It is a general and not well-defined feeling of discomfort that is felt in the throat (pharynx) and stomach. A very common annoyance that can arise suddenly or persist for longer times.
- What is that
- Causes of nausea
- Symptoms of nausea
- Morning sickness
- Complications
- Treatment
- Pharmacological remedies and medical remedies
- Natural remedies
- And in case of vomiting?
- How to prevent nausea
- When to see your doctor
Ask for free advice from a doctor right away
It is a general and not well-defined feeling of discomfort that is felt in the throat (pharynx) and stomach. A very common annoyance that can arise suddenly or persist for longer times.
What is that
The nausea , word that derives from the greek and means motion sickness, is a feeling of general discomfort and ill-defined that is felt at the level of the throat (pharynx) and stomach. A very common annoyance that can arise suddenly or persist for longer times.
Virtually everyone has experienced it at least once in their life. It is not a pathological condition in itself, but rather it is itself a symptom, the alarm bell of something wrong, and in many cases, it represents a kind of defense mechanism of the organism.
So it should never be underestimated, especially if it recurs frequently.
Sometimes natural remedies can be used to solve the problem. In this article you will find what they are.
Causes of nausea
The causes of nausea are many and of different origins. Among the gastrointestinal ones there are above all indigestion (also called dyspepsia ) , chronic gastritis or intestinal problems (such as irritable bowel or Crohn’s disease ), but also colitis, gastroenteritis , hepatitis , cirrhosis , gallbladder stones, pathologies of the pancreas (such as pancreatitis) and infection with tapeworms (a parasite better known as ” tapeworm “) or salmonella . Even the gastroesophageal reflux(which in some cases can manifest itself with the so-called ” reflux cough “) is often accompanied by a sense of nausea, which can also be associated with intestinal disorders. To know what to eat with nausea and diarrhea, it is good to ask your doctor for advice.
Other causes of nausea are:
- a dizziness
- the ‘ flu, the common cold and other infections viral (such as gastroenteritis , in which nausea can be associated with fever and a discharge or more diarrhea )
- the diabetes
- an ear infection ( otitis)
- kidney stones(due to the severe pain they can trigger)
- l ‘ appendicitis (whose symptomsmay vary, but the main one is a navel level pain that radiates towards the lower right area of the abdomen)
- sometimes, a hiatal hernia or ulcer, or a strangulated inguinal hernia
- food poisoning, for example from Escherichia coli
- food allergiesand intolerances , which in addition to nausea can trigger belly cramps and abdominal pain
- hypersensitivity or overdose of medications or natural remedies, such as buckthornor quercus peduncolata
- back painlocalized in the cervical vertebrae, which can also cause headaches after eating
- l ‘ irritable bowel, which often occurs with loose stools
- a congestion, the symptoms of whichcan include tachycardia and pallor.
Ask for free advice from a doctor right away
Pregnancy, hypoglycemia (lowering of blood sugar levels), extreme fatigue and cervical osteoarthritis are also quite common causes. To combat the cervical there are different remedies , from anti-inflammatory drugs to physiotherapy.
As for digestive difficulties during pregnancy , pregnancy nausea is especially characteristic of this period . This disorder is especially typical of the first months of gestation and is mainly due to hormonal factors : at the beginning of pregnancy, in fact, there is a sharp increase in some hormones (chorionic gonadotropin, estrogen and progesterone), which have the ability to reach and stimulate the centers that control the reflex of nausea and vomiting, located in the hypothalamus (an area of the brain), and the rhinencephalon connected to them.
The latter is the brain center that supervises the perception of smells: for this reason, foods and fragrances that were previously appreciated, during the nine months can become so unbearable as to trigger disgust and make the kitchen unapproachable.
During gestation it can happen that nausea returns to manifest itself even in the last month. This generally occurs due to the pressure of the uterus on the diaphragm, the muscle that divides the abdomen cavity from that of the chest and which, in turn, crushes the stomach.
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It is therefore easy to have acid reflux, slow and difficult digestion and the feeling of satiety even after a small snack. All factors, together with the typical increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid, which favor the appearance of the symptom.
Many women experience an unpleasant feeling of general malaise that often accompanied by nausea during the premenstrual syndrome , always effect of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that regulate the cycle.
You may also feel a sense of nausea due to a balance problem, such as occurs in labyrinthitis or when traveling by car, boat, bus or airplane. These forms are more common in children over the age of three and in young women, and are called motion sickness (or motion sickness) or travel sickness.
Commonly also called seasickness, or air sickness, motion sickness is a neurovegetative disorder and those who suffer from it cannot bear passive movement, in particular, the accelerations and decelerations to which they are subjected during a trip. His sense of balance is thus destabilized.
Even those who suffer from headaches or migraines (once again especially women) often find themselves having to deal, in addition to the severe pain typically on one side of the head, with nausea which, moreover, is able to interfere with the intake of the necessary headache medications, slowing the achievement of pain relief.
Episodes of nausea, if associated with pain in the stomach region, can be a sign of something not working in the heart (it can be one of the symptoms of heart attack ), or, if associated with severe painful symptoms in the abdomen or in the groin, they can be the starting signal of a colic episode, respectively biliary or renal.
It is also a frequent company of those suffering from eating disorders (nausea is, for example, one of the typical signs of lactose intolerance and in some cases also among the symptoms of celiac disease ) and an altered relationship with food, such as those suffering from anorexia (who systematically refuses to eat) or bulimia (eats uncontrollably and binges until taken by guilt and nausea can get to self-induce vomiting).
We must not forget that nausea can be one of the side effects of some drug treatments . A classic example is the one that accompanies chemotherapy used to fight different types of cancer , but also opioid drugs or against depression , anesthetics, oral contraceptives , some antibiotics and in some cases non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) which can also be used against a form of arthritis associated with psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis).
Last but not least, all stressful conditions can cause generalized anxiety and nausea.
However, it is important not to panic when nausea appears: it is not necessarily the symptom of a serious problem, but simply a transient disturbance.
If you want to know more about this topic, read the article Nausea, all possible causes .
Symptoms of nausea
If it is accompanied by involuntary contractions of the muscles of the stomach wall, pharynx and esophagus and abundant salivation, it can precede vomiting, although this is not the rule.
Most often, headaches, dizziness, dizziness, repulsion for food and general malaise appear together with nausea .
Furthermore, depending on its triggering causes, nausea can also be associated with other symptoms, such as tiredness , feeling of fatigue and increased sweating.
Morning sickness
As already mentioned, pregnancy can often be associated, especially in the first weeks of gestation, with a feeling of nausea, which occurs in particular upon awakening and continues throughout the morning.
In case of morning sickness it might be useful to eat some meat or cheese, lean, before going to sleep, or keep crackers on the bedside table to eat when you wake up, even before getting up.
Do not overlook the importance of adequate hydration, even in the case of episodes of vomiting after drinking liquids. It is in fact always advisable to drink at least 6 glasses of water a day, remembering however to do it in small sips.
It is also better not to lie down immediately after eating, a bad habit that can promote, in addition to nausea, problems such as reflux and the burning associated with it.
Complications
One of the most serious complications is vomiting . As “liberating” as it may be, it can leave an unpleasant feeling of residual nausea and malaise.
If persistent, it involves considerable losses of water and mineral salts which, especially in children, must be carefully replenished to avoid dehydration.
In pregnancy, a possible complication of nausea and the consequent retching is the so-called hyperemesis gravidarum : the future mother ends up vomiting every day, even beyond the first three months, almost no longer assimilates anything and begins to lose weight. In this case, hospitalization may be necessary to keep the situation under control.
Treatment
The therapies against nausea are all symptomatic: they do not cure the pathology underlying the symptom, but attenuate its effects.
Treatments can differ depending on whether they are acute episodes or a form of chronic nausea.
In the latter case, there are not many data available on the efficacy of drug therapies.
Instead, there is more information about the management of some conditions characterized by a high risk of nausea and vomiting, such as during pregnancy, or after surgery or radio or chemotherapy therapy.
In general, however, nausea is much more resistant to treatment than vomiting; moreover, a remedy could be effective against one type of nausea and not against another.
To treat nausea, it is in fact necessary to identify the cause: based on the symptoms reported, the doctor may request an x-ray of the digestive system or blood and urine tests.
If the nausea is of psychosomatic origin, it may be sufficient to change lifestyle habits and avoid stressful situations to see it disappear.
In all other cases, nausea can be eliminated with specific drugs for the underlying cause, and with a light solid food diet.
Did you know that nausea can also be treated with acupuncture? Read this article Nausea and Acupuncture?
The treatment but also the prevention, also pass from the implementation of simple precautions, especially for those nausea that accompany physiological situations (such as pregnancy or premenstrual syndrome).
Starting with nutrition: it is good to eat small but numerous meals, avoiding too fatty products and spicy foods. In fact, nausea usually worsens if the stomach is too empty or if the blood sugar level is too low. This is why, if possible, even in the case of nausea should be avoided fasting.
Against morning sickness (typical in pregnancy) it is better to act immediately upon awakening, even before getting out of bed, munching one or two crackers, breadsticks, rusks or slices of toast: they absorb any excess gastric juices.
Liquids are also important: if the feeling of vomiting and general malaise persists and if you have already vomited, it is essential to drink to keep the risk of dehydration at bay.
However, there are drinks that can make nausea worse, such as coffee (increases acid secretion). One of the classic tips is to drink slowly, and possibly not on an empty stomach, sparkling water with the addition of a few drops of lemon.
The following table lists other foods and drinks to be preferred to relieve nausea and others to avoid.
| YUP | NO |
| Lemon tea | Beverages containing caffeine |
| Ginger tea | Carbonated drinks |
| Steamed fish | Alcoholic |
| Potatoes (steamed, boiled or pureed) | Canned foods |
| Rice | Fermented or cream cheeses |
| Soups | Beef and pork and sausages |
| Jellies | Salmon and sardines |
| Fresh cheeses and yoghurt | Raw vegetables, citrus and other fruits such as grapes, cherries and raisins |
| Lean meat and cooked ham | Fried foods |
| Cereals and cereal creams | Whole grains |
| Rusks | Loaf and toasted bread |
| Cooked vegetables | legumes |
| Well ripe or cooked fruit | Desserts |
| Marmalade | Pasta with sauces |
| Honey | |
| Biscuits |
Pharmacological remedies and medical remedies
If seasickness is the cause, sitting in a stable environment is usually sufficient, although this is not always possible.
In other cases, however, to relieve the sense of nausea it is necessary to take drugs.
It can happen, for example, that nausea and vomiting are linked to a delay in gastric emptying, that is the process that involves the passage of digested food from the stomach to the intestine.
In these cases, medicines that accelerate this process are useful, such as metoclopramide and domperidone, anti-nausea, anti-emetic and prokinetic drugs.
If nausea is associated with indigestion or acidity and stomach pains, then it is preferable to combine a prokinetic with an antacid.
Certain antihistamines , anti-dopaminergics, and 5-HT3 serotonin receptor antagonists may also be used as antiemetics to manage episodes of acute nausea .
Benzodiazepines, on the other hand, can be useful for both chemotherapy and post-operative nausea.
Alternative and complementary treatments used for nausea include homeopathic remedies, hypnosis, acupressure and acupuncture.
Finally, there is no lack of those who resort to the use of Bach flower drops and medicinal plants, but there are still no conclusive data to support their effectiveness.
Recent studies have validated the use of ginger and peppermint, which have been used for centuries as remedies for nausea. Research on their effects in pregnancy is limited, so to be safe it is best to avoid them.
Natural remedies
Nature often helps the stomach and intestines . For example, a classic natural remedy considered effective against nausea is ginger, probably thanks to the essential oils (especially gingerol) it contains. Its mechanism of action remains largely unknown. It is thought that it can improve gastric motility, but its effect could also be mediated by an action on the central nervous system and the hormone serotonin.
Ginger is an excellent ally, in particular, to control an attack of sudden nausea (from travel, from pregnancy but also from chemo): to feel better, just chew a piece of root during the journey or sip an herbal tea when you feel it. the sense of discomfort, as long as you don’t overdo the quantities.
Ginger is proposed in supplements , but you can also use essential oils or you can chew a piece of its root or prepare an herbal tea by letting it infuse for about ten minutes, in a cup of boiling water, two small pieces of fresh ginger, so it must be filtered before drinking.
For those who like the sweet taste, just add a teaspoon of honey. Ginger can become a precious ingredient in many recipes: added to foods, especially in large meals, it speeds up digestion, further keeping nausea at bay.
Finally, chamomile and mint are included among the natural remedies recommended for nausea . In particular, peppermint is used in the form of essential oil to be taken by mouth, for example under the tongue, or to be diluted in water to perfume the environment.
And in case of vomiting?
Often the feeling of nausea shortly precedes vomiting. When the latter is prolonged, dehydration and a dangerous electrolyte imbalance can arise (especially in the case of a small child).
It is therefore essential to restore the lost liquids and mineral salts (such as magnesium and potassium ) to the body by taking drinks and saline supplements. Let’s see which drinks to prefer or to avoid in case of vomiting.
| YUP | NO |
| water | Coffee |
| Lemon tea | Beverages containing caffeine |
| Ginger tea | Sodas |
| Lemon in boiling water | Alcoholic |
| Sugar-free fruit juice |
These measures are indispensable to stop the immediate negative effect of vomiting, however they do not cure the underlying causes of this pathological manifestation. For this reason, if vomiting persists for too long, immediate advice from the family doctor is essential, who in some cases may prescribe a specialist visit.
How to prevent nausea
As mentioned, acting on your diet can also be a good strategy to prevent nausea.
In addition to avoiding the intake of dishes that are difficult to digest, such as some fried foods, also eating less abundant but more frequent meals (for example 6 instead of 3 a day) and preferring cooked or well-ripened fruit and cooked and tender vegetables can help to counter this disorder. You should also avoid lying down immediately after eating, a particularly harmful habit in case you suffer from heartburn and gastric hyperacidity .
If at the base of the desire to vomit there was the repugnance towards the scents coming from hot dishes it could instead be useful to try to eat cold meals.
Physical activity can also help against nausea, especially when it is connected to digestive problems: sitting for a long time, in fact, can increase the sense of nausea because the stomach remains compressed, while moving regularly and moderately promotes digestive processes, gastric and intestinal emptying, and also relieves stress and tension.
No need to become a fitness freak: a daily walk may be enough.
Finally, to extinguish this symptom, especially in cases of migraine or motion sickness, some people find benefits by using specific stretch fabric bracelets, sold in pharmacies in pairs, which can for example be used during ship trips or against pain. car.
They are designed to exert optimal pressure on a specific point (called P6), which is located on the inner surface of the forearm, right and left, by counting three traversed fingers under the flexion crease of the wrist.
The pressure of this point has long been used, against nausea, in both acupuncture and acupressure. The effects have also been confirmed by scientific studies, although there is currently no certain proof of the mechanism of action with which they act.
When to see your doctor
In children, when nausea is accompanied by food repulsion, it is advisable to consult the pediatrician to prevent growth retardation and dehydration.
In the first months of pregnancy, when nausea and vomiting occur continuously and a nutritional disorder of the woman and probable suffering of the fetus ensues , it is good to consult your gynecologist early.
