Home Digestive systemNausea and vomiting What is nausea? Causes and how to get rid?

What is nausea? Causes and how to get rid?

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Nausea is a bodily reaction defined by the stomach precursor sensations of vomiting; it appears without warning but is not always accompanied by vomiting. This occurs through stimulation of the digestive tract in the vomiting center located in the brain.

Many symptoms can accompany nausea, such as stomach pain, fever, headache, dizziness, and sweating. Its appearance is related to different causes such as migraine, anxiety, food poisoning, etc. This is the body’s mechanism of trying to expel substances or foods that cause problems in the digestive system.

If you want to know more about this topic, we invite you to continue reading this FastlyHealarticle in which we answer the question, “I have nausea, but I do not vomit: what could it be?”.

What is nausea?

Nausea is a symptom in which there is discomfort in the upper part of the stomach with the desire to vomit. However, it is not always accompanied by vomiting. Medically, it is defined as the unpleasant feeling of wanting to vomit.

Both nausea and vomiting do not represent an illness but rather a symptom or sign of another disease.

Generally, nausea without vomiting usually disappears on its own. Otherwise, the general condition of the person could deteriorate. They are characterized by:

  • An uncomfortable sensation in the throat.
  • The sensation of heat and profuse sweating.
  • Annoying sensation in the upper abdomen and chest.
  • What is known as retching may appear as involuntary contractions of the abdominal and respiratory muscles with which vomiting may or may not be caused.
  • The esophageal sphincter may relax, which allows vomiting to escape.
  • For vomiting to appear, the abdomen, the diaphragm, and the trachea muscles are closed simultaneously.

Everyone at some point in their life has experienced this unpleasant sensation since it is a fairly common condition and a frequent reason for consultation in the emergency room. Once the cause is known and effectively treated, nausea will disappear.

The duration of nausea, then, will depend on the causes to be treated so that it can last from minutes to hours.

I’m nauseous but not vomiting: common causes.

Among the most common causes of nausea without vomiting are:

  • Anxiety: People with anxiety are likely to be nauseous or have the urge to vomit. This occurs because the signal that activates vomiting and nausea is located in the brainstem. Its activation after nerve stimulation of the bulb, a product of some unpleasant stimulus, causes retching, sweating, and abdominal muscles to contract and the esophageal valve to open, preparing for vomiting.
  • Migraine is another common cause of nausea; it also occurs after activating the medulla oblongata that is located in the brain. Migraine is a common neurological disorder in which severe headache occurs; in addition to nausea with or without vomiting, sensitivity to light may appear.
  • Stress or fear: both can cause the body to function incorrectly. Fortunately, since fear is a temporary sensation, nausea will go away when the feeling of fear subsides. In the case of stress, it is essential to assess the underlying causes to treat them and that the symptoms disappear.
  • Food poisoning: it occurs mainly due to the consumption of food contaminated by bacteria such as Shigella, E. Coli, and salmonella. Generally, nausea, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and general malaise appear.
  • Overeating – The digestive system fails to process food properly when you overeat. This is more common in people who have undergone digestive tract surgery and people who have a weak digestive system.
  • Food intolerance: nausea can occur in people who are allergic to a specific food, such as milk. It can happen when there are changes in the diet.
  • Hangover: a hangover can cause nausea without vomiting, occur after consuming excess alcohol, and experience headaches.
  • Pregnancy is a common cause of nausea but not vomiting during pregnancy, especially during the first weeks. They can occur at any time of the day and are related to hormonal changes during pregnancy. The following article shows good tips to avoid nausea during pregnancy.
  • Medications: the intake of some drugs has a side effect of nausea, especially those used for pain, such as morphine, codeine, and oxycodone. It also happens with potassium and iron supplements.
  • Chemotherapy: One of the adverse effects of chemotherapy is that the patient may have nausea with or without vomiting. This depends on the drugs that are used and if, in addition, it is accompanied by radiotherapy.

I was feeling nauseous without vomiting: other causes.

Other less common causes of nausea without vomiting are:

  • Gastroparesis: the muscles located in the stomach do not work correctly for gastric emptying.
  • Inflammation of the gallbladder is frequently manifested with nausea without vomiting; it also occurs with pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis.
  • Viral gastroenteritis: is defined as an intestinal infection that causes diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and nausea. It is commonly known as stomach flu.
  • Birth control pills: Long-term use of birth control pills can cause nausea without vomiting.

It can also occur from:

  • Stomach bleeding
  • Anesthesia or postoperative.
  • Cancer.
  • Variations in the normal levels of minerals in the body.
  • Vertigo or labyrinthitis.
  • Consumption of antidepressants.
  • Fatigue due to physical exertion.
  • Appendicitis.
  • Renal colic.
  • Pyloric obstruction.
  • Colon obstruction.
  • Caffeine consumption.
  • Excess sugar consumption.
  • Premenstrual syndrome.
  • Hepatitis.

How to get rid of nausea

To remove nausea and prevent vomiting, the following measures can be of great help:

  1. Breathe slowly and deeply.
  2. Avoid strong smells of tobacco smoke and perfumes.
  3. Avoid drinking alcohol.
  4. Avoid eating large meals with excess fat.
  5. Avoid consuming acidic beverages.
  6. Exercise daily.
  7. Eat slowly.
  8. Avoid extra caffeinated drinks.
  9. Avoid eating spoiled food.
  10. Drink plenty of fluids.

In the following article, we show some Remedies to relieve the urge to vomit.

The presence of nausea is a fairly common condition that can be avoided or treated appropriately, depending on the cause. A timely medical evaluation will be necessary to identify why nausea appears without vomiting, and treating them will allow them to disappear in the shortest possible time.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to I have nausea, but I do not vomit: what can it be? We recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .

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