Feeling nauseous

Medical experts explain unexpected things that could be causing your queasiness, plus what you can do to make it go away...

FEELING STRESSED OR ANXIOUS

We all know that stress and anxiety can affect the body in many ways, and it’s not uncommon for these things to trigger feelings of nausea or sickness. It’s usually obvious if this is the cause of your symptoms, as the nausea usually passes quickly once the feelings of fear and overwhelm settle.

The best initial course of action is to try making simple lifestyle changes, to help reduce your feelings of stress or anxiety. These include leading a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, looking at ways to reduce work stress and practising relaxing techniques, like meditation or mindfulness.

TAKING CERTAIN MEDICATION

Whether taken for pain, allergies or mental health issues, popping a pill can sometimes irritate the lining of the stomach. Even common pharmaceuticals can have side-effects - including the ones we take to tackle allergies or colds. This is particularly common if you don’t use them as advised by your pharmacist, such as taking them on an empty stomach - so always read the guidelines.

A FOOD INTOLERANCE

“If you’re often feeling unwell after mealtimes and you’re worried you’re intolerant to a particular food, you should start keeping a food diary to monitor your symptoms,” advises Dr Luke Powles, associate clinical director at Bupa (bupa. co.uk). “But before you start eliminating complete food groups from your diet, it’s best to speak to your doctor or registered dietician first.”

MOTION SICKNESS

Many people find that motion during travelling, particularly by plane, car or aeroplane, can bring on a bout of sickness. Dr Brewer explains that motion sickness is due to excessive and repetitive stimulation of motion-detecting hair cells in the inner ear. “This triggers motion sickness when the brain receives conflicting messages from the eyes that do not match the degree of movement detected by the inner ears,” she says.

“The most effective medication to prevent and treat motion sickness is cinnarizine, which is available from pharmacies.”

KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones are hard stones that can form in one or both of your kidneys, causing intense and often agonising pain.

“If you experience nausea and vomiting associated with severe pain, or you are not passing stools or urine, it is important to see a doctor urgently,” says Dr Prudence Knight, an online GP from Push Doctor.