Nausea is a stomach discomfort that increases your urge to vomit. Nausea affects almost everyone at some point in their lives, making it one of the most frequent medical issues. Nausea is a symptom of many different disorders, not a disease. In this article, we will discuss the causes and symptoms of nausea. We will also talk about the prevention of the condition and when to seek medical help. 

Nausea is also a side effect of common body changes and below mentioned is a brief for some of it:-

• Medications:- Nausea is a typical side effect of many medications (prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal), especially when many medications are used at the same time. Antidepressants and chemotherapy treatments are among the medications that regularly produce nausea.

• Anesthesia:- While recuperating from surgery and anesthesia, some patients experience nausea.

• Food allergies and food poisoning:- Small amounts of bacteria in contaminated food produce unpleasant chemicals that induce nausea and abdominal cramps in those who have food poisoning.

• Low blood sugar:- Nausea is a common side effect of low blood sugar.

• Reproductive hormones:- Many women experience nausea, during their time of pregnancy as morning sickness and it is also a common side effect of birth control pills. 

What are the Causes of Nausea?

Symptoms of nausea are notoriously difficult to describe. Nausea symptoms include unpleasant feelings in the chest, upper abdomen, or back of the throat that are not painful. Nausea is linked to a variety of conditions. Some common causes include:-

• Headache 

• Fever

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting 

• Food poisoning 

• Dizziness 

• Viruses 

• Stress or anxiety 

• Motion sickness 

• Abdominal pain 

Other causes of nausea include medications, pain, pregnancy, seasickness, alcohol toxicity, viral infection, morning sickness, and disease of the gallbladder, pancreatitis, liver, brain, esophagus, intestine, and stomach. 

Nausea is also caused by any of the three parts of the body and it includes:-

Inner ear's condition

Nausea can be linked to vertigo, a dizzy sensation of spinning, moving, or falling when you're not moving. Motion sickness (caused by repeated movements in different directions within a car, boat, train, plane, or amusement ride), viral infections of the inner ear (labyrinthitis), and sensitivity to position shift (benign position change sensitivity) are all common causes of vertigo.

Neurological conditions

Migraine headaches, head injuries, brain tumors, stroke, bleeding into or around the brain, and meningitis can cause nausea (inflammation or infection of the membranes covering the brain). It can be a sign of glaucoma, as it is caused by pressure on the nerves in the back of the eye. It is a neural reaction that can be induced by pain, severe emotional anguish, or exposure to an unpleasant sight.

Digestive disorders

Range of digestive disorders and different abdominal conditions can cause nausea. It includes inflammation of the liver or pancreas and gallbladder problems. Irritation of the stomach which can also lead to stomach ulcers, inflammation of the kidney, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can also trigger long-lasting acid reflux and indigestion.

What are the Symptoms of Nausea?

Sometimes lots of people find it difficult to describe the feeling of nausea. The feeling is associated with the distaste for food, it is not painful but it definitely makes you uncomfortable. The following may occur when your body prepares you to vomit:-

• The esophageal sphincter (muscle ring between the esophagus and stomach) relaxes.

• Contraction between the diaphragm and abdominal muscles.

• The larynx (windpipe) closes.

• The stomach's lower section contracts.

When you feel nauseous, your body reacts by retching as a result of these actions. Retching is characterized by the uncontrollable rhythmic contraction of the respiratory and abdominal muscles. It's possible that you'll vomit, but it's also possible that you won't. Nausea is occasionally accompanied by excessive perspiration.

Here’s how you can relieve your symptoms

Relieving the symptoms of nausea generally depends on the cause of it. Here are some of the suggestions that you can follow in order to get rid of your general nausea:-

• Get some fresh air.

• Eat small and frequent meals.

• Drink peppermint or ginger tea.

• Stay hydrated.

• Avoid eating spicy or strong-smelling foods.

• Try relaxation techniques to relieve your stress and anxiety.

How can I Prevent Nausea?

Many potential home remedies and lifestyle changes can help you in preventing nausea. Some of the tricks are mentioned below that you can use to minimize your causes:-

• Avoid caffeine products and alcohol.

• Try to avoid strong odors like - perfume, certain cooking smells, or smoke. 

• If you wake up feeling sick, eat a few crackers before getting out of bed or a high-protein snack before going to bed.

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of large meals.

• Avoid reading in a moving car if you are prone to motion sickness. Also, try to find a seat in the vehicle that has the least amount of movement (near the wings of an airplane or in the center of a boat). Talk to your healthcare professional about taking anti-nausea medication.

When to see a Doctor?

If your nausea lasts for more than 3 days, consider talking with your healthcare professional. Seek medical help if your nausea is associated with any of the following conditions:-

• Severe headache 

• Difficulty in breathing

• Head injury 

• Extreme weakness 

• Stiffness in neck 

• Blurred vision 

• High fever

Nausea is not a serious illness the outlook depends on the cause of it and there are many possible causes that can trigger nausea. Contact your healthcare provider or seek medical help if your symptoms last longer than usual.