Feeling nauseous is a common experience, and thankfully, it usually resolves on its own. If you’re experiencing that unsettling feeling of sickness, there are several strategies you can try to ease your discomfort. This guide will walk you through practical steps to help relieve nausea and advise you on when it’s important to seek medical attention.
Simple Home Remedies to Relieve Nausea
When nausea strikes, you can often find relief with simple lifestyle adjustments and home remedies. Here’s what you can do:
What To Do
- Get Fresh Air: Stepping outside or simply opening a window to breathe in fresh, cool air can sometimes make a significant difference. Fresh air can help to reduce stuffiness and provide a welcome distraction from feelings of sickness.
- Distract Yourself: Engaging your mind in enjoyable activities can be a powerful way to take your mind off nausea. Try listening to your favorite music, immersing yourself in a captivating film, reading a book, or engaging in a light hobby.
- Sip Cold Drinks: Dehydration can sometimes worsen nausea. Regularly sipping on cold beverages, such as water, clear juice, or electrolyte drinks, can help keep you hydrated and potentially settle your stomach. Avoid sugary drinks as they can sometimes exacerbate nausea.
- Ginger and Peppermint Tea: Ginger and peppermint are well-known for their soothing properties and ability to alleviate nausea. Brew a cup of ginger tea or peppermint tea and sip it slowly. The natural compounds in these teas can help calm your stomach.
- Eat Ginger-Containing Foods: Ginger isn’t just for tea! Foods that contain ginger, like ginger biscuits or ginger ale made with real ginger, can be beneficial. Ginger’s active components are thought to aid digestion and reduce nausea.
- Eat Smaller, Frequent Meals: An empty stomach or a very full stomach can both trigger or worsen nausea. Opt for eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day instead of large meals. This can help keep your blood sugar stable and prevent your stomach from becoming overly full or empty.
What To Avoid
Certain habits and foods can actually worsen nausea. It’s best to avoid the following when you’re feeling sick:
- Strong-Smelling Foods: The aroma of strong-smelling foods, especially while cooking, can be overwhelming and trigger nausea. Try to avoid cooking or being around strong odors when you are feeling unwell.
- Hot, Fried, or Greasy Foods: These types of foods can be harder to digest and may aggravate nausea. Stick to bland, easily digestible options when you’re feeling sick.
- Eating Too Quickly: Eating rapidly can overwhelm your digestive system and contribute to nausea. Eat slowly and mindfully, allowing your body to process the food properly.
- Large Drinks with Meals: Drinking large amounts of fluids with meals can fill your stomach too quickly and lead to discomfort and nausea. Sip drinks between meals instead.
- Lying Down Immediately After Eating: Lying down too soon after eating can slow digestion and increase feelings of nausea, especially if you are prone to acid reflux. Try to remain upright for at least 30 minutes after eating.
- Tight Clothing: Clothes that are tight around your waist or abdomen can put pressure on your stomach and worsen nausea. Opt for loose, comfortable clothing when you are feeling unwell.
When to Seek Medical Advice for Nausea
While nausea often resolves on its own, there are situations where it’s important to seek medical advice.
Non-Urgent Situations: See a Doctor
Consult a doctor (GP) in the following non-emergency situations:
- Persistent Nausea: If you’ve been feeling nauseous for more than a few days and your symptoms are not improving with home remedies.
- Recurring Nausea: If you experience nausea frequently, even if it comes and goes, it’s important to get it checked out to identify any underlying causes.
A doctor can investigate the potential cause of your nausea and recommend appropriate treatments, which may include anti-sickness medication if necessary. If you can’t get an appointment with your GP, call 111 for advice in the UK, or your country’s equivalent non-emergency medical helpline.
Emergency Situations: Call Emergency Services
Seek immediate medical help by calling emergency services if you experience sudden nausea accompanied by any of these serious symptoms, as it could indicate a medical emergency like a heart attack:
- Chest Pain: Especially if the pain feels tight, heavy, or crushing.
- Radiating Pain: Pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck, or jaw.
- Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or feeling like you can’t get enough air.
Understanding the Common Causes of Nausea
Nausea can be triggered by a wide range of factors. Recognizing other symptoms you are experiencing alongside nausea can sometimes provide clues about the underlying cause, but it is always best to consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis if you are concerned.
Possible Causes and Related Symptoms
| Other symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Diarrhea or Vomiting | Norovirus or Food Poisoning |
| Headache and High Temperature | Infection, such as Flu |
| Heartburn or Bloating after Eating | Acid Reflux |
| Headache and Sensitivity to Light/Sound | Migraine |
| Dizziness | Labyrinthitis or Vertigo |
Other Potential Reasons for Nausea
Besides the causes listed in the table, nausea can also be caused by:
- Pregnancy: Morning sickness is a common symptom during early pregnancy.
- Motion Sickness: Motion sickness can occur when traveling by car, boat, plane, or train.
- Anxiety: Anxiety and stress can sometimes manifest physically as nausea.
- Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can irritate the stomach lining and lead to nausea.
- Medications: Certain medications can have nausea as a side effect.
- Recent Surgery: Nausea is a common after-effect of anesthesia and surgery.
If you’re unsure about the cause of your nausea, don’t worry. Try the remedies mentioned earlier to alleviate your symptoms and consult a doctor if you don’t feel better within a few days.
