Nausea (feeling “sick to your stomach”) is common. It is related to various conditions and even changes in diet. Some causes are eating a big meal, eating fatty or processed foods, being pregnant, becoming dehydrated, having medical conditions, or taking certain medications.
Nausea usually resolves on its own in a few hours, especially when it is caused by diet. When nausea lasts longer than a day or becomes chronic, it is a reason to see a healthcare provider.
This article will cover some of the common causes of nausea, when to seek care for nausea, and what can be done at home to try to stop nausea.
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What Causes Nausea?
Nausea is a nonspecific symptom, meaning it can be related to many different conditions, both digestive and non-digestive. It could also result for no apparent reason. It usually resolves on its own, but in some cases, it can become chronic. Vomiting sometimes, but not always, accompanies nausea.
Dietary Changes
Nausea can be caused by eating too fast, eating a big meal, or eating certain types of foods, including those that are spicy, fatty, or greasy. For some people, nausea is triggered by acidic foods, like tomatoes or oranges.
Drinks could also cause nausea. This can include carbonated beverages, alcoholic drinks, or those that contain caffeine, such as coffee or energy drinks.
Migraine
A migraine is a type of headache that can become disabling. It may cause symptoms that include throbbing head pain along with nausea and sensitivity to sound and light. The nausea may come on even before the head pain does.
Hangover
After drinking alcohol, people may have various symptoms of a hangover the next day, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, and increased thirst. Symptoms from drinking and how much drinking can bring them on vary by individual. There is no clear remedy for hangovers.
Infections
Some illnesses can cause nausea, sometimes with vomiting, including:
Intense Physical Activity
Some people have nausea and/or vomiting after they exercise, especially after a really intense workout. This is called exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS). It can be mild or lead to vomiting or occur along with other symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and gas.
Supplement or Medication Side Effect
Nausea is an extremely common adverse effect of medications or supplements. It can happen when medications are taken on an empty stomach (without any food) or as a side effect of the drug or supplement.
Some of the more common medications that might cause nausea are:
Pregnancy
Nausea is a common sign of pregnancy. Approximately 70% of pregnant people experience it. In the first trimester (weeks one through 12), nausea, with or without vomiting, is caused by the rapid changes in hormone levels. It tends to improve by about the 20th week of pregnancy. Rarely, pregnancy can cause extreme nausea and vomiting, which is a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Hyperglycemia
Keeping a consistent blood sugar (glucose) level is important, especially for people with diabetes. When blood sugar climbs higher than 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), it may cause signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia (high levels of blood glucose). These include feeling weak, tired, or thirsty, blurred vision, urinating more frequently, dry mouth, and nausea and vomiting.
Inner Ear Conditions
The ear contains organs that affect a person’s balance and hearing. Conditions that affect the ear, such as Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and middle ear infections (otitis media), can lead to nausea and, potentially, vomiting.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Diseases and conditions affecting the gastrointestinal system can cause nausea for many reasons. However, nausea doesn’t always mean there’s a problem with the stomach—it could stem from problems in any part of the gut.
Some of the conditions that may cause nausea include:
Digestive Hemorrhage
Bleeding in the digestive tract can be a sign of many different conditions. Some of them are common and less serious, while others are rare but severe. Blood in the digestive tract can appear either as bright red blood coming from the rectum or found on or in the stools or black, tarry stools. In vomit, the blood might also appear bright red or look like coffee grounds.
Psychological Disorders
Some psychological conditions or states might lead to nausea, including the familiar feeling of nausea when feeling anxious or upset. Nausea in this case can result from changing levels of chemicals in the brain that control body functions and mood.
Some of the psychological conditions which may lead to nausea include:
Heart Attack
Nausea could be a warning sign of a heart attack or other problems with the cardiovascular system. A cardiac event is usually accompanied by other symptoms, most notably chest pain.
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a medical emergency and a reason to call 911 for an ambulance or to seek care at the emergency department right away.
These heart conditions may cause nausea:
- Cardiac disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Myocardial infarction
How to Get Rid of Nausea
Sometimes, it is obvious what is causing nausea, such as when it comes on after eating a big meal. In other cases, it might not be easy to pinpoint, which may mean trying a few different remedies at home to combat nausea.
To manage nausea at home try the following:
- Avoid the carbonation and caffeine in coffee or soda and other drinks.
- Avoid fatty, greasy, spicy, and processed foods and focus on plain, easily digestible foods.
- Drink ginger ale, chamomile tea, or other clear liquids.
- Eat several small meals instead of large ones, going slowly and chewing food well.
- Do not lie down flat for several hours after eating.
- Take nonprescription, over-the-counter medications, such as antacids, bismuth (Pepto-Bismol), or drugs for motion sickness
If these do not work, contact a healthcare provider, who can prescribe medication to manage nausea.
One trick often used at hospitals and emergency departments to relieve nausea is smelling isopropyl alcohol. To do this, open an alcohol wipe and inhale the fumes. Holding the alcohol pad 1 to 2 centimeters below the nose and inhaling deeply seems to work best.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Nausea is troublesome and can be challenging to deal with. However, nausea isn’t usually an emergency and often goes away on its own with self-care or treating the cause, when known.
Call a healthcare provider or seek care right away if nausea becomes chronic (long-lasting) or is accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as:
- Abdominal pain that’s severe
- Black or tarry stools
- Blood in the stool or vomit
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- High fever
- Signs of dehydration
- Vomiting that won’t stop
Dehydration and Nausea
Nausea and/or vomiting are symptoms of several common conditions, including gastroenteritis (the “stomach flu”) or food poisoning. The loss of fluids through loose stools or vomiting can lead to dehydration. Nausea could cause you to avoid drinking enough fluids or keeping them down, which can result in dehydration.
Summary
Nausea is a common symptom of many different conditions. It can also occur independently without being connected to a specific condition or event. Nausea often can be treated at home with a modified diet or over-the-counter medications. However, if nausea is accompanied by symptoms of a more serious nature, seek care right away or call an ambulance.
