Nausea

Find the first group that matches. Each one is a MySymptom care level, from most to least urgent.

1. Call 911 now

   • Nausea with chest pain, a cold sweat or shortness of breath

2. Go to the ER now

   • Vomiting blood or what looks like coffee grounds
   • Severe belly pain with vomiting
   • Vomiting with a stiff neck, confusion or a severe headache

3. Get seen today

   • Signs of dehydration: very dark urine or none for 8 hours or more, dizziness when standing, a very dry mouth

4. Call your doctor today

   • Not able to keep fluids down for a day
   • Nausea after starting a new medicine

5. Book a visit

   • Nausea lasting more than 2 days, or coming back with no clear trigger
   • Nausea with weight loss you can't explain

6. Care for it at home

   • Nausea with a stomach bug, when you can keep small sips of fluid down

Nausea ranges from a faint queasiness to overwhelming sickness. It's often accompanied by increased salivation, sweating, paleness, and a strong urge to lie still. Some people feel it more in the upper abdomen, others as a full-body sensation. It may come in waves or remain constant.

Nausea is the queasy sensation that you might vomit, and it can come from a surprisingly wide range of causes, not just stomach problems. The brain, the inner ear, hormones, medications, and even strong emotions all feed into the same nausea pathways. That's why motion sickness, anxiety, pregnancy, migraines, and food poisoning can all produce a similar miserable feeling.

Most short-lived nausea resolves with rest, hydration, and time. Persistent or severe nausea, especially with other symptoms, deserves more attention because it can lead to dehydration and may signal an underlying condition that needs treatment. Tracking what triggers your nausea, meals, motion, stress, certain smells, can help identify the cause.

• Stomach bugs and food poisoning

  Viral gastroenteritis and contaminated food are common causes of nausea, usually paired with vomiting and diarrhea, resolving in 24 to 72 hours.

• Motion sickness

  A mismatch between what the eyes see and what the inner ear senses, common in cars, boats, planes, and even VR, produces nausea, sweating, and dizziness.

• Pregnancy

  Hormonal shifts in early pregnancy commonly cause 'morning sickness,' which often actually occurs at any time of day.

• Medications

  Many medications, especially antibiotics, painkillers, and chemotherapy drugs, list nausea as a side effect.

• Migraines

  Nausea is a hallmark feature of migraines and can sometimes appear before the headache itself.

• Anxiety and stress

  Strong emotions can directly trigger nausea through the gut-brain connection.

• Acid reflux or ulcers

  Stomach acid problems can cause nausea, especially after meals or on an empty stomach.

These steps are for mild symptoms with none of the warning signs above. Ask a pharmacist before taking any medicine.

• Sip clear fluids slowly

  Small sips of water, ginger tea, or electrolyte drinks are easier to keep down than large amounts at once.

• Try ginger

  Ginger tea, candied ginger, or ginger ale (real ginger, not just flavor) has good evidence for easing nausea.

• Eat bland foods when ready

  Toast, crackers, rice, applesauce, and bananas are gentle on the stomach when appetite returns.

• Get fresh air

  Sometimes stepping outside or near an open window quickly reduces nausea, especially if a strong smell triggered it.

• Avoid strong smells and rich foods

  Steer clear of fried, fatty, or strongly scented foods until the nausea fully passes.

• Acupressure wristbands

  Bands that press the P6 acupressure point on the inner wrist help some people, especially with motion sickness.