Why do I always feel sick?

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Posted by Medical News Today on

29 Sep 2020

Tagged with: Nausea, Fatigue,

Everyone feels sick sometimes, but in some circumstances, a person can feel sick all or most of the time. This feeling can refer to nausea, catching colds often, or being run-down.

This article was originally published in Medical News Today on November 15, 2019

A person might feel sick continuously for a few days, weeks, or months due to a lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, or a poor diet.

In other cases, there may be an underlying medical disorder.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2019, around 60 percent of American adults had at least one chronic or long-term condition, and 40 percent have two or more.

If a person is pregnant or may be pregnant, feeling sick continuously may be morning sickness, which can occur at any time of the day and makes a person feel sick with or without vomiting.

In this article originally written for Medical News Today, Jennifer Huizen looks at the causes, symptoms, and treatments for a person feeling sick all the time.

Causes, symptoms, and treatments

Below are some of the common reasons why someone might always feel sick, plus their symptoms, and how to treat each one.

Anxiety

Many people may not associate anxiety with feeling sick, but often it can make a person feel sick to their stomach.

A person with anxiety may feel nauseous, or they may find that they get sick more often because their anxiety weakens their immune responses.

Other symptoms of anxiety include:

• sweating
• shortness of breath
• feeling dizzy
• increased heart rate
• shaking or trembling
• avoiding certain situations

It is normal for people to have some anxiety. When a person feels anxious continuously, and this gets in the way of daily life, they may wish to talk to a doctor about anxiety disorders.

If a person feels anxiety on most days for 6 months or more, they may be diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

A person may have a specific anxiety disorder or a phobia if their anxiety is specific to certain situations, such as social contact or unhygienic places.

Treatment

Anxiety and anxiety disorders are very treatable. Possible options include:

• Resolving the cause of anxiety, which may be lifestyle factors, relationships, drugs, or alcohol.
• Psychotherapy or talking therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT).
• Talking to a doctor and taking medications, such as beta-blockers.

Chronic stress

Experiencing stress here and there is completely normal, but continual stress can greatly impact the mind and body.

Extreme stress, such as that caused by grief, shock, or traumatic experiences can also affect people physically.

People with chronic or extreme stress can have many different symptoms, as stress affects the immune system, nervous system, hormones, and heart functioning.

Other symptoms of chronic stress can include:

Treatment

The only definite way to treat chronic stress is to address and change the underlying cause. However, several lifestyle habits can greatly reduce stress and its symptoms.

Many traditional and alternative therapies exist to help manage or alleviate stress.

Good ways for someone to treat their stress include:

• Resolving the sources of conflict that is causing their upsets.
• Doing regular exercise as often as they can.
• Spending a decent amount of time outdoors.
• Practicing exercises for mindfulness and stress release, such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and guided visualisation.
• Avoiding bringing job issues or unfinished work home, and avoiding taking home-related issues to work.
• Getting a stress-releasing hobby, especially one that promotes creativity, such as drawing, writing, painting, or music.
• Asking for support and understanding from family and friends.
• Seeking help from a mental health professional.

Lack of sleep

Proper, regular sleep is important for mental and physical health. When someone is chronically sleep-deprived, they may feel sick all the time.

Many chronic medical conditions can interfere with sleep, usually intensifying the symptoms of both conditions.

Common symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation, or a lack of adequate sleep, include:

• daytime sleepiness
• general fatigue
• difficulty concentrating or completing tasks
• irritability and anxiety
• more frequent infections and longer healing time
• depression

Treatment

Common ways to improve sleep deprivation include:

• set a sleep and wake schedule, and stick to it, even on the weekends
• remove any sources of distraction from the bedroom, such as electronics
• seek treatment for conditions that hinder proper sleep, such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and chronic pain
• avoid energy drinks and too much caffeine
• relax before bed with yoga, meditation, a warm bath, or a book

Poor diet and dehydration

Dehydration and malnutrition, or having a poor diet, both put stress on the body. A chronic lack of proper nutrients and hydration can cause many problems, including:

• chronic fatigue and weakness
• dizziness or light-headedness
• difficulty concentrating
• poor immune health and extended healing time
• weight loss

Treatment

Recommendations for daily water intake differ, depending on a person’s age, sex, pregnancy status, and illness. It is often said that most people should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.

If a person suspects they are dehydrated, they should visit their doctor to find out the best treatments.

To treat and prevent malnutrition, people should eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in foods, including:

• whole grains
• whole fruits and vegetables
• pulses, such as dry beans, lentils, and chickpeas
• healthy fats, such as in fatty fishes, virgin olive oil, most nuts, whole eggs, avocados, and dark chocolate

Poor hygiene

Poor physical hygiene, especially oral, can cause a variety of symptoms that could make someone feel sick all of the time. Poor hygiene makes it easier for bacteria to grow and thrive, which can result in infection.

The skin is the body’s natural barrier to things that can cause infection, such as bacteria and viruses.

Washing the body, and keeping clothes and bedding clean can help to keep bacteria out, and keep natural, healthy bacterial communities in check.

People have a lot of blood vessels in their gums. This blood supply means that chronic, untreated gum infections can spread through the body. Severe gum disease has also been linked to several medical conditions.

Treatment

Regular washing of the body, clothes, and bedding should help treat and prevent most infections related to poor hygiene. And practicing oral hygiene habits can help treat, and greatly reduce the likelihood of developing gum infections and disease.

Good oral hygiene habits include:

• brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly. Fluoride toothpaste is available for purchase online, alongside dental floss.
• having regular dental check-ups and cleanings
• quitting smoking or using tobacco products
• avoiding sugary foods and drinks

Alcohol, caffeine, drugs, or medications

Alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs, and many prescription medications are known to interfere with sleep, which can lead to a general feeling of being unwell.

An overuse, or long-term use, of chemicals that act as stimulants or depressants, can cause certain mental and physical changes.

Treatment

A person should avoid drinks, foods, and drugs with these chemicals in them, especially in the evening or before bedtime. It is important to remember that caffeine and sugar can have a strong effect on how a person feels.

When someone’s symptoms are caused by prescription medication, they should speak to their doctor to find an alternative.

Immune conditions

Autoimmune conditions weaken the immune system and make it easier to develop infections, colds, and flu. This means that people with chronic immune conditions tend to feel sick more often and may take longer to recover from illnesses.

Common immune conditions that can make people feel sick all the time include:

Autoimmune conditions cause many symptoms, including fatigue, rashes, insomnia, and gastrointestinal problems.

Treatment

The only way to treat symptoms related to an autoimmune condition is to seek medical treatment and monitoring for the condition.

Exposure to infection

A person who has a lot of social contact with other people is exposed to things that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria, more than other people.

People may be exposed to more infections if they:

• work with children
• work in the healthcare industry
• live at close quarters with other people, such as in dormitories
• travel a lot or use public transportation frequently

Treatment

A person cannot always avoid social contact, though they can use the following techniques to reduce their risk of infection:

• frequent hand-washing
• covering the face when close to someone with a contagious illness
• using hand sanitisers.

Anemia

People with anemia do not have enough hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen, in their blood. When their tissues and cells do not get enough oxygen, they cannot function properly. This means that people with anemia tend to always feel under the weather.

Common symptoms of anemia include:

• fatigue or tiring easily
• difficulty concentrating
• shortness of breath
• pale skin

Treatment

Often, the easiest way to treat anemia is to make dietary changes or to take iron supplements.

Foods rich in iron include:

• dark green, leafy vegetables
• beans, lentils, and legumes
• chicken, fish, pork, and beef
• nuts and seeds
• eggs
• brown or wild rice
• fortified cereals and bread products

Complications

People who always feel sick are more likely to have to skip work or school, or they may be less able to perform day-to-day activities. This is especially true when a person has a chronic condition.

Chronic conditions can also cause feelings of anxiety and interfere with activities that are important to good health, such as proper sleep, exercise, and socialising.

Though the specific complications depend on the cause, a person who feels sick all the time, and whose symptoms do not improve, may develop depression, anxiety, or fatigue.

When to see a doctor

Anyone who feels sick for more than a week or two should seek medical attention. A doctor can figure out the cause of the sickness and provide treatment.

A doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes or therapies that can reduce symptoms.

It is also important to talk with a doctor about prolonged sickness so they can rule out or treat underlying medical conditions.

Outlook

Feeling run down, getting sick often, or feeling nauseous always is often explained by a lack of sleep, poor diet, anxiety or stress. However, it could also be a sign of pregnancy or chronic illness.

If a person is unsure what is causing them to feel sick all the time, they should consult their doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Original Sources

• 10 medical reasons for feeling tired. (2018, March 8) https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/tiredness-and-fatigue/Pages/medical-causes-of-tiredness.aspx
• Autoimmune diseases: What autoimmune diseases affect women, and what are their symptoms? (2017, April 28) https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/autoimmune-diseases
• Beyond worry: How psychologists help with anxiety disorders. (2016, October) http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/anxiety.aspx
• About chronic diseases. (2019, October 23) https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm
• Greist, J. H. (n.d.). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/anxiety-and-stress-related-disorders/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
• Gum disease. (Feburary, 2018) https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease/more-info
• Hunger and malnutrition. (2015, September) https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hunger.html
• Six to eight glasses of water ‘still best’. (2011, July 13) https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/six-to-eight-glasses-of-water-still-best/
• Understanding chronic stress. (n.d.) http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/understanding-chronic-stress.aspx
• Why a lack of sleep is bad for your health. (2015, June 15) https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/tiredness-and-fatigue/Pages/lack-of-sleep-health-risks.aspx

Why Do I Wake Up Feeling Nauseous?

Nausea Overview

The feeling that you might throw up is called raleigh nausea north carolina. Other symptoms associated with nausea include: abdominal cramping or pain, sweating, and diarrhea. Nausea is known to affect more than 50% of pregnant women. This kind of nausea is also known as morning sickness and is the result of the normal changes in hormones that take place in the first trimester of a woman’s pregnancy. However, while pregnancy is probably the most common cause of experiencing nausea in the morning, it is definitely not the only cause.

Possible Causes of Morning Nausea

While this list is extensive it not complete. As always if you are concerned about your health immediate medical attention is advised.

• Pregnancy: As mentioned nausea and vomiting are common signs of pregnancy, usually experienced starting around week six of the pregnancy. Though often occurring in the morning, these symptoms often go away later in the pregnancy, but actually aren’t limited to morning.
• Low Blood Sugar: Low levels of glucose in the blood (known as low blood sugar) can cause feelings of weakness, dizziness, and nausea. Skipping meals can affect blood sugar levels so it is important to pay attention to eating habits and hunger levels.
• Sleep Issues: Insomnia, jet lag, and many other things can interrupt and affect your sleep and wake cycles. Changes in these patterns can greatly affect your neuroendocrine response, which can sometimes cause nausea.
• Acid Reflux: When the opening to the stomach doesn’t close correctly after eating acids from the stomach are able to enter into the esophagus and/or throat. This is called acid reflux. Often causing coughing, burping, and a lingering sour taste, acid reflux can cause nausea, especially in the morning after reclining all night in your sleep.
• Congestion and Postnasal Drip: Congestion in the sinuses can put pressure on the inner ears, which can cause nausea and/or an upset stomach. Dizziness can also be affected by pressure on the inner ears; and dizziness often is associated with nausea and/or vomiting. Postnasal drip, which causes mucus from the sinuses to drain into the throat, and down into the stomach, especially in a reclined position, which can also lead to nausea, especially in the morning.
• Anxiety: It is not uncommon to experience excitement and stress, as well as anxiety, in what’s called our “gut”. An upcoming exciting or stressful event could lead to nausea experienced in the morning. Alternately ongoing anxiety affects the body in a myriad of ways and can lead to frequent nausea.
• Hangover: Too much alcohol in the evening can lead to nausea in the morning. Other effects of excessive alcohol use can also lead to nausea (i.e. dehydration and low blood sugar).
• Gastroparesis: A relatively serious condition, gastroparesis occurs when the muscles that are in the stomach wall stop or slow down, disallowing food to move from the stomach to the intestine. Nausea and vomiting, morning and otherwise, are very common symptoms.
• Gallstones: When substances (i.e. cholesterol) in your gallbladder harden gallstones are formed. If these get lodged in the tubing that connects the intestine to the gallbladder, intense pain can occur. Nausea (and/or vomiting) is common with this kind of pain.
• Opioids: Opioids are drugs used to help with pain. A common side effect of opioids is nausea and/or vomiting.
• Chemotherapy: Often chemotherapy drugs cause nausea and/or vomiting.
• Concussion or brain injury: Pressure from swelling in the brain is common with both concussions and brain injuries. This pressure can activate the part of your brain that is responsible for regulating nausea (and vomiting). If you experience any vomiting after a head injury it is advised to get medical attention immediately.
• Food Poisoning: Eating or drinking anything that is contaminated your body will work overtime to expel it. Food poisoning can lead to nausea and vomiting as part of this elimination process. Morning nausea could be a result of food poisoning from the night before.
• Peptic Ulcer: Sometimes sores form on the stomach’s inner lining and can cause pain. These “peptic ulcers” can lead to nausea and vomiting, sometimes in the morning.
• Constipation: If your colon is backed up with digested matter it can cause the gastrointestinal system to slow down. This is called constipation and can lead to nausea, sometimes in the morning.
• Motion Sickness: Mixed signals in the brain associated with movement can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Occurring most often in kids and pregnant women, motion sickness can linger into the morning after an episode.
  Inner Ear Infection: The delicate systems in the inner ear are an essential aspect of balance in the body. Infection in this area, dizziness and nausea can occur.
• Diabetic Ketoacidosis: This condition is a serious complication that can arise in a diabetic person. The process in complex but in short ketones build up in the bloodstream. Excessive ketones in the bloodstream can lead to confusion, thirst and nausea. This can be an emergency situation, so immediate medical care is necessary.

More on Nausea : Make Nausea Go Away

Acute Nausea and Vomiting – Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Acute nausea and vomiting begins with a feeling of nausea that stimulates a series of processes in your body that force the contents of your stomach to be expelled back up through your throat and out of your mouth in the act of vomiting. Gastroenteritis is a common cause of acute nausea and vomiting. Viruses, bacteria and other pathogens may cause such reactions.

Medications can also cause acute nausea and vomiting, particularly chemotherapy. Additionally, gastrointestinal disorders commonly cause acute nausea and vomiting through inflammation, infection, blockage or dysfunction.

Pregnancy causes morning sickness, which is also a common cause of acute nausea and vomiting. Morning sickness may occur in the first trimester of pregnancy or throughout the entire pregnancy.

Common causes of acute nausea and vomiting

Common causes of acute nausea and vomiting include:

Serious or life-threatening causes of acute nausea and vomiting

In some cases, acute nausea and vomiting may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These conditions include:

Questions for diagnosing the cause of acute nausea and vomiting

To diagnose your condition, your health care professional will ask you several questions related to your acute nausea and vomiting including:

• How long have you had nausea and vomiting?

• Did your nausea and vomiting occur right after eating?

• Do you have a fever?

• Do you have any other symptoms?

• What medications are you taking?

What are the potential complications of acute nausea and vomiting?

Because acute nausea and vomiting can be due to a serious disease, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

• Brain damage

• Weight loss (very dangerous in an infant/toddler)

• Dehydration (loss of body fluids and electrolytes, which can be life threatening when severe and untreated)

5 Surprising Reasons Why You’re Nauseous AF

If you overindulged at happy hour, it may come as no shock when you’re queasy the next morning. But this icky feeling isn’t always the direct result of imbibing too much.

Because nausea is a very nonspecific symptom, it can be an indicator of many things, which is why it’s crucial for you to keep your eye on it. “It can mean [anything from] bad pizza for lunch or it could be a sign of pancreatic cancer,” says Chavi Eve Karkowsky, M.D., medical director, obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health at Montefiore Medical Group-Comprehensive Care Center. “If it’s persistent or impeding your ability to sustain nutrition, you should see a doctor. That’s why it’s really important to pay attention to your body.”

Read on for some unexpected (yet common) reasons why your stomach may be feeling a bit off.

1. You Suffer from Migraines

Head pounding? Karkowsky says nausea sometimes surprisingly tags along with migraines. “Some people may not make the connection between the two,” she says. (Sadly, experts still don’t know the underlying cause of migraines, so it’s unclear why nausea is often a symptom.) The good news is that anti-migraine medication may help in abating it. (Heal your whole body with Rodale’s 12-day power plan for better health.)

RELATED: 7 Ways to Help Put an End to Your Life-Ruining Migraines

2. You Have “Pelvic Congestion Syndrome”

One of the most under-diagnosed but common causes of abdominal pain and nausea is something called pelvic congestion syndrome, says Christopher C. Hollingsworth, M.D., of NYC Surgical Associates. “It’s caused by venous insufficiency in the pelvis,” he says. “Just like women get varicose veins in the legs, there can be abnormal dilated veins in the pelvis. These veins swell and take up space in the pelvis. These dilated veins press on the intestines, the ovaries, the uterus, and the bladder, causing a wide range of symptoms.” This is commonly treated with a minimally invasive procedure, says experts.

3. You’re Stressed

Another biggie for stomach woes is stress, which can contribute to gastritis, “the inflammation of the lining of the stomach,” says Deepa Iyengar, M.D., a family medicine physician with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. She says it’s crucial to develop techniques to cope with the stress (like meditation or cognitive therapy) and recommends avoiding spicy foods, eating small meals regularly, and nixing caffeine to reduce the likelihood of future stomach issues.

4. You Have Gallstones

“Nausea and vomiting are two of the big signs for gallstones,” says Sandra Fryhofer, M.D., past president of the American College of Physicians and a practicing internist. If you’re feeling pain in your right upper quadrant and have a high fever, get yourself to a doctor, she says. Signs you’re dealing with an ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding include bowel movements that look like tar or vomiting up what looks like coffee grounds, says Fryhofer.

RELATED: 9 Things You Need to Know About Your Appendix

5. Your Pills Are to Blame

Fryhofer points out that birth control, vitamins, or OTC meds may often have nausea as a side effect. Before stopping cold turkey, she recommends trying to take them with food (saltines are a safe bet) or ginger ale (which can help ease a stomach ache). If the problem persists, talk to your doctor.

And One Not So Surprising Reason: You’re Pregnant

OK, this isn’t exactly a shocking one, but it’s still worth mentioning. Contrary to what you may have seen in the movies, nausea is usually not one of the first signs that a baby is on board. “Context is important,” says Karkowsky. “For a woman who has regular menses, she’ll begin experiencing nausea at the six-to-eight-week mark or about two to four weeks after a missed period. By that point, she may have already taken a home pregnancy test.”

For a woman with a slightly irregular period, though, nausea may in fact be the first indicator that she is expecting. “Morning sickness is really common and really tough,” says Karkowsky. “It can last weeks, months, or even the whole pregnancy.” That said, if you’re pregnant and having trouble keeping even basic nutrition down, Karkowsky suggests seeing your doctor. Vitamin B6 or prescription medication won’t eliminate symptoms entirely, but they can help, she says.

The Bottom Line

If your nausea doesn’t have a specific cause, there are a few easy things you can do to combat it. “The best way to treat nausea without an identifiable cause is to stop anything that might be offending your stomach lining,” says Hollingsworth. “Lay off cigarettes and alcohol, avoid spicy foods, and consider an antacid. Probiotics aren’t a bad idea either, [and] stick with bland foods.”

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Can Anxiety Cause Nausea? (& 5 More Questions About How Anxiety Might Feel)

You’re likely familiar with the emotional manifestations of anxiety:

• Nervousness
• Worrying
• Difficulty focusing
• Avoidance

But anxiety comes with physical symptoms, too. We have our fight-or-flight response to thank for this.

In the face of danger, whether real or perceived, your body reacts via the fight-or-flight response — revving up your autonomic nervous system, which controls respiration, heart rate, digestion and several other important bodily functions.

Everyone feels anxiety slightly differently, though.

For instance, maybe your muscles tighten and you feel like you’re trembling. Or perhaps the first thing you notice is the butterflies — a sign that your heart rate is on the rise. Or maybe your body goes straight into emotional sweating mode.

Given the various potential physical symptoms of anxiety, how do you know if what you’re feeling is truly anxiety or something else?

Can anxiety cause nausea?

Yes, anxiety can cause nausea and other gastrointestinal problems.

Outside of your brain, your digestive system contains the second largest number of nerves in your body. Some scientists even call your gut your “second brain.”

It’s no surprise then that the hormones and chemicals released when you’re anxious can cause gut-related issues, including:

• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Indigestion

Can anxiety cause chest pain?

Certain anxiety disorders can cause feelings of chest pain.

Chest pain is not a common symptom of the general anxiety you feel here and there.

However, if you suffer from a type of anxiety disorder called panic disorder, you may experience feelings of chest pain during a panic attack.

The most important consideration any time you’re experiencing chest pain is the possibility of heart attack, which is a medical emergency.

Unfortunately, panic attack symptoms and heart attack symptoms can feel similar. So, whether you have a history of panic attacks or not, you should go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing chest pain.

Can anxiety cause high blood pressure?

No, but it can cause a temporary spike in your blood pressure.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition in which your blood pressure is chronically higher than it should be. This places extra force on the walls of your blood vessels and, over time, can lead to several health conditions, including:

General anxiety can cause a temporary, significant increase in your blood pressure, but the effects typically don’t linger long enough to have a lasting impact on your health or cause long-term high blood pressure.

However, if you regularly experience blood pressure spikes due to chronic anxiety issues, your blood vessels can be affected in ways similar to high blood pressure.

Can anxiety cause dizziness?

Anxiety disorders may be associated with dizziness.

People with anxiety disorders, particularly those with panic disorder, often complain of feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

However, the link between dizziness and anxiety isn’t completely clear.

It’s thought, though, that stress-related hormones or compounds released during the fight-or-flight response might affect the vestibular system within the inner ear, which coordinates balance and movement. This, in turn, may be the source of feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness in some individuals with anxiety disorders.

Can anxiety cause shortness of breath?

Certain anxiety disorders can cause feelings of shortness of breath.

General anxiety increases your respiration rate, causing you to breathe more rapidly than usual. This faster breathing, also called hyperventilation, isn’t the same as shortness of breath, however.

Shortness of breath feels like a tightening in your chest and often comes with trouble breathing. It’s not a common symptom of general anxiety.

However, similar to feelings of chest pain, shortness of breath is associated with panic attacks and panic disorder, a specific type of anxiety disorder.

Since it can be a sign of heart attack or another life-threatening condition, unexplained shortness of breath is a medical emergency. Whether you have a history of panic attacks or not, you should go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing sudden and/or severe shortness of breath.

Can anxiety cause headaches?

Headaches are associated with chronic anxiety.

Headaches are common in and of themselves, but they aren’t necessarily a common symptom of the general anxiety you might feel here and there.

However, headaches — including migraines — can be a complication of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This type of anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive worrying that disrupts a person’s day-to-day life.

The concerning symptoms of anxiety and the anxiety loop

When stress hits and your heart rate increases, your breathing quickens or you start trembling, it can be alarming. So alarming that, in some cases, you might even feel anxiety about your anxiety symptoms. This can lead to a worsening of the anxiety you’re already feeling.

When anxiety hits, try to calm yourself with these tips:

• Take deep, controlled breaths
• Close your eyes and try to clear your mind
• Release tension from your body by relaxing
• Accept your anxiety, challenge the validity of your concern and try to shift your focus

If your symptoms become severe, including chest pain and/or shortness of breath, seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room — even if you think it’s related to anxiety.

And, if you’re experiencing general anxiety more frequently than usual, consider talking to your doctor or finding a mental health provider — especially if it’s disrupting your day-to-day life. He or she can help you understand why anxiety happens and what to do about it.

Nausea & dizziness | The Brain Tumour Charity

The 3 most common symptoms of brain tumours are headaches, changes to vision and nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick). 

However, it’s important to remember that brain tumours are relatively rare. This means that in most cases your nausea or vomiting will NOT be due to a brain tumour.

Do brain tumours cause nausea (make you feel sick)?

Brain tumours can make you feel sick, and feeling nauseous is one of the common symptoms, but it’s rare for nausea to be the only symptom of a brain tumour. 

Feeling or being sick is also common in healthy people and can be due to many everyday causes, such as:

• food poisoning
• drinking too much alcohol
• dehydration
• flu
• pregnancy.

However, brain tumours can make you feel sick, either because they cause increased pressure in the skull, or because of where they are in the brain.

Increased pressure in the skull

When a tumour grows inside the fixed space of the skull, it can press on the brain tissue or block the flow of the fluid within the brain. In both cases, this can lead to increased pressure inside the skull, called raised intracranial pressure (ICP). The effect of this is nausea, vomiting and headaches.

Position within the brain

Each area of the brain controls different functions, so a tumour in any area of the brain may prevent that part from working properly. If a tumour is in an area of the brain that helps to control balance, it can make you feel dizzy, which in turn can make you feel sick.

Other areas where a brain tumour can cause this effect, include those involved in vision and movement of the eyes (giving you double vision), or an area that affects your hormone levels, making them imbalanced.

Such areas of the brain include the cerebellum, the brain stem, the meninges, and areas around the nerves from the ear or near the pituitary gland. (Of course, a brain tumour in any area can cause nausea due to increased pressure in the skull.)

What sort of nausea or vomiting do brain tumours cause?

Nausea or vomiting are rarely the only symptom of a brain tumour.

Nausea or vomiting associated with a brain tumour:

• may be worse in the mornings and get better during the day as the tumour may cause a build-up of pressure in the skull overnight, but this begins to drain during the day when you are in an upright position
• may get worse if you suddenly change position, e.g. from sitting or lying to standing
• may continue for more than a week, on most days, with no sign of getting better
• may be accompanied by hiccups
• are unrelated to other conditions
• are usually accompanied by other common brain tumour symptoms, such as a headache or a change in vision.

How do I cope with nausea and vomiting caused by a brain tumour?

If you’re diagnosed with a brain tumour, you may have ongoing nausea and vomiting due to the effects of your tumour, or as a side-effect of treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

You may be given anti-sickness tablets (known as anti-emetics) but you should tell your healthcare team straight away if they become less effective.

There are changes to your diet that can help manage and treat nausea and vomiting. Or, you could try the following suggestions:

• If you have been prescribed steroids, make sure you take them – they can help reduce any swelling/increased pressure in the brain that may be causing the nausea
• Avoid strong smells, for example paint, onions or garlic
• Some people have found acupuncture helps
• If you feel like vomiting, breathe deeply and slowly, or get some fresh air
• Distract yourself by listening to music, watching a film/TV show or chatting with friends

I think I have a brain tumour, what should I do?

Brain tumours are rare, however, if you’re worried and a symptom persists or if you have more than one symptom of a brain tumour then:

• 
  Talk to your doctor
  GP appointments are usually quite short, so make sure you find out how to best prepare for your appointment.
• Get an eye test
  
  If your symptoms are limited to changes in vision and/or headaches, get your eyes tested by an optician before seeing your GP.
• Go to A&E
  If the symptoms are sudden or severe, you should go to your emergency department or call 999.

Should I speak to a doctor during the coronavirus pandemic?

We understand you may feel worried about seeking help from your GP during the coronavirus pandemic – but please don’t delay speaking to a healthcare professional.

The NHS and your GP are still here for you and have made changes that make it easier to safely speak to a healthcare professional and get medical help if you need it.

It’s more important than ever for you to prepare for your appointments by understanding what might happen during the appointment and what questions you want to ask.

Nausea and Vomiting, Age 12 and Older | CS Mott Children’s Hospital

Are you nauseated or vomiting?

Nauseated means you feel sick to your stomach, like you are going to vomit.

How old are you?

11 years or younger

11 years or younger

12 to 55 years

12 to 55 years

56 years or older

56 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

• If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
• If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
• If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Have you had a head injury in the past 24 hours?

Yes

Head injury in past 24 hours

No

Head injury in past 24 hours

Do you have moderate or severe belly pain?

This is not the cramping type of pain you have with diarrhea.

Are you pregnant?

Yes, you know that you’re pregnant.

Pregnancy

No, you’re not pregnant, or you’re not sure if you’re pregnant.

Pregnancy

Are you having trouble drinking enough to replace the fluids you’ve lost?

Little sips of fluid usually are not enough. You need to be able to take in and keep down plenty of fluids.

Yes

Unable to maintain fluid intake

No

Able to maintain fluid intake

Within the past week, have you had an injury to the abdomen, like a blow to the belly or a hard fall?

Yes

Abdominal injury within past week

No

Abdominal injury within past week

Have you vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds?

If there is only a streak or two of blood that you are sure came from your nose or mouth, you are not vomiting blood.

Yes

Has vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds

No

Has vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds

How much blood have you vomited?

Two or more streaks of blood, or any amount of material that looks like coffee grounds

Has vomited material that looks like coffee grounds or at least 2 streaks of blood

One streak of blood or less

Has vomited 1 streak of blood or less

Do you think you may have a fever?

Did you take your temperature?

How high is the fever? The answer may depend on how you took the temperature.

High: 104°F (40°C) or higher, oral

High fever: 104°F (40°C) or higher, oral

Moderate: 100.4°F (38°C) to 103.9°F (39.9°C), oral

Moderate fever: 100.4°F (38°C) to 103.9°F (39.9°C), oral

Mild: 100.3°F (37.9°C) or lower, oral

Mild fever: 100.3°F (37.9°C) or lower, oral

How high do you think the fever is?

Moderate

Feels fever is moderate

Mild or low

Feels fever is mild

How long have you had a fever?

Less than 2 days (48 hours)

Fever for less than 2 days

At least 2 days but less than 1 week

Fever for at least 2 days but less than 1 week

1 week or more

Fever for 1 week or more

Do you have a health problem or take medicine that weakens your immune system?

Yes

Disease or medicine that causes immune system problems

No

Disease or medicine that causes immune system problems

Do you have shaking chills or very heavy sweating?

Shaking chills are a severe, intense form of shivering. Heavy sweating means that sweat is pouring off you or soaking through your clothes.

Yes

Shaking chills or heavy sweating

No

Shaking chills or heavy sweating

Is your diabetes getting out of control because you are sick?

Yes

Diabetes is affected by illness

No

Diabetes is affected by illness

Is the plan helping get your blood sugar under control?

Yes

Diabetes illness plan working

No

Diabetes illness plan not working

How fast is it getting out of control?

Quickly (over several hours)

Blood sugar quickly worsening

Slowly (over days)

Blood sugar slowly worsening

Do you think that a medicine could be causing the nausea or vomiting?

Think about whether the nausea or vomiting started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.

Yes

Medicine may be causing nausea or vomiting

No

Medicine may be causing nausea or vomiting

Is there any chance that you could be pregnant?

Yes

Possibility of pregnancy

No

Possibility of pregnancy

Have your symptoms lasted longer than 1 week?

Yes

Symptoms have lasted longer than 1 week

No

Symptoms have lasted longer than 1 week

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

• Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
• Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
• Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
• Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
• Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

• Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

An illness plan for people with diabetes usually covers things like:

• How often to test blood sugar and what the target range is.
• Whether and how to adjust the dose and timing of insulin or other diabetes medicines.
• What to do if you have trouble keeping food or fluids down.
• When to call your doctor.

The plan is designed to help keep your diabetes in control even though you are sick. When you have diabetes, even a minor illness can cause problems.

It is easy for your diabetes to become out of control when you are sick. Because of an illness:

• Your blood sugar may be too high or too low.
• You may not be able take your diabetes medicine (if you are vomiting or having trouble keeping food or fluids down).
• You may not know how to adjust the timing or dose of your diabetes medicine.
• You may not be eating enough or drinking enough fluids.

Temperature varies a little depending on how you measure it. For adults and children age 12 and older, these are the ranges for high, moderate, and mild, according to how you took the temperature.

Oral (by mouth) temperature

• High: 104°F (40°C) and higher
• Moderate: 100.4°F (38°C) to 103.9°F (39.9°C)
• Mild: 100.3°F (37.9°C) and lower

A forehead (temporal) scanner is usually 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) lower than an oral temperature.

Ear temperature

• High: 105°F (40.6°C) and higher
• Moderate: 101.4°F (38.6°C) to 104.9°F (40.5°C)
• Mild: 101.3°F (38.5°C) and lower

Armpit (axillary) temperature

• High: 103°F (39.5°C) and higher
• Moderate: 99.4°F (37.4°C) to 102.9°F (39.4°C)
• Mild: 99.3°F (37.3°C) and lower

If you’re not sure if a fever is high, moderate, or mild, think about these issues:

With a high fever:

• You feel very hot.
• It is likely one of the highest fevers you’ve ever had. High fevers are not that common, especially in adults.

With a moderate fever:

• You feel warm or hot.
• You know you have a fever.

With a mild fever:

• You may feel a little warm.
• You think you might have a fever, but you’re not sure.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

• Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
• Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
• Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
• Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
• Medicines taken after organ transplant.
• Not having a spleen.

You can get dehydrated when you lose a lot of fluids because of problems like vomiting or fever.

Symptoms of dehydration can range from mild to severe. For example:

• You may feel tired and edgy (mild dehydration), or you may feel weak, not alert, and not able to think clearly (severe dehydration).
• You may pass less urine than usual (mild dehydration), or you may not be passing urine at all (severe dehydration).

Severe dehydration means:

• Your mouth and eyes may be extremely dry.
• You may pass little or no urine for 12 or more hours.
• You may not feel alert or be able to think clearly.
• You may be too weak or dizzy to stand.
• You may pass out.

Moderate dehydration means:

• You may be a lot more thirsty than usual.
• Your mouth and eyes may be drier than usual.
• You may pass little or no urine for 8 or more hours.
• You may feel dizzy when you stand or sit up.

Mild dehydration means:

• You may be more thirsty than usual.
• You may pass less urine than usual.

Severe vomiting can mean that:

• You vomit more than 10 times in 24 hours.
• For at least 24 hours, you vomit every time you try to drink something.
• The vomit shoots out in large amounts and with great force.

Many nonprescription and prescription medicines can cause nausea or vomiting. A few examples are:

• Antibiotics.
• Antidepressants.
• Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve).
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).
• Opioid pain medicines.
• Vitamins and mineral supplements, such as iron.

Starting a new medicine or increasing the dose can cause nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may mean that there is too much medicine in your body, even if you took it properly.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.

Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:

• Passing out (losing consciousness).
• Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
• Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
• Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly after a sudden illness or injury.

Babies and young children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:

• Passing out (losing consciousness).
• Being very sleepy or hard to wake up.
• Not responding when being touched or talked to.
• Breathing much faster than usual.
• Acting confused. The child may not know where he or she is.

Symptoms of a heart attack may include:

• Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
• Sweating.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
• Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
• A fast or irregular heartbeat.

For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms, like shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

Symptoms of serious illness may include:

• A severe headache.
• A stiff neck.
• Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less alert.
• Extreme fatigue (to the point where it’s hard for you to function).
• Shaking chills.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

• Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
• If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
• If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

• Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
• You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

• Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
• If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
• If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose (81 mg) aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Head Injury, Age 4 and Older

Nausea and Vomiting, Age 11 and Younger

Pregnancy-Related Problems

Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older

90,000 Why does nausea occur – causes, symptoms of possible diseases

Nausea is a common symptom of various diseases and conditions. Statistically, more than 50% of adults report at least one episode of nausea in the previous 12 months, and this symptom is more common in women than in men.

Nausea may not be serious or indicative of a medical condition.

However, regularly occurring nausea can be a symptom of various diseases, for example, arterial hypertension.What other diseases and conditions can cause nausea and in which cases should you see a doctor?

What is nausea?

Nausea is a protective reaction of the body, which is designed to prevent the ingress of toxic substances into the body3. It is felt as an unpleasant feeling in the epigastric region. Often, nausea precedes vomiting, but it can act as an independent symptom.

The following reactions can occur simultaneously:

• weakness;
• increased sweating;
• drooling;
• pallor of the skin.

Non-medical causes of nausea

In some cases, nausea may appear in healthy people. Among the conditions that can cause nausea, it is rational to single out …

… Unbalanced diet

Overeating, eating fatty, spicy, spicy foods. Overeating at night can be accompanied by mild nausea caused by overfilling the stomach during periods when gastrointestinal motility is minimal.

… Anxiety states, stress s

In which psychogenic nausea and vomiting may occur. Anxiety attacks can appear against the background of fear of any important event, can occur in conflict situations.

… “Motion sickness syndrome”, or kinetosis

A complex of symptoms that can occur while traveling in a car, train, plane, ship. Signs of motion sickness can be: yawning, salivation, pallor of the skin, profuse sweating, drowsiness, headache.During an attack, nausea may develop and grow, discoordination of movements may be observed, and it may also occur.

… Toxicosis of pregnant women

Common cause of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. In the first 12 weeks, up to 80% of women experience it. Usually, the malaise appears in the morning, does not affect the course of pregnancy.

This condition may be accompanied by increased fatigue, weakness, dizziness, exacerbated sense of smell, taste perversion, sleep disturbance and other symptoms.

… Hyperthermia (heatstroke)

Clinical syndrome arising from overheating. It can be accompanied by a complex of symptoms, including: general malaise, weakness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, headache. An increase in body temperature is possible.

Nausea as a possible side effect of drugs

Various drugs can cause nausea. This side effect is described in the instructions for medical use of the medicinal product.

Unpleasant sensations in the epigastric region can provoke:

• Certain pain relievers;
• hormonal preparations, including combined oral contraceptives;
• Certain antibiotics and antiviral agents;
• antiparkinsonian drugs and other medicinal products;
• and others

What diseases can cause nausea?

Nausea can be a symptom of various diseases, for example:

1. Cardiovascular diseases, including acute myocardial infarction, chronic congestive heart failure, and arterial hypertension.
2. Intestinal infections and food poisoning.
3. Infectious diseases of various organs and systems, for example, ENT infections, damage to the lungs, kidneys, and the central nervous system.
4. Pathology of the digestive tract. Nausea can be accompanied by gallstone disease, diseases of the large intestine, etc.
5. Damage to the vestibular apparatus, such as Meniere’s disease and acute
   labyrinthitis.
6. Endocrine disorders arising from diabetes mellitus (diabetic ketoacidosis), thyroid dysfunction, etc.

What is the reason for nausea in arterial hypertension

Arterial hypertension – syndrome of increased pressure up to 140/90 mm Hg. and higher. With a long course of the disease, damage to some organs and systems, the so-called target organs, can occur. These include the heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels.

In this case, subjective symptoms may occur:

• palpitations, shortness of breath, pain in the region of the heart;
• pain in the calf muscles when walking;
• headache, dizziness, flashing “flies” before the eyes, as well as nausea and vomiting.

When to see a doctor?

In some cases, nausea can be a symptom of an acute condition that may require urgent medical attention.

The alarms are:

• unusually severe headache;
• sharp, intense pain behind the sternum, which can radiate to the lower jaw, left or right arm, shoulders, back;

90,023 shortness of breath and weakness;

• anxiety.

If these symptoms appear, seek emergency medical attention. In other cases, with regularly recurring bouts of nausea, it is worth visiting a doctor to find out the cause and start proper treatment.

Original article:

https://helpheart.ru/arterialnoe-davlenie/riski-prichiny-i-posledstviya/toshnota/

Nausea, vomiting

Nausea is abdominal discomfort and a feeling that vomiting may begin, but it may not.Nausea is caused by excitement in one of the centers of the brain. The discomfort can last from an hour or two to several days.

Reasons. causing nausea and vomiting:

• motion sickness;

• dizziness, fainting;

• overeating, food poisoning;

• beginning of pregnancy;

• postoperative state;

• emotional stress, anxiety, depression;

• medicines, cancer chemotherapy, drugs that irritate the digestive tract;

• diseases of the gallbladder, cholelithiasis;

• reaction to individual odors or stinks;

• heart attack;

• concussion or head trauma;

• brain tumor;

• ulcer and gastritis;

• bulimia and other psychological illnesses;

• slow gastric emptying (often in patients with diabetes mellitus).

The best way to determine the cause is tests, so consultation with a doctor is of great importance. It is also important whether other severe symptoms are present – for example, abdominal pain, fever, bleeding. Factors such as age and pregnancy are also important.

Nausea in a vehicle

Nausea, especially in warm weather, often appears when driving a car, public transport, or a boat. This is kinetosis or motion sickness. When driving, the human body sways.To maintain an upright position, the brain takes into account both visual information and information from the vestibular apparatus. When riding, the vestibular apparatus gets irritated, causing nausea. Sometimes, if irritation cannot be stopped, nausea can even end in fainting.

Both in children and in adults, all sensations sharply sharpen in front of him. If you manage to wind up this and the trip can be interrupted, it is advisable to get out of the vehicle. However, this is not always possible.Therefore, a few tips on how to make the trip easier may come in handy.

Peppermint tea has a beneficial effect. While the vestibular apparatus is aroused, you can suck on sweet or sour candy or chew gum to help maintain balance in the vestibular apparatus.

To determine the causes of nausea, we recommend contacting the

physician .

List of Symptoms

Where Do Nausea and Vomiting Come From?

Nausea and vomiting are common and can be caused by dozens of disorders or illnesses.Most often, this unpleasant symptom is associated with gastroenteritis, which is also called stomach flu. Another common occurrence is morning sickness, which often plagues women in early pregnancy. Sometimes medications (especially chemotherapy) or preoperative anesthesia are to blame. Occasionally, the problem lurks in serious or even life-threatening conditions. In this material, we will take a closer look at the main causes, as well as methods of treatment for this unpleasant phenomenon.

Both of these symptoms can occur separately or simultaneously.They can be caused by a number of physical and psychological conditions.

Nausea

Most often this phenomenon is disturbing due to the onset of severe pain – usually due to injury or illness. Also, this symptom is often troubling in the first trimester of pregnancy. There are a number of other relatively common causes of nausea, including:

• Motion sickness (motion sickness),
• Emotional stress,
• Upset stomach,
• Food poisoning,
• Viruses,
• Gallstones,
• Exposure to chemical toxins …

Many people also notice that certain odors cause nausea. This problem especially often affects pregnant women during the first trimester. Although it is worth noting that usually in the second and third trimester, this phenomenon no longer bothers.

Vomiting in a child

When considering children, the main culprits are viral infections and food poisoning. Other reasons include:

• Severe motion sickness,
• Cough,
• Fever,
• Overeating.

In very young children, a blockage in the intestines can cause prolonged vomiting. Bowel obstruction can be caused by abnormal thickening of the muscle walls, hernia, gallstones, and tumors. All of these phenomena are rare, but if the infant has unexplained vomiting, they should not be discounted.

Adults

Most adults rarely vomit. If this happens, then usually the reason is hidden in a viral or bacterial infection, or in food poisoning.In some cases, other conditions are the cause of nausea and vomiting.

Chronic conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract

These disorders usually appear along with other symptoms: diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain. These conditions include food intolerances such as celiac disease or lactase deficiency.

Another condition that causes bloating, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, cramping, and fatigue is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).People with this disorder are overactive in some parts of the intestine. IBS is usually diagnosed based on the presence of characteristic symptoms, provided that other conditions are excluded.

Crohn’s disease is one of the inflammatory diseases that very often affects the intestines. Although it can affect absolutely any part of the gastrointestinal tract. With this disorder, the patient may be disturbed by nausea and vomiting, as well as abdominal pain. Crohn’s disease is usually found during a colonoscopy, a procedure in which a thin tube with a camera at the tip is passed through the intestines.Sometimes a stool test is prescribed to diagnose this disease.

Bad habits

Alcohol abuse increases the risk of damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa. Alcohol can also react with acidic stomach acid. Both of these phenomena cause nausea and vomiting. In some cases, excessive alcohol consumption leads to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are a phenomenon in which a person bases their eating habits on an “unhealthy” perception of their own body.One such disorder is bulimia. People with bulimia deliberately induce vomiting to empty their stomachs of food they have eaten. This also includes anorexia, in which people are deliberately starving. Hunger and an excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach provoke nausea.

Serious Illness

Sometimes vomiting indicates a serious illness or condition, including:

By the way, sometimes nausea and vomiting are signs of a heart attack.Also, these symptoms are manifested in patients with diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism or Addison’s disease.

When should I see a doctor?

If nausea or vomiting has been bothering you for more than a week, you should consult a gastroenterologist.

When to call an ambulance?

In rare cases, additional symptoms appear, in which you need to call an ambulance without hesitation. These symptoms will be listed below for each age group.

Children under 6 years of age:

• Simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea,
• Signs of dehydration: wrinkled skin, irritability, weak pulse, severe weakness,
• Sudden and very violent vomiting, in which vomit spills over a distance ,
• Fever over 38 ° C,
• Absence of urination for more than 6 hours,
• Vomiting that lasts more than 2 hours.

Children over 6 years old:

• Symptoms of dehydration,
• Not urinating for more than 6 hours,
• Vomiting that lasts more than 24 hours,
• Lethargy or confusion,
• Temperature above 39 ° C.

Adults:

• Severe headache,
• Hardened neck muscles,
• Lethargy or confusion,
• Blood in vomit,
• Rapid pulse,
• Rapid breathing,
• Temperature above 39 ° C,
• Lack of reaction when another person tries to interact with the patient,
• Severe or persistent abdominal pain.

How to get rid of nausea and vomiting?

There are a number of simple techniques and guidelines that you can apply at home.If these tips do not help, then the doctor will prescribe medication.

To cope with nausea, it is recommended to:

• Eat bread or the simplest biscuits,
• Avoid food with a strong smell; very sweet food; fatty or fried foods,
• Drink cool drinks,
• Avoid any activity after eating,
• Drink a cup of ginger tea.

Recommended for self-medication for vomiting:

• Eat a little, but often,
• Drink plenty of clear liquid to stay hydrated, but take only a few sips at a time,
• Avoid any solid food while vomiting will not go away,
• Avoid medicines that can cause an upset stomach.These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids,
• Use oral rehydration solutions to restore electrolyte balance,
• Get plenty of rest.

Anti-nausea pills

If the above recommendations do not help, then you can take a pill. The most commonly prescribed drugs include promethazine, diphenhydramine, trimethobenzamide, and ondansetron. Doctors may also prescribe phenothiazines, dopamine receptor antagonists, and anticholinergics.Some of these medicines only work for motion sickness. Each of the drugs can cause a number of side effects, so you should consult your doctor before taking them.

If a person suffers from chronic nausea and vomiting of unknown origin, the doctor may prescribe benzodiazepines or tricyclic antidepressants. Patients with prolonged vomiting may need medications that reduce the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. These medications help protect the esophagus from the acidic contents of the vomit.

If you suffer from nausea and vomiting, do not need to endure. Better entrust your health to professionals from the Persomed clinic.

Sources:

1. Nausea and Vomiting, American College of Gastroenterology,
2. Nausea and vomiting, Mayo Clinic,
3. Nausea and Vomiting, HealthLine.

90,000 Causes, symptoms and diagnosis, indications for seeking medical attention

Stock! 20% discount on the initial doctor’s appointment for new patients of the clinic with the “FIRST20” promo code.

It is not pleasant to be dizzy – we feel anxiety, we can get injured. What is dizziness and how can it be caused? Is it worth leaving it unattended, as is often the case with dizziness in men, drinking self-selected pills, as is often done for women with dizziness, or immediately go to the doctor? How to help yourself at the time of an attack? Let’s consider these and other questions in more detail.

Symptoms of dizziness

Dizziness (medical term “vertigo”) is disorientation in space.It seems to a person that he rotates, moves, although in fact he is motionless. It also happens the other way around – there is a feeling that everything is spinning and moving around – objects, trees, the ground under your feet.

Sensations can be different – from rotational movements, to the impression of instability, when everything around (or yourself) trembles, staggers, moves. The body or parts of it may appear to be moving. Describing their condition, many say that they feel like with a strong sea roll, riding on a swing.

Additional symptoms when dizzy:

• The head is spinning.
• The illusion of mobility of your body or surrounding objects is created.
• Nausea, weakness, up to fainting appears.
• Cold sweat comes in.
• Heart rate increases.
• Fear, panic appears.
• Hands or legs go numb.
• Hearing worsens or tinnitus worries.

Suddenly dizzy can be for a few seconds or longer – up to half an hour, an hour and a constant feeling. The frequency of attacks is also different – someone encounters them regularly under certain conditions, and someone has experienced only a couple of times in their life. Some patients notice frequent patterns when dizziness appears. These can be transport trips, experiences.

Causes of dizziness

They can be conditionally divided into physiological – normal, which do not serve as a symptom of diseases, and situations when vertigo signals some kind of disease, a malfunction in the body.

The main reasons when a healthy person is dizzy:

• Sudden fright when there is a sudden release of stress hormones.
• Unusual and abrupt movements, such as parachuting, riding on attractions, long spinning in a circle.

With dizziness, the body warns us that not everything is all right with it when:

• Strong alcoholic intoxication.
• Rigid and unbalanced diets.
• Dehydration, heatstroke.
• Excessive physical exertion.
• Reducing sugar levels.
• Low blood pressure.
• Taking some medications (this side effect is indicated in the instructions).

Among the reasons why women are dizzy may be pregnancy and heavy menstruation.

But not everything is so harmless with vertigo. This symptom can be found in a wide variety of diseases.There are about eighty of them in total.

The main diseases, conditions that become the reasons why the head is spinning:

• Pathologies of the ENT organs that affect the inner ear (it serves as an element of the vestibular apparatus) – otitis media, Meniere’s disease and others.
• Circulatory disorders of the brain, vascular pathologies – aneurysms, VSD, stroke.
• Tumors of any nature in the brain, neck, cranial structures.
• Degenerative changes in the brain – multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and others.
• Inflammatory and other diseases of the central nervous system – meningitis, encephalomyelitis and others.
• Cardiovascular diseases – heart attack, cardiac arrhythmias, arterial hypertension and hypotension.
• Mental illness – phobias, neurotic syndrome.
• Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

What to do if you feel dizzy

During an attack, it is advisable not to turn your head to the side, not to make sudden movements, for example, try to lie down right away.You can sit down, lie down gradually, focus on deep breathing. You can wash your face, make a cold compress on your face.

If the dizziness recurs, the attacks become more severe, there are additional symptoms – it is necessary to take action and consult a doctor

It is necessary to understand the symptom of what disease the dizziness is. A neurologist or a therapist will help in this, who, according to the patient’s complaints, makes a presumptive diagnosis. If necessary, other specialists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment – an otolaryngologist, a cardiologist and others.

Diagnostic methods will differ for different diseases that have caused vertigo. There is no single recipe for dizziness. Ear pathologies or heart disease, brain tumors or osteochondrosis are all treated in different ways.

Doctors of the medical center “Kutuzovskiy” will help you to find out why you are worried about dizziness, how to get rid of them and keep your health. We are waiting for you at the clinic every day by appointment.

The content of this article has been checked and confirmed for compliance with medical standards by a general practitioner Butskikh Yulia Vladimirovna.

Publication checked:

90,000 Gastroesophageal reflux disease – causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Very often the patient does not go to the doctor for an appointment with problems such as headache, cough, runny nose, laryngitis and heartburn.It would seem that a cough can be a cold, a runny nose can be temporarily allergic, the voice can be disrupted. What about heartburn? Well, who doesn’t have this heartburn? This is with our that food, rhythm of life, employment.

The above complaints do not always mean colds, allergies and angina pectoris. This clinical picture can occur with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

GERD is an acid-dependent disease that occurs due to the throwing of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus, which causes heartburn, belching with air, sour belching, as well as nausea, a feeling of an increased amount of fluid in the mouth, pain in the epigastric region, sleep disturbance associated with pain or heartburn, discomfort when swallowing.

GERD can be promoted by increased intra-abdominal pressure, impaired motor activity of the esophagus and stomach. Often overweight people, food lovers, especially in the late evening and at night, smokers, alcohol drinkers, avid coffee lovers, people suffering from prolonged constipation are susceptible to reflux. One of the provocateurs is the improvement of well-being: a person eats more and moves a little.

GERD is an insidious disease. Even bronchial asthma can be not a pulmonary disease, but a manifestation of reflux!

Why is GERD misdiagnosed?

For example, a patient begins to use drugs intended for asthmatics – they are aimed at facilitating breathing, expanding the bronchi.Starting to take them with a patient with inflammation of the esophagus does not get rid of the problem, the drugs do not help. Meanwhile, the inflamed walls of the esophagus begin to collapse, taking on the risk of erosion, bleeding, up to oncology.

A dry, persistent cough, complaints of frequent heartburn, sour belching, bloating, constipation, nausea, a feeling of quick satiety when eating, heaviness in the stomach should alert the doctor and the patient.

Sudden angina pectoris or pain in the heart, as well as in the epigastric region, should not be ignored, especially if these sensations arise immediately after eating.

Pain in the region of the heart or “pseudo-coronary” pain often occurs with inflammatory changes in the wall of the esophagus. Pain with GERD can cause spasm of the coronary arteries, thereby provoking an attack of angina pectoris. There is even a saying: “If your patient is less than thirty-five years old and does not have heart defects, look for the cause in the stomach”

A common manifestation of GERD is a white coating on the tongue, bad breath, damage to the gums, damage to the tooth enamel. Again, you can endlessly treat symptoms at the dentist, without reaching the cause, lose all your teeth and never get rid of the problem.Because it lies deeper. And you need to stop it there.

If GERD is not treated in time, it can cause complications such as pneumonia, diseases of the pharynx, larynx, vocal cords, esophageal oncology. Therefore, it is absolutely recommended to exclude the ill-fated reflux in ENT diseases and bronchopulmonary diseases.

In order for the patient to be correctly diagnosed with GERD, it is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist who will prescribe additional examination methods to the patient.

Diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease is carried out using pH -metry, endoscopic examination of the mucous membrane, and, if necessary, biopsy and chromoscopy. X-ray examination is easy to identify a hiatal hernia, if any.

To reduce acidity in modern medicine, various groups of drugs are used: antisecretory agents (H2-blockers, M-anticholinergics, proton pump inhibitors), antacids.

Given the dominance of TV commercials, a patient with heartburn begins to self-medicate. However, only a doctor should prescribe modern and correct treatment, which will reduce the duration of treatment and the cost of it, and also help to avoid formidable complications.

It is important to remember that in addition to miraculous pharmacological agents, the patient will have to reconsider his lifestyle: quit smoking, stop drinking alcohol, change the diet, do not go to bed after eating, etc.and also consult a doctor in time.

The following article will focus on lifestyle and dietary advice for GERD.

Syndrome of bacterial overgrowth – Clinic on Leninsky

There is no such person for whom intestinal discomfort has never disturbed the usual rhythm of life.Nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps can be caused by bacterial overgrowth syndrome. The gastroenterologist of the Clinic on Leninsky Katerina Cheskaya talks about the features of this disease, how it is diagnosed and treated.

Katerina, when do gastroenterologists talk about bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO)?

– Common problems such as nausea, bloating, cramps, or diarrhea may indicate this disorder.Even such, at first glance, not related to the gastrointestinal tract things like fatigue and weakness are sometimes explained by the syndrome of bacterial overgrowth. Many symptoms are associated with impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients due to exposure to bacteria that either metabolize nutrients or cause inflammation of the small intestine, impairing absorption. The clinical picture of the disease in combination with anamnesis data, the results of laboratory and instrumental studies (gastrointestinal surgery, the presence of diabetes mellitus, scleroderma, amyloidosis, diverticula of the small intestine, nonspecific inflammatory bowel conquest, hypo-a-chlorhydria, steatorrhea, B12-deficiency anemia, abuse alcohol (ABP) suggest a diagnosis of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

What factors can lead to the development of bacterial overgrowth syndrome?

– Factors such as stress, genetic predisposition, and impaired intestinal motility can lead to the development of bacterial overgrowth. Also at risk with anatomical abnormalities in the intestines, diverticula and blind loops, gastroenteritis caused by changes in the small intestine. In addition, the use of certain drugs, including proton pump inhibitors, sometimes leads to the development of SIBO.

Tell us about the methods of SIBO diagnostics used today?

– There are several priority fairly accurate methods of making this diagnosis. This is PCR diagnostics, in which some representatives of microflora with intracellular or membrane localization are determined. Also, the diagnosis of SIBO can be made based on the results of bacteriological examination. One of the most accurate methods currently used is the breath test (H2, 14CO2), including the hydrogen test, based on the analysis of the composition of the air exhaled by the patient.The hydrogen breath test is easy to perform; for it, the patient only needs to come to the clinic on an empty stomach. (For more information about the rules for the preparation and conduct of VDT, read the rules in the article on our website). It is important that the result will be ready immediately after the completion of the study

What can be recommended for the treatment of SIBO?

– Treatment should be comprehensive: it is necessary to treat both the disease that caused SIBO and the syndrome itself. If the cause that led to the occurrence of SIBO is not eliminated, then it can be resumed.For a quality, qualified and personalized treatment, see your doctor. In our clinic you can find both an adult and a pediatric gastroenterologist, we will be happy to help.

90,000 Russians told how self-medication for coronavirus ruined their health

During the pandemic, doctors constantly warn COVID-19 patients against self-medication. Nevertheless, some citizens are trying to decide for themselves what drugs to take and how to recover from an illness.As the interlocutors of Gazeta.Ru told, in the end, such self-therapy leads to unpleasant consequences – for example, to the development of chronic gastritis and renal failure.

Doctors have repeatedly warned: taking antibiotics and excessive use of vitamins, dietary supplements and other medicines for coronavirus not only does not help, but can also lead to disastrous consequences. Nevertheless, some Russians, upon learning of a positive test for covid, still decide to self-medicate.

For example, 23-year-old Alexander from Tula told Gazeta.Ru that from the symptoms of infection he had only a low temperature – 37.4 ° – and a runny nose, so there was no reason for hospitalization. “I didn’t even have a cough,” he said.

The young man explained that he lives with his parents who have a specific view of treatment. “Since childhood, I have been stuffed with antibiotics, and now I cannot do without them. I didn’t really think about what was happening, because I was already used to taking pills every time I sneeze.But this time something went wrong, ”the guy shared.

According to him, on about the fifth day of taking antibiotics, he felt pain in the abdomen, which increased when Alexander was hungry.

“The pains were getting worse, the coronavirus had already passed, and the stomach was spinning. As a result, I realized that it was time to see a doctor – I had never seen anything like this before ”,

– said the young man.

A gastroenterologist diagnosed him with gastritis. “Moreover, the disease immediately took on a chronic form in me due to the fact that there were specific lesions of the inner lining of the stomach.Now I have to live with it, so I advise you to stay away from antibiotics unnecessarily, ”concluded Alexander.

The story of 36-year-old Vera from Tver began even before she fell ill with coronavirus. “I just wanted to protect myself from the disease, because in general I can probably be called a hypochondriac,” the woman told Gazeta.Ru.

In the Instagram account of the doctor and presenter Elena Malysheva, Vera read that in a pandemic it is especially useful to take vitamin D. “I bought vitamin pills and drank them all the time.I swallowed ascorbic acid without thinking about the consequences, ”the source said.

After a while, a rash appeared on the woman’s face – she did not attach any importance to this, she thought that hormonal changes were the cause. “I was also constantly thirsty, constipated, and periodically there was a feeling of nausea. Although I assumed that I had invented all this for myself, ”Vera clarified.

She soon learned that she had contracted COVID-19. The woman had a mild course of the disease, nevertheless she insisted that she be admitted to the hospital – with the help of friends at the local clinic, this was arranged.

“Already at the hospital, the doctors noticed that the infection had a particular effect on my kidneys. They started asking about my lifestyle, what I used to drink, whether I drink alcohol. As a result, I told them about my vitamin intake, and they realized that I had only worsened my health and aggravated the course of covid, ”Vera complained.

Due to excessive vitamin D intake, she developed symptoms of kidney failure. “The coronavirus quickly took advantage of this. Nevertheless, I soon began to recover, although now I have to follow a diet – as little salt as possible, fried, no fatty meats and fish, and, of course, no alcohol.Now I understand that it is my own fault for what happened to me, ”concluded a resident of Tver.

Dana, 30, from St. Petersburg, told Gazeta.Ru that she had always tried to avoid taking any pills before. “I started with COVID-19 almost asymptomatic. I was sure that I would calmly transfer it at home, isolate myself for two weeks and be treated like a regular ARVI. In general, I rarely take pills, so I knew that in this case there would be a minimum of them. No antibiotics, of course.In general, in my opinion, I have never used them in my life, ”she stressed.

Over time, the girl got worse. “It was painful to breathe, the cough was tearing the lungs. But at the same time there was no temperature, and I hesitated to see a doctor. I was very afraid to go to the hospital and decided to take care of my own health on my own, ”added Dana.

The girl began to read about inpatient therapy for coronavirus and decided to apply it on an outpatient basis. “I read about the benefits of hormonal drugs in the early stages of the disease.I had the opportunity to get them, and I thought it was a good way out. Although, to be honest, even then I assumed that I would have to experience all the consequences and side effects of these drugs, ”said the interlocutor of the publication.

She took them for a week.

“Drugs or not, I am cured of covid. But after canceling the pills, I realized that I have constantly high blood pressure, which is why I often feel dizzy and nauseous. Then to this was added even dry mouth, frequent urination, it seemed that I even began to see worse.And she also lost five kilograms “,

– Dana shared.

The girl attributed all these symptoms to the consequences of the disease, but her friend, an endocrinologist, advised her to undergo an examination.

“It turned out that my sugar increased, which is precisely the result of taking hormones. There have never been such problems before. Now I am seeing an endocrinologist and taking medications. But I think that it will pass, my doctor is also sure of this. At least now I started to recover pretty quickly, ”concluded Dana.

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