something harmless, such as eating too much, you can treat it by taking a break until the nausea goes away, as doing activities can make the nausea worse. To relieve it, you can also consume ginger water or orange juice.
- Dimenhydrinate, to prevent or treat motion sickness.
- Granisetron, domperidone, ondansetron, and metoclopramide to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery.
- Granisetron, ondansetron, palonosetron, domperidone, dexamethasone, and olanzapine, to prevent nausea before and after chemotherapy.
To prevent nausea, you can do the following tips:
- Avoid smelling bad smells.
- Eat in moderation and stop when you are full.
- Eat slowly and don't lie down immediately after eating.
- Eat cold food, if you feel nauseous when you smell the food when it's still hot.
- Don't look at the twinkling lights, if you have migraines.
- Avoid reading books or viewing gadgets when you are in the vehicle.