Nausea 101: Why You Don’t Have to Just “Deal” With It

Nausea is such a common ailment that, for many people, experiencing a bout of nausea isn’t even worth taking any action other than lying down or getting some fresh air. However, for some, nausea can range from an unfortunate frequent visitor or, even worse, a constant companion to an existing condition.

Nausea, by definition is the sensation that there is a need to vomit and is best described as an unsettling, “queasy” feeling in a person’s abdomen. This sensation can be short-lived, occasional, or chronic. There is a variety of causes for nausea: pain, medication, migraines, an inner-ear problem, infection, food poisoning, the stomach flu, alcohol, motion sickness, severe emotional distress, and so on. With such a wide scope of causes, nausea can easily crop up as an adverse side effect to a separate issue or simply be the product of a disagreeable meal. A large part of determining the source of nausea has to do with knowing how your body works: did you ingest something unusual or particularly rich? Are you expecting? Could a separate medical issue be the source of your nausea – how have you been feeling in general?

It’s difficult to narrow down the causes of nausea since it is entirely depending on the individual and their overall health, but it is possible to offer some relief for this issue.

At home:

• Hydrate – if you are experiencing nausea and vomiting as a result, then it is highly likely you are dehydrated and this will only exacerbate the issue. Make sure to hydrate with water and electrolytes, and drink slowly as to not aggravate your currently sensitive system.
• Use wristbands – acupuncture wristbands have been shown to reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting for pregnant women and those prone to motion sickness.
• Try ginger – Ginger and vitamin B6 supplements have been used to reduce nausea. Try incorporating ginger into some tea for a soothing, hydrating treatment.

What can SFGI do?

If you find that at home remedies are not providing relief from nausea and/or vomiting, or if your symptoms are severe/chronic in nature, please contact San Francisco Gastroenterology and we will be happy to consult and provide treatment options.