Nausea is a strange feeling that makes you uneasy and restless. It is quite common in women of all age groups. This article addresses various causes that can lead to nausea in women.
Nausea can be defined as a queasy sensation in the stomach which make you feel that the stomach is trying to empty itself through vomiting. When you feel nausea, you may or may not throw up. Here, I would like to make one thing clear that nausea is not any illness but is a symptom of a health disorder. Most of the time, it is not a serious matter at all and does not even require any treatment. However, in some cases, it could be a serious issue which should not be neglected.
What are the Causes of Nausea in Women?
There are many reasons for feeling nauseous, especially when it comes to women. Identification of the cause is important to get faster relief from the discomfort. Following are a few of the important factors that trigger nausea in women.
Upset Stomach: When you have an upset stomach, you feel nauseous just after eating. The stomach can get upset because of food poisoning, food allergies, food intolerance, viral or bacterial infection in stomach after consumption of contaminated food, and so on. The one thing which is common in all these given causes, is that some elements have entered the body through food which the digestive system cannot digest. In this condition, the body tries to get rid of it by vomiting up. So here, nausea is the natural reaction of the digestive system in the presence of a toxic substance.
Pregnancy: There is nothing wrong if a pregnant woman is suffering from recurrent episodes of nausea in her first trimester. It may last all throughout the nine months of pregnancy as well. It is strongly felt in the morning and is referred to as morning sickness. It tends to get aggravated when she feels sensitive towards certain smells. The exact cause of nausea during pregnancy has not yet been ascertained. However, it is believed that it could be related to rise in the levels of reproductive hormones, deficiency of vitamin B and imbalance in sugar levels.
Headache: A throbbing headache that continues for a long time can give a nauseous feeling. Headache and nausea may occur together due to migraine, common cold, fatigue, and depression. These two are also symptoms of serious diseases like, brain tumor, cancer, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, etc. Headache along with nausea can be observed after a serious head injury.
Exercises Before or After the Meals: During physical exercises, an empty stomach can trigger nausea. On the other hand, if some high intensity exercises are done soon after a heavy meal, then you may feel nauseated as well. Therefore, you should avoid exercising when hungry. At the same time, heavy exercises after eating is a strict no-no.
Drug Side Effects: Nausea can be felt after taking certain medicines. For instance, anti-inflammatory drugs that are used for relieving pain irritates the stomach lining and you feel uneasy. Similarly, antibiotic medicines taken on an empty stomach can induce nausea. Due to some unknown reasons, it is seen as a side effect of chemotherapy treatment.
What Should be Done to Get Rid of Nausea?
Usually, nausea is a temporary discomfort and it goes after a while. It does not require any medical treatment. You can take some measures to make yourself feel better. Resting for a while will help you to get some relief from the uneasiness associated with it. If you have an empty stomach, you should eat something. You may not feel like eating anything at that point of time, but eating some easily digestible foods, like, crackers or toast, is good for you. However, do not eat any fatty food or spicy food. Drinking a lot of fluids is essential as it can prevent dehydration. When you observe that you get nausea feeling after the intake of certain drugs, inform your doctor who may change the medicines. Many pregnant women feel nauseated by any particular smell. In that case, they should stay away from that odor. Most importantly, she should not feel stressed out because of morning sickness and try to remain calm. The moment you feel that queasy sensation, start taking a few deep breaths. This often helps a lot to get rid of the discomfort.
Nausea could be dangerous when it is accompanied by other symptoms such as stomach cramps, chest pain, blurry vision, vomit containing blood, fainting, high fever, confusion, etc. Under such circumstances, medical intervention is a must without any delay.
