Latest news with #nausea
Health Line
2 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
How to Stop Throwing Up And Ways to Find Nausea Relief
You may be able to help reduce nausea and vomiting by eating a bland diet, taking medication, or using herbal supplements like ginger. If vomiting lasts a long time, it may be an emergency. Nausea is a queasiness or general sickness of the stomach during which you may or may not vomit. Vomiting can be a response to nausea and your body's effort to get rid of viruses, bacteria, and harmful substances. Whether due to a hangover, motion sickness, or an illness, nausea and vomiting may be treated at home with a few universal remedies. Read on for ways to stop vomiting and nausea, as well as signs for when it may be best to see a doctor for further treatment. What causes nausea? Nausea may be related to different causes and conditions. These may include but are not limited to: motion sickness gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) migraine morning sickness medication side effects, such as those from chemotherapy drugs food poisoning food allergies intestinal infections, or gastroenteritis ulcers intestinal obstruction stress and anxiety What causes vomiting? While it's possible to feel nauseated without throwing up, nausea may sometimes be a precursor to vomiting. The causes of vomiting are often the same as the causes of your underlying nausea. This may include acute illnesses such as gastroenteritis or long-term concerns such as GERD. Your brain – not your stomach – tells your body when to vomit. Throwing up is often your body's way of removing a damaging substance, such as viruses. It's also possible to feel queasy and not vomit. Although in some cases, nausea may go away after vomiting. How can you try to stop vomiting in children? Vomiting in children is commonly caused by viral illnesses and doesn't necessarily require medical treatment unless the vomiting is severe. In general, you can help reduce vomiting by modifying your child's diet. As a rule of thumb, you may want to avoid solid foods for up to 8 to 24 hours and instead offer: ice chips water electrolyte solutions popsicles pudding jello yogurt applesauce A modified diet can also help prevent your child from becoming dehydrated. Eating solid foods may induce more vomiting, leading to further dehydration. For this reason, a pediatrician may recommend a liquid diet for 8 to 24 hours. Talk with your pediatrician if your child is also vomiting up fluids. Also, you should have your child lay on their side to minimize the chance of them inhaling vomit into their airways. Always speak to your child's doctor or a healthcare professional before giving them medications and alternative treatments. When to seek emergency care for a vomiting child Seek care immediately if your child is vomiting and has any of these symptoms: has a sudden and severe stomach pain is a baby who is floppy, irritable, or less responsive has a headache, a stiff neck, and a rash may have swallowed something poisonous there's blood in the vomit, or the vomit looks like ground coffee the vomit is green or yellow-green has a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights What medications can stop vomiting? Further treatment for vomiting will depend on the underlying cause. Unless you know the exact cause of vomiting, you should avoid taking medications without talking with a doctor first. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as antiemetics may sometimes be used to stop upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting. OTC medications for nausea can include Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, which contain bismuth subsalicylate. These medications help protect the stomach lining and reduce vomiting caused by food poisoning, among other causes. Other types of antiemetics, such as OTC antihistamines or H1 blockers, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine, Travel-Ease), may help stop vomiting caused by motion sickness. They work by blocking the H1 histamine receptors responsible for stimulating vomiting. Side effects of antihistamines may include: dry mouth blurred vision drowsiness Before taking any OTC medications for nausea and vomiting, consider the following: Only take the recommended dosage on the product label. Do not take more than one antiemetic medication at the same time, as they may share similar active ingredients. Do not give bismuth subsalicylate products to children under 12 years old. Do not give bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol-type products) to children or teens with the flu or chickenpox, as this can increase their risk for Reye's syndrome. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about potential drug interactions if you take other OTC or prescription medications, such as blood thinners. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if antiemetic medications are safe if you have certain underlying conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, or thyroid disease. Eat bland foods and crackers Dry crackers, such as soda crackers or saltines, are a tried-and-true remedy for nausea. They are thought to help absorb stomach acids. For morning sickness, try eating a few crackers before getting out of bed to help settle your stomach. Other bland foods like dry toast or white rice are also good to eat while recovering from a stomach bug. Avoid eating spicy or fatty foods that could further irritate your stomach. It's also important that you continue to drink enough fluids to help prevent dehydration as you start eating bland solid foods. Try deep breathing Take deep breaths by breathing air through your nose and into your lungs. Your abdomen should expand as you breathe in. Exhale slowly through your mouth or nose and relax your belly after each breath. Repeat this several times. You can use the image below to help pace yourself. A 2020 study suggested that taking deep, controlled breaths may be beneficial in reducing how often people undergoing cancer treatments experienced nausea and vomiting. According to a 2022 review, this may be attributed to the effects of deep breathing from the diaphragm, which can activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Deep breathing may also help calm anxiety that may occur when you're feeling sick. Wrist acupressure for vomiting Acupressure is a popular traditional Chinese medicine remedy that may also help alleviate feelings of nausea and subsequent vomiting. It uses pressure to stimulate certain points of the body to relieve symptoms. Wrist acupressure may be preferred by people who may not want to eat or drink anything due to nausea. Applying pressure to pressure point Neiguan (P-6), a spot on the palm side of the forearm near your wrist, may help relieve nausea and vomiting. To massage this pressure point: Place three fingers across the wrist. Put your thumb under your index finger. Rub this point in a firm, circular motion for two to three minutes. Repeat on the other wrist. Drink more fluids If you're vomiting a lot, it's critical to drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, even if you vomit some of them back up. Sip the fluids slowly. Drinking too much at one time when your stomach is upset may cause more vomiting. Fluids that help keep you hydrated and may ease nausea can include: herbal or mint tea lemonade water You can also suck on ice chips or popsicles to stay hydrated. If a doctor believes you're dehydrated due to vomiting, they may provide you with intravenous (IV) fluids. Try ginger, fennel, or cloves Pregnant people, children, and those with medical conditions should speak with a healthcare professional before using herbal remedies. Ginger Ginger supplements have been one of the most widely studied remedies for nausea and vomiting. According to research, ginger is likely safe and effective for preventing and treating nausea and vomiting in during pregnancy and for people undergoing chemotherapy. The review also suggested that ginger's active ingredients, gingerols and shogaols, can help speed up stomach emptying and reduce morning sickness. Still, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's best to check with a doctor first before using ginger or any other supplement. You can try sipping a cup of warm ginger tea slowly when nausea strikes. Or, slowly eat a small piece of fresh ginger root or candied ginger. You can also make fresh ginger tea by adding a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root to one cup of boiling water. Steep to desired strength. You can strain the tea before drinking if you prefer. Fennel Fennel seeds are thought to help calm the digestive tract. Animal studies suggest that fennel may help promote healthy digestion, but human studies on fennel for relief from vomiting are lacking. Still, anecdotal evidence suggests it may be worth sipping a cup of fennel tea the next time nausea strikes. To make fennel tea, add about a teaspoon of fennel seeds to one cup of boiling water. Steep to desired strength and strain before drinking. Cloves Cloves have been used as a folk remedy for nausea and vomiting. A 2021 study in China wasn't able to confirm such benefits more broadly, but you can still try cloves either topically or as a tea if a doctor gives you the go-ahead. To make clove tea, add one cup of boiling water to a teaspoon or so of cloves. Steep to desired strength and strain before drinking. Can aromatherapy help stop nausea and vomiting? Aromatherapy may help relieve nausea and vomiting, although studies on its effectiveness are mixed. To practice aromatherapy, try deep breathing with an open essential oil bottle, an essential oil diffuser, or add a few drops to a cotton ball. Scents that are believed to have an effect on nausea can include: clove lemon ginger lavender chamomile rose fennel peppermint If you have asthma or another respiratory condition, ask your doctor before diffusing essential oils. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAI), using essential oils may increase breathing difficulties in some people. When to see a doctor Not all cases of nausea and vomiting require a visit to a doctor, especially if the symptoms are mild and temporary. However, you should call a doctor if: You or your child vomits for more than 24 hours. There's blood in your vomit. You have signs of dehydration, such as infrequent urination, dark urine, and dry mouth. Vomiting comes and goes for more than a month. You're losing weight from long-term nausea and vomiting. When vomiting is an emergency Sometimes vomiting can be a sign of an emergency situation. If you experience any of the following symptoms along with nausea and vomiting, have someone bring you to a hospital or contact local emergency medical services. These symptoms can include: chest pain severe abdominal pain blurred vision dizziness or fainting high fever stiff neck cold, clammy, pale skin severe headache being unable to keep food or liquids down for 12 hours Additionally, you should seek help right away if you think your symptoms are related to poisoning. Get help from the Poison Control Center online or call (800) 222-1222. Frequently asked questions How do I stop myself from vomiting? Some natural ways to help you stop vomiting include eating bland foods and crackers, trying aromatherapy or wrist acupressure, and taking some herbal supplements like ginger, fennel, or cloves. Some OTC medications may also provide relief from nausea and vomiting, such as Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, antihistamines, or H1 blockers. It's important to speak with a healthcare professional if vomiting persists for more than 1 day. Get immediate medical attention if you're experiencing bloody vomit or it looks like coffee grounds. Some natural ways to help you stop vomiting include eating bland foods and crackers, trying aromatherapy or wrist acupressure, and taking some herbal supplements like ginger, fennel, or cloves. Some OTC medications may also provide relief from nausea and vomiting, such as Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, antihistamines, or H1 blockers. It's important to speak with a healthcare professional if vomiting persists for more than 1 day. Get immediate medical attention if you're experiencing bloody vomit or it looks like coffee grounds. What can stop vomiting fast? Some prescription and OTC anti-emetic medications may help stop vomiting. However, their efficacy depends on the underlying cause. Other options may include wrist acupressure, consuming ginger, and deep breathing. Some prescription and OTC anti-emetic medications may help stop vomiting. However, their efficacy depends on the underlying cause. Other options may include wrist acupressure, consuming ginger, and deep breathing. What drink can stop vomiting? Some warm tea may help provide relief from nausea and vomiting, such as ginger, clove, and fennel teas. Some warm tea may help provide relief from nausea and vomiting, such as ginger, clove, and fennel teas. Can I drink water to stop vomiting? Drinking water very slowly or sucking on ice cubes may help keep water down. It will also provide essential hydration. However, drinking too much water at a time or drinking it too quickly often triggers more vomiting. Drinking water very slowly or sucking on ice cubes may help keep water down. It will also provide essential hydration. However, drinking too much water at a time or drinking it too quickly often triggers more vomiting.
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Why do I get car sick and my boyfriend doesn't? I asked experts
The other day, I tried to read an email on my phone while in the backseat of a moving car. Almost immediately, I was overwhelmed with nausea. Next to me, my boyfriend was happily scrolling through news articles. He tried to show me a headline, but I was too busy staring out the window, breathing deeply and trying not to vomit. This happens basically any time I am in a moving vehicle that I am not personally piloting. It's a little embarrassing. But I'm in good company: approximately one in three people are considered 'highly susceptible to motion sickness'. What exactly is motion sickness, and why do some people experience it so much more than others? We asked experts. Motion sickness is a generic term that encompasses all sorts of travel sickness, including sea sickness, air sickness and car sickness, says Dr John Golding, professor of applied psychology at the University of Westminster, in London. But you don't need to travel to experience its unpleasant symptoms, which can include nausea, vomiting, burping, drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and blurred vision. When the Lumière brothers first screened a motion picture for the public in 1895, some people in the audience started feeling dizzy and sick, says Golding. This is known as 'visually induced motion sickness'. Science isn't entirely sure what causes motion sickness, experts say, but the most widely agreed-upon explanation is the 'sensory conflict theory'. Your body uses visual stimuli, proprioception (the body's ability to perceive itself in space) and the vestibular system (structures inside the inner ear that help you maintain a sense of balance) to sense where your body is and how it is moving. Usually, these three mechanisms are in sync. But when one of them isn't – say, you're reading a static page in the car, but your vestibular system still senses that you're moving – this sensory conflict confuses the brain. 'This neurological tension is what triggers common symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting,' explains Dr Safia Debar, a general practitioner and executive health physician at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. In the case of the Lumière brothers' first audiences, their vestibular systems and senses of proprioception told them they were still, but their eyes told them they were moving. Today, many people experience this sort of visually induced motion sickness when using virtual-reality headsets. One of the most common misconceptions about motion sickness is that the strength of the movement determines the severity of the reaction, says Golding. But people don't tend to get motion sickness when they're bouncing up and down on horseback; that is a 'higher frequency' movement, says Golding. Slower-frequency movements, like the rocking of a ship at sea, or the swaying of a bus, are more likely to result in motion sickness. So why can one person read endlessly in a car while even a quick glimpse at a phone turns another person green? A number of factors seem to influence one's proneness to motion sickness, says Dr Behrang Keshavarz, senior scientist at the Kite Research Institute and professor in the department of psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. One is age: motion sickness tends to peak in children between the ages of 8 and 12. 'Adults are usually better than kids with motion sickness,' says Keshavarz. But that's not true for everyone, he clarifies. Research suggests people assigned female at birth are more likely to experience motion sickness than those assigned male at birth, says Keshavarz, though no one's quite sure why. Genetics may also play a role, says Golding, adding that studies indicate motion sickness might be 50-70% heritable. Some individuals may also be better at adapting to strange new motions than others, suggests Dr Thomas A Stoffregen, emeritus professor of kinesiology at the University of Minnesota. 'Some people are 'naturally coordinated' and can learn new motor skills quickly,' he says over email. 'Others (like me) are klutzes and take forever to learn new movements.' The latter are more at risk for motion sickness, he argues. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion One thing is certain: motion sickness is not a sign of weak character. (I would like to see this printed on the little airplane vomit bags I so often end up breathing into during landings.) 'It's not about being delicate or anxious,' says Debar. 'Some people are simply more sensitive to motion.' About half of novice astronauts get space sick during training, Golding adds. 'They're very fit, very highly motivated and not weak-willed,' he says. I nod. Sitting in the back of a Kia Sorento is a lot like going into space, I tell myself. There are two approaches to dealing with motion sickness: behavioral and pharmacological. Behaviorally, a number of easy measures can help. Sit in the front seat of a car when you can, keep your eyes on the horizon, and avoid reading and screens, says Debar. She also notes that ginger has some natural anti-nausea effects. Pleasant music, fresh air, nice smells and a generally pleasant ambiance may be able to distract you, says Keshavarz. He also suggests car passengers copy the movements of the driver. Drivers rarely get motion sickness because they can anticipate the movements of the car and lean into turns, for example. 'If you mimic what the driver does, that helps,' Keshavarz says. Unfortunately, the most effective way to combat motion sickness is also the least pleasant: habituation. In other words, doing the activity over and over again until it doesn't give you motion sickness anymore. 'This is by far the most effective countermeasure,' says Golding, who used it to help desensitize Royal Air Force pilots to air sickness. 'It doesn't have side effects, but it's very time consuming and can be stimulus specific,' he says – meaning that habituating to car sickness won't necessarily help you with sea sickness. Over-the-counter anti-nausea medication can be effective, experts say, but they often cause drowsiness. Transdermal patches such as Scopolamine are also helpful for up to three days, but can take six to 10 hours to take effect. Timing is important for such medications, says Golding. Even pills might take 30 minutes to an hour to take effect. And you must take them before you start to feel sick, because once you start to experience motion sickness, your stomach goes into gastric stasis, meaning it is no longer emptying its contents into the gut. 'That means you might have taken the pill, but it's not going anywhere,' says Golding. Finally, you can always 'vote with your feet', says Golding. 'Avoid situations where you get sick.'
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
My 'perfect' husband swept me off my feet. When I broke out in hives after our honeymoon, the twisted truth emerged... it was a bloodbath
Kelly Sutliff's doctors struggled to find the cause of her constant nausea, headaches, lethargy and the bright red hives that had appeared on her body. She was desperate to know why she was feeling so sick, but in the meantime she could at least rely on her devoted husband, Chris Mackie, to take care of her - or so she thought.
