Nausea

Key takeaways

• Nausea is when you feel sick to your stomach and have the urge to throw up.
• Some possible causes include heartburn, motion sickness, medication or a health condition such as pregnancy.
• Some ways to ease short-term nausea are to eat smaller portions, avoid fatty foods and drink clear beverages. If nausea continues, reach out to a provider to identify the cause and discuss treatment options.

Overview

What is a nausea?

Nausea is a general feeling of uneasiness and the feeling that you're going to throw up (vomit). When nauseous, you may also experience sweating, weakness or notice more saliva in your mouth. It's common to experience nausea right before vomiting.

Other names for fever:

Queasiness

What is the difference between nausea and vomiting?

Nausea is a sick feeling in your stomach or the urge to throw up. Vomiting is when your body forcefully moves food from your stomach and out through the mouth. You can feel nauseous without vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases but are symptoms of many different possible conditions. Both nausea and vomiting are signs of inflammation and irritation of the stomach and intestines.

Back to topics ^

Possible Causes

What can cause nausea?

There are several potential causes of nausea, including, but not exclusive to:

• Bacterial or viral infection
• Motion sickness
• Heartburn
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Overeating
• Ulcer
• Taking certain medications
• Food poisoning
• Pregnancy
• Gallbladder disease
• Indigestion
• Migraine

Back to topics ^

Treatment & management

How can nausea be treated?

Nausea is often treated with diet and lifestyle changes. Some ways to relieve short-term nausea can include:

• Drinking clear fluids
• Eating bland foods
• Eating smaller amounts of food
• Avoiding fried foods and foods high in fat
• Avoiding strenuous exercise and other high-impact activities after eating

Some over the counter medications can also help relieve nausea.

It is important to work with a health care provider to determine the cause of your nausea so that it can be treated appropriately.  MinuteClinic offers a variety of services that can help with diagnosis and treatment.

Plan your visit

Back to topics ^

When to seek medical care

Go to the hospital or call 911 if:

• Your nausea is accompanied by:
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Light-headedness
  • Unusual fatigue
  • A stiff neck
  • Severe headache
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Rapid pulse or rapid breathing rate
  • Your vomit looks like coffee grounds
  • You've ingested a poisonous substance or if you're dehydrated

Call your provider if:

• You haven't been able to eat or drink for more than 12 hours
• Your nausea lasts for more than 1 week
• You might be pregnant

Plan your visit

Back to topics ^

This material is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions.

Please visit a healthcare provider for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local Emergency Department.

References used as sources for this page

1. Everything You Should Know About Nausea via Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/nausea. (Accessed on March 2023).
2. Nausea & Vomiting via Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting. (Accessed on March 2023).

Back to topics ^