Waking up nauseous not pregnant

Reasons You Feel Sick in the Morning, Even When Not Pregnant

Nausea is sometimes a symptom of pregnancy, but people feel sick in the morning for many reasons.
For instance, it could be down to diet, lack of sleep, or anxiety.
Mild nausea can be treated with small changes, but if the problem persists, you should see a doctor.

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If you're a woman, feeling sick in the morning is known as one of the first signs you're pregnant. But it's not the only reason you might feel queasy when you wake up.

"When we hear about morning sickness, most people's first thought is pregnancy," said Dr. Janice Johnston, the chief medical officer and cofounder of healthcare provider Redirect Health. "This is because morning sickness is a very common side effect in pregnancy, specifically in the first trimester, affecting about 7 in 10 pregnant women."

The reason morning sickness is so common is due to a particular hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG. The body starts producing HCG as soon as the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, which results in a feeling of queasiness, nausea, and can cause vomiting.

According to medical professionals, morning sickness, or a general feeling of nausea can be caused by a wide variety of things, including diet, lifestyle, and mental wellbeing.

1. Irregular sleeping

Having a disrupted sleep cycle, whether it's from insomnia, sleep apnea, or simply staying up too late, can affect our digestive systems, Johnston said.

"This can cause you to have a feeling of uneasiness in your stomach when you wake up in the mornings," she said.

According to Dr. Daniela Jodorkovsky, a doctor interviewed by Refinery29, a feeling of sickness is closely linked to our sleeping patterns. Not getting enough sleep disrupts the body's circadian rhythms — or body clock — which has been linked to numerous disorders and problems, including Alzheimer's, weight gain, and mental-health conditions including depression.

All our hormones are in a delicate balance. Some make us sleepy, like melatonin, and some, like ghrelin, control our appetite. So eating or sleeping at irregular times can have more of a prolonged impact than we realize.

General practitioner Dr. Nick Knight told GQ that the shock of waking up when you're exhausted can trigger a rapid spike in your "fight or flight" nervous system, which can trigger this feeling of nausea.

2. Low blood sugar

If your blood sugar is low, it can cause a feeling of low energy and weakness, Johnston said.

"Low blood sugar can come from a lack of eating well-balanced meals with fiber and complex carbs, or from skipping meals altogether," she said. "If you wake up with an upset stomach it may have been because you skipped dinner or simply did not eat enough the day before."

Jodorkovsky recommends eating something, even if you don't feel like it.

"While it sounds counterintuitive, eating a light snack or breakfast when feeling nauseated in the morning can alleviate the symptoms altogether," she said.

3. Acid reflux

Morning nausea can also be caused by your diet. For example, eating a big meal right before bed full of fatty foods might cause acid reflux, according to Johnston.

"Stomach acid can go up through the esophagus and cause a feeling of heartburn and sometimes an upset stomach," she said.

4. Dehydration

Knight, the doctor who spoke to GQ, said not drinking enough water can also be a reason you wake up feeling sick.

"Overnight it's easy to dehydrate (and exacerbated if you've had some alcohol)," he told the outlet. "When you take on fluid, the symptoms settle."

5. Anxiety

Anxiety can cause nausea, especially if there is an event coming up, like an important meeting.

"Our gut, or gastrointestinal system, is closely linked to our central nervous system and our brains," said Johnston, the Redirect Health cofounder. "These two systems communicate back and forth with each other, so when one is affected, the other will notice."

When feeling high stress or anxiety, certain hormones get released, she said. When they enter your digestive tract, it can affect digestion and cause an upset stomach.

"If you are laying in bed stressing about a test, or feeling anxious about an upcoming event, you may feel a sense of queasiness or nausea as a result," she said.

I anxiety is affecting your every day life and you're suffering frm panic attacks, it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder that needs to be checked by a professional.

6. Nasal congestion

Strangely, nasal congestion could also be a culprit. According to Healthline, a blocked nose or sinuses can put pressure on your inner ear, leading to an upset stomach and nausea.

Otherwise, Britian's National Health Service lists suggestions for nausea, including plenty of fresh air, peppermint or ginger tea, distractions like watching films, and smaller, frequent meals.

"Of course, if you have concerning symptoms like vomiting, weight loss, severe headaches, or abdominal pain, see your doctor," said Jodorkovsky.

This article was first published in December 2018 and has been updated to include more experts and examples.

Pregnancy, 22 Other Causes & More

Anyone can wake up feeling nauseated.

Pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting are among the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. These symptoms are most likely to appear around week 6, but they can occur earlier. They usually go away between weeks 16 and 20.

Although it’s called morning sickness, this symptom can occur at any time of day. Some pregnant people experience ongoing nausea throughout the day.

Fatigue or sleep issues

Jet lag, insomnia, or an early alarm can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle. These changes in your regular sleeping pattern shift your body’s neuroendocrine response, which can sometimes lead to nausea.

Inner ear infection

The vestibular system in your inner ear helps your body stay balanced. When you have an infection in your inner ear, it can make you feel unbalanced and dizzy, which can cause nausea and vomiting.

Hunger or low blood sugar

If the last time you ate was at dinner, 12 or more hours may have passed by the time you wake up in the morning. A low level of glucose in your blood can leave you feeling dizzy, weak, or nauseous. Skipping breakfast — especially if you usually eat breakfast — may make it worse.

Acid reflux

Acid reflux occurs when the entrance to the stomach doesn’t close properly after you eat or drink, letting stomach acid escape into the esophagus and throat. The sour taste, along with other symptoms such as burping or coughing, can leave you feeling nauseated.

Acid reflux can be worse in the morning, even if it’s been hours since you last ate. This might be because you’re in a reclined position and swallow less when you’re sleeping.

Sinus congestion or postnasal drip

Sinus congestion puts pressure on your inner ear, which can lead to an upset stomach and nausea. It can also cause dizziness, which can result in nausea and vomiting.

Anxiety

We often feel emotions such as stress, excitement, and anxiety in our gut.

Nausea in the morning might be related to a stressful event, such as an upcoming important meeting. In other cases, it’s caused by chronic or ongoing sources of stress or anxiety.

Learn more about the connection between nausea and anxiety.

Hangover

If you had a lot of alcohol to drink the previous night, your nausea might be the result of a hangover. A number of the effects of alcohol are associated with nausea, including low blood sugar and dehydration.

Diet

Nausea in the morning could be related to something you ate at breakfast. A mild food allergy or intolerance can cause nausea. In other cases, eating too much will leave you feeling nauseated.

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a condition in which the muscles in the wall of your stomach slow down or stop. As a result, food doesn’t move from your stomach to your intestine. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and delayed gastric emptying are common symptoms.

Gallstones

Gallstones form in your gallbladder when substances, such as cholesterol, harden. When gallstones get stuck in the bile duct that connects the gallbladder and intestine, it can be very painful. Nausea and vomiting often occur along with the pain.

Pain medication

Opioids are a class of drugs used to treat moderate to severe pain. A side effect of most of these drugs is nausea and vomiting.

Chemotherapy

Nausea and vomiting are well-documented side effects of some chemotherapy drugs. The drugs activate the part of your brain that controls nausea and vomiting. Sometimes the drugs also affect cells in the lining of your stomach, which can cause nausea and vomiting.

If you’ve already had nausea and vomiting from receiving chemotherapy, just the sights and smells that remind you of it can trigger nausea and vomiting.

Brain injury or concussion

Brain injuries and concussions can cause swelling in your brain. This increases the pressure in your skull, which can activate the place in your brain that regulates nausea and vomiting. Vomiting after experiencing head trauma indicates your head injury is significant and you should seek immediate medical attention.

Food poisoning

When you eat or drink something contaminated, your body works quickly to get rid of it. If you have food poisoning, you might experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea along with an upset stomach or abdominal cramps.

If you’re experiencing nausea in the morning, the culprit could be something you ate the previous night.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis isn’t the same as food poisoning, though it causes similar symptoms. This infection is caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. It’s transferred from person to person via contaminated feces, food, or drinking water.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes. It can occur when insulin scarcity forces the body to start breaking down fats instead of carbs to use as fuel.

This process results in a buildup of ketones in the bloodstream. Too many ketones can cause symptoms such as nausea, confusion, and extreme thirst. Seek emergency medical assistance right away if this happens.

Peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcers are sores that affect the inner lining of the stomach and intestines. They typically cause stomach pain, but they can also cause nausea and vomiting.

Constipation

Constipation can cause nausea. When digested matter is backed up in your colon, it slows down the function of your entire gastrointestinal system, leading to nausea.

Motion sickness

Motion sickness happens when your brain gets mixed signals about your movement.

For example, when you ride in a car, your eyes and your ears tell your brain that you’re moving but the area in your inner ear that helps you stay balanced, and your muscles, tell your brain that you aren’t moving. The mixed signals can cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

This happens most often in children and people who are pregnant.

Treatment for morning nausea depends on its cause.

Nausea due to pregnancy

People who experience morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy can try adapting their diet, increasing their fluid intake, and taking an antacid. When nausea and vomiting are severe, your doctor might prescribe a histamine blocker or proton pump inhibitor.

Nausea due to diet or lifestyle

When nausea in the morning is caused by your diet or lifestyle, following the advice below may help:

Limit alcohol consumption.
Eat something small right after you wake up.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
Avoid having a big meal right before bed.
Avoid having fatty foods before bed.
Use relaxation techniques to deal with stress.

Nausea due to medication

If you’re taking prescription medication that’s making you nauseated, talk to your doctor. They might suggest another type of medication or prescribe an anti-nausea drug to help you cope.

Nausea due to gastrointestinal issues or ear infection

If your morning nausea is the result of an underlying gastrointestinal issue or ear infection, seeking treatment for the issue will usually help relieve nausea and related symptoms.

Nausea due to motion sickness

If motion sickness is causing your nausea, sitting where you can get the smoothest ride and looking out into the distance can help. Anti-nausea pills or patches may also help.

See a doctor if morning nausea is disrupting your everyday activities and you’ve already ruled out pregnancy as a cause.

Most of the time, nausea in the morning isn’t a cause for concern. However, ongoing or severe nausea could be a sign of a serious condition.

defensive reaction of the body or a symptom of the disease, what to do with nausea and when dizzy

Nausea is a defense mechanism of the body. An unpleasant sensation in the mouth, in the pharynx, in the epigastric region, in the chest, warns of a possible attack of vomiting, the ingress of toxic substances into the body, an increase in temperature, and other violations of its work. It arises at one glance at stale, unappetizing food, decomposed organic matter, emitting an unpleasant odor.

An attack of nausea does not always indicate a real threat to health. Sometimes it is enough to see an unpleasant image so that the tone of the stomach decreases, convulsive contractions of the respiratory muscles begin. If you get distracted, switch your attention, take a few deep breaths, the nausea quickly stops. nine0003

But if nausea is felt frequently, and you do not understand its causes, you need to see a doctor. This may be one of the first symptoms of a dangerous disease. If you know what causes an unpleasant pulling sensation, avoid situations that provoke it. Prolonged bouts of nausea reduce appetite, disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive system, worsen well-being and performance.

Types of nausea

Nausea can be caused by various causes. Unpleasant pulling sensations in the mouth, in the epigastric region, in the larynx, stomach, occur:

in case of poisoning;
when the temperature rises;
accompany bouts of dizziness;
in moving vehicles;
for abdominal pain.

More than 70% of pregnant women complain of nausea in the first trimester, and doctors cannot relieve expectant mothers of this unpleasant sensation.

Can feel sick after severe stress, overwork (intense training, hard physical work), overeating, drinking large amounts of alcohol, overdose of antispasmodics or analgesics. Sometimes an unpleasant symptom disappears after a few hours or after an attack of vomiting. But if a person ate or drank too much, he may need the help of a doctor, gastric lavage, intravenous administration of drugs that remove toxins and support the cardiovascular system. nine0003

In case of poisoning

Nausea in case of poisoning is the body's reaction to the intake of toxic substances. It occurs as with food poisoning, the use of large doses of alcohol, overeating or inhalation of poisons (carbon monoxide, gasoline vapors, household chemicals, paints, varnishes, etc.), the use of drugs, drugs.

In case of poisoning with carbon monoxide, narcotic substances, medicines, you should immediately call an ambulance or take the person to the hospital. When overeating, eating stale foods, you need to clean the stomach, rinse it with plenty of water. Baking soda or a few manganese crystals can be added to the water to turn it a pale pink. If there are traces of blood in the vomit, urgent medical attention is needed. nine0003

If a small amount of toxic substances has entered the body and only nausea is felt, take sorbents, take a walk in the fresh air.

Fever rises

Fever may cause nausea. If there is no vomiting, it is caused by general intoxication of the body, which develops due to the inflammatory process, an infectious disease. Medicines for stomach pain, bloating, dizziness or folk remedies will not relieve an unpleasant symptom. The underlying disease needs to be treated. It can be SARS, tonsillitis, pneumonia. Consult a doctor to examine the patient, make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. nine0003

If you feel sick at a fever, do not eat fatty, heavy foods (fried meats, meat broths, fatty soups, fried potatoes, cakes). Eat vegetables, fruits, dairy products in small portions, drink tea with lemon, ginger, cranberry juice. Don't drink alcohol. It will increase the toxicity of the body.

Nausea and dizziness

If you feel sick and dizzy, you need to measure the pressure. If it is above 140/90, you need to take drugs that reduce blood pressure. nine0003

Nausea and dizziness, weakness may occur in violation of cerebral circulation. If coordination of movements is impaired, a person has a fainting state - there is a risk of developing a stroke. If the heart feels sick and hurts, heaviness in the chest is felt, the calf muscles cramp, the skin is pale, the hands are cold - a heart attack is possible. You need to drink the medicines prescribed by the doctor and call an ambulance. Help the person to lie down so that the head and chest are raised, ventilate the room, put a cold compress on the forehead. Do not leave him alone, vomiting, loss of consciousness are possible. nine0003

In transport

When traveling in a car, public transport, or on an airplane, some people get motion sickness. Starts to feel sick, there may be bouts of vomiting. This is due to violations of the vestibular apparatus. Children often get sick in the car.

What to do if you feel sick on the bus, in the car, on the tram, on the plane:

do not eat 1. 5-2 hours before the trip;
take motion sickness medicine such as Dramina;
try to sleep; nine0016
if this does not disturb other passengers, open the window slightly;
some people benefit from mint gum or hard candies, sour apples;
look out the window straight ahead at the horizon without turning your head in different directions, do not look at moving objects, phone display, do not read while driving;
Take cool water or mint tea with you, drink in small sips.

Nausea with abdominal pain

Nausea and abdominal pain appear not only in case of poisoning, but also in diseases of the digestive tract, intestinal infections.

Dull, aching pain in the stomach and nausea occur with exacerbations of gastritis, with peptic ulcer, acid disturbance. In the navel or lower abdomen, it can hurt with colitis, gastroenterocolitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis. Feeling pain and nausea, heaviness in the stomach, you need to drink a medicine for the gastrointestinal tract, which helps you control your well-being in chronic diseases, relieves unpleasant symptoms. nine0003

If it hurts in the right side, you feel sick, the temperature has risen to 37-38 degrees, diarrhea has begun - you need to urgently go to the hospital to rule out appendicitis.

Nausea can be relieved

If nausea occurs due to harmless causes (pressure and temperature are normal, the stomach does not hurt, the head does not spin, there is no severe vomiting), it can be removed with pharmaceutical preparations or folk remedies.

Types of medicines

Anti-nausea drugs are available without a prescription, but you should not take them without consulting your doctor. He will tell you how to treat an unpleasant symptom, having figured out what caused it. If there is a pulling sensation in the pit of the stomach at the time of stress, some drugs are needed, and other drugs help travelers who get sick in a car or on an airplane. nine0003

When prescribing, the doctor takes into account the patient's age (adult, child, elderly person, man, woman), his weight, health status, chronic diseases, how often the need to take medicine arises. Drugs are produced in tablets, capsules, in the form of a syrup or solution for injection. When planning a trip or feeling an unpleasant symptom, keep in mind that the drug begins to act 30-60 minutes after ingestion. In order for the effect to appear faster, make injections. If you are looking for the most gentle remedy - choose capsules. It is more convenient for children to give syrups. nine0003

Folk methods

If you don’t have medicines with you, and a pulling sensation in your mouth appears, use the available folk methods: you need to do at rest, focusing on breathing, it is advisable to close your eyes;

fresh air - if it's cool outside, there are no busy roads nearby, go outside for fresh air. In the heat, discomfort will quickly pass in a room where the air conditioner is turned on, or in the shade, near a pond, fountain; nine0016

drink cool water or mint tea, drink in small sips;

eat a piece of ginger or a slice of lemon;

do acupressure - fold your thumb and forefinger and press them on the hollow at the base of the palm for 30-60 seconds.

Prevention

Follow these simple rules to prevent nausea. Refuse food, after which there is heaviness, discomfort (salty, smoked, fatty foods, fast food, coffee). Do not overeat, eat more often, but in small portions. Observe the drinking regime. Drink 1.5-2 liters of water daily. Do not abuse alcohol, do not smoke. nine0003

Do not lie down after eating. Walking in the fresh air will help the food to be better absorbed without causing discomfort.

Avoid walking along busy roads, working with household chemicals, paints, varnishes, using cosmetics with a strong smell.

See a doctor in a timely manner and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, control blood pressure.

Don't overwork yourself. If you feel that during sports, when doing physical work, your head is spinning, weakness has appeared - take a break. nine0003

When to see a doctor

Nausea can be unpleasant, but not a health hazard, a consequence of overeating, stress, overwork. But it can also signal intoxication of the body, indicate a pre-infarction or pre-stroke state, high blood pressure.

On your own, it is not always possible to understand whether there are reasons for concern. You should consult a doctor if you feel sick for more than 48 hours, with frequent vomiting (three or more times a day). If you feel sick, you feel severe weakness, dizziness, headache, chest pain, leg muscle spasms - call an ambulance. This condition occurs with serious violations of the cardiovascular system. Urgent help is needed when blood appears in the vomit, with acute pain in the abdomen. It could be appendicitis or internal bleeding. The child should be shown to the doctor if the nausea does not go away for several hours, there was repeated vomiting, the temperature is above 38 degrees. nine0003

Why do you feel sick in the morning on an empty stomach

Nausea in the morning on an empty stomach is most common in pregnant women due to intoxication, but it is not uncommon for males or even children to have this problem

Do not worry too much if you have encountered such a problem once, it is likely that this is a banal poisoning. But, if nausea in the morning on an empty stomach does not go away, you should immediately consult a doctor. Some people are used to dealing with this problem with folk remedies and medicines and they really get better, but it is worth considering that most likely the disease or pathology itself continues to develop. And as a result, it will turn into a more serious form. That is why it is so important to consult a doctor who will find out the cause of morning sickness and prescribe the most effective treatment. nine0003

Possible diseases

Most often, morning sickness on an empty stomach may indicate the presence of the following diseases:

unpleasant symptoms. This is due to inflammatory processes in the duodenum 12. The patient can also be tormented by: burning, bloating during and after eating, heartburn.

Appendicitis - nausea is likely to fade into the background after unbearable pain in the right side begins to appear.
Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) - this disease can also be accompanied by morning nausea. Accompanying symptoms are pain in the right hypochondrium and excessive gas formation. nine0016

Other causes of nausea in the morning

After deleting the above diseases from the list of causes, the following causes can be considered:

Pregnancy. Intoxication and nausea in the morning is often found in pregnant women, especially in the early stages. This is a normal reaction of the body to significant changes and hormonal changes. It is very important to completely exclude drugs for the treatment of the digestive tract during pregnancy. These funds can have an extremely negative impact on the health of the patient, the unborn child and the course of pregnancy. Therefore, you will have to endure this ailment and get by with folk remedies, but be sure to consult your doctor. nine0016
Migraine. Morning sickness on an empty stomach may precede a severe headache. You will most likely still feel a lot of noise and increased sensitivity to smells.
High blood pressure (hypertension). The problem of morning sickness can be accompanied by headache and dizziness. If you do not pay attention to these symptoms in a timely manner, you risk starting this disease, which in turn can lead to a stroke.
Cardiovascular disease - rarely, nausea on an empty stomach occurs with heart failure or developing myocardial infarction. If nausea is accompanied by pain, a feeling of heaviness and tightness behind the sternum, numbness or tingling in one half of the body, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible, as this may be an incipient myocardial infarction. nine0016
Increased intracranial pressure - Nausea and regurgitation in infants can occur when pressure increases inside the ventricles of the brain.

What to do if you feel sick in the morning

It is important to understand that regular morning sickness is a signal of the presence of a pathology or disease and it is highly undesirable to self-medicate. Be sure to consult a doctor for an examination, but if you don’t have such an opportunity at the moment, there are several effective ways that will help reduce or temporarily get rid of this problem: