Overview
Nausea is an uneasy feeling in the stomach which results in the urge to vomit. It is a common problem affecting all age groups. It is a symptom, not a disease on its own. Common causes of nausea include indigestion, food poisoning, pregnancy, motion sickness, infections, migraine, stress, general anaesthesia, and cancer treatments. However, nausea can also mean something more serious, for example, liver or kidney diseases, intestinal blockage, brain tumours, cancers, heart attacks, and central nervous system disorders. There are a few ways to relieve nausea, such as avoiding greasy food, drinking cold beverages, avoiding activity right after a meal, and eating small, frequent meals. Nausea is usually managed by treating the underlying conditions. Over the counter medications like meclizine and dimenhydrinate are available if nausea is due to motion sickness. Some other medications to control nausea are dexamethasone, ondansetron, prochlorperazine, lorazepam, metoclopramide, and haloperidol.
