The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Why do i feel sick?
Doctors explain some of the most common causes of nausea
“Nausea is a common symptom that can be triggered by physical or emotional events,” says Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director at Healthspan. “It is a non-specific symptom that can be difficult topindown– some causes are common, while others are more rare
1 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. “This is because your body reacts to stressful or anxious situations by releasing a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, and the imbalance can make us feel unwell,” explains Dr Luke Powles, associate clinical director at Bupa (bupa.co.uk).
Powles says 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. 2 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. 3 You’re pregnant Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, often known as morning sickness, are very common during the early stages – although sickness usually won’t start until the six to eight week mark. Contrary to what the name suggests, it can affect you at any time of the day or night, and some pregnant women feel sick all day long.
“Many women have nausea and vomiting during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy,” explains Powles.
“In most cases, it is mild and doesn’t need any specific treatment, but in rarer instances, some women might experience severe pregnancy sickness, called hyperemesis gravidarum, which might require specialist treatment. ” 4 Motion sickness Many people find that motion during travelling, particularly by 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.
This is especially likely to happen when travelling in an enclosed space such as a car, where you tend to focus on a nearby object – the eyes tell your brain the environment is stationary, while your balance organs say it is not.
“The most effective medication to prevent
and treat motion sickness is cinnarizine, which is available from pharmacies,” Dr Brewer advises. 5 Kidney stones Kidney stones are hard stones that can form in one or both of your kidneys, causing intense and often agonising pain. “Many kidney stones are too small to cause symptoms and one in 10 people have them without knowing,” notes Powles. “However, kidney stones can move out of our kidney and into your ureter – the tube that carries urine from your kidney to your bladder – and this can cause symptoms including sickness and vomiting, along with severe pain.” 6 Gallstones Similarly to kidney stones, gallstones develop in the gallbladder when chemicals like fats and minerals in your bile harden.
They can take years to develop, and you might not know you’ve got any unless they show up during tests for something else, or they move and cause complications.
“Some of the most common symptoms to look out for are feeling sick or vomiting, typically accompanied with a high temperature and tummy pain, often in the right upper region,” explains Dr Powles. 7 Migraine Most people associate migraines with a nasty headache – but the condition is actually far more severe and complex than that and there are other symptoms associated with it too, such as feeling sick and/or vomiting. “There’s unfortunately no cure for migraines,” says Powles. “There are ways to treat symptoms, reduce the pain, and stop them from happening so often.”
When you feel a migraine coming on (some people may see spots or flashing lights), it’s best to rest in a quiet, darkened room.
Powles advises applying pressure, an ice pack or hot water bottle to the painful area, as this may also help. There are also specific medications that can help with migraines. 8 A food intolerance The NHS reports that the number of people who believe they have a food intolerance has risen dramatically over recent years, and if your body finds it difficult to digest certain foods, you may experience nausea, bloating and stomach pains.
“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 Powles.