Nausea is usually described as a distress in the stomach which may accompany a need to vomit, the lack of appetite and an acidic taste. Constant nausea is actually incredibly common, affecting up to 25% of people, but experts still view it as a symptom as it is usually due to a different condition. Most people find it not only difficult to manage their nausea but also to explain it. Chronic nausea can always be managed and sometimes even completely cured whether it comes from a psychological or physical origin. Read on to learn and possible causes of you feeling constantly nauseated and how you can manage this discomfort.
Possible Causes of Constant Nausea
1. Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the causes of nausea that is easiest to recognize and it is frequently the first experience that a pregnant women will notice. It comes in the form of morning sickness which can occur at any time. Most expectant mothers won’t experience it for more than the first trimester but some notice it continuing longer. You can reduce it by nibbling on crackers, having liquids between meals, and having smaller and more frequent meals.
2. Food Consumption
Sometimes constant nausea will be accompanied by diarrhea and in this case it is usually due to eating something your body isn’t tolerant of or having a food that is too rich. An example would be someone with lactose intolerance feeling nauseous after eating dairy products. Most of the time, however, nausea and diarrhea will appear together after having water or food that is contaminated with viruses or bacteria. Other times it will be due to bowel disorders, intestinal disease, medication, or traveling abroad.
3. GERD
GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflex disease and is sometimes known as heartburn. People with this issue will experience the acids in their stomach refluxing back up and entering the esophagus. Other than constant nausea, GERD can cause additional symptoms of middle abdominal or chest pain and a bad taste in your mouth after you eat. Although common, this issue can be treated by not laying down after you eat, having smaller mealsand reducing fatty foods. There are also medications that can reduce the acidity of the stomach’s contents including Nexium, Pepcid, Maalox, and Tums.
4. Gastritis
Gastritis is the inflammation of your stomach and the source of it can vary. In some cases people will develop it for a week or several months after having a viral infection. Some of those who suffer from gastritis will be infected with Helicopylori, which is a bacterium that can also cause ulcers. Symptoms of Gastritis include nausea and vomiting, feeling of fullness in upper abdomen after each meal as well as indigestion.
5. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
IBS is a common disorder that affects your colon. Though it does not pose permanent damage to your large intestine nor does it cause inflammation in bowel tissues, it can cause constant nausea, abdominal pain, cramping, gas and bloating, constipation and diarrhea in you. You can control this condition by changing your lifestyle, diet and manage your stress level. The following video shows you instant relief for IBS nausea and abdominal pain:
6. Migraine
Migraines are painful headaches that follow a pulsing or throbbing sensation in a specific area of the head. In addition to nausea, they also frequently involve extreme sensitivity to sound and light as well as vomiting. These headaches will make the temporal artery at the skull’s base enlarge and then chemicals release in response to inflammation. The increase in pressure in the skull leads to the symptoms. If your constant nausea is due to a migraine, try getting some fresh air, loosening up your clothes, staying hydrated or talking to your doctor about medication.
7. Stress
Sometimes nausea is triggered by a psychological cause. Certain smells may bring back unpleasant memories and lead to nausea. Other people will feel nauseous due to constant worry and stress. Severe emotional trauma and generalized anxiety disorder can lead to nausea as well as insomnia. Bulimia could also cause nausea in some cases.
8. Other Causes
Additional common causes of nausea can include certain medications, ulcers, kidney stonesand chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer. Experts agree that you should seek help to determine the cause of your nausea due to the wide range of possible causes.
The following video provides you with more handy and effective home remedies to relive your nausea:
How to Treat Constant Nausea
No matter the cause of your nausea, taking the following steps can usually help relieve or completely manage the symptoms:
- Lie down
- Sip clear fluids regularly
- Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid Tylenol, aspirin, or other medications which may upset your stomach
When you are starting to feel better, avoid the urge to celebrate with a large meal. It is much better to take small steps and aim for foods with a lot of fiber like those on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast). You should also stay away from dairy and oily foods until you are better.
When to See a Doctor
In the following conditions, you should see your doctor:
- Nausea which won’t go away or decrease for over six months if you aren’t pregnant
- If an adult can’t retain fluids for twelve hours or a child can’t for eight hours
- If you have dehydration symptoms, including shock, low blood pressure, sunken eyes, less skin elasticity, less frequent urination, dry mouth, or increased thirst
- You have headache, neck stiffness, bleeding, severe abdominal pain along with vomiting
How to Diagnose the Causes of Constant Nausea
There is an incredibly large range of tests that doctors can use to help determine the source of your constant nausea. Most doctors will examine you for gallbladder disease and GERD when diagnosing your constant nausea. They will also check whether the nausea is caused by Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, or another endocrine disease. Most doctors will also take a look at your drug history and check for any neurological symptoms.
In some cases chronic nausea will be due to something in the central nervous system. It is this central nervous system that is responsible for the triggers for vomiting so if the triggers misfire or malfunction in some way, they may give you a nauseous sensation.
Usually if your doctor still can’t find the cause of the nausea, his next step will be to look at neurogastric reasons and check for abnormalities in your gastric pacemaker or gastric arrhythmia.
