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Morning sickness is a very common symptom in the first weeks of pregnancy, but it can also appear in many other stages of life, including in men, without meaning a pregnancy.
Most of the time, morning sickness outside of pregnancy arises in people who cannot sleep well or who have spent a long time without eating and, therefore, can be easily resolved. However, this type of nausea can also be a first sign of other problems such as reflux, gallstones or stomach ulcers, for example.
Ideally, when motion sickness does not improve in a few minutes or when it is very frequent, consult a gastroenterologist to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
The following are the most common causes for morning sickness and what to do:
1. Pregnancy
The appearance of morning sickness is one of the classic symptoms of pregnancy and, in fact, pregnancy is the most frequent cause for the appearance of this type of symptom in women of childbearing age, especially between the ages of 20 and 30.
Sickness in pregnancy happens due to the rapid hormonal changes in the woman's body and they tend to appear from the 4th week of gestation, and can be repeated several times throughout the day.
What to do: if you suspect pregnancy it is important to take a pregnancy test from a pharmacy or go to the gynecologist to confirm the pregnancy. See how and when to take the pregnancy test.
2. Changes in sleep
Another very common cause of morning sickness is tiredness, which usually occurs in people who have some kind of altered sleep pattern, such as insomnia or jet lag, for example.
This is because the sleep cycle is affected and, therefore, the body does not have time to repair itself and responds with changes in the production of hormones, which can end up creating the feeling of nausea.
What to do: the ideal is to try to rest 7 to 8 hours a night, to ensure that the body has enough time to repair itself during sleep. In cases of jet lag, a good tip is to take the first day at the new time to rest and avoid very heavy activities. Check out other tips to combat jet lag and its negative effects.
3. Not eating for a long time
People who go a long time without eating at night, especially for more than 10 hours, may experience morning sickness due to the decrease in blood glucose levels.
When this happens, in addition to nausea, other common symptoms of hypoglycemia may also appear, such as feeling dizzy, weak and having cold sweats, for example.
What to do: you should avoid going more than 8 to 10 hours without eating, and you should have a light snack before bed, such as natural yogurt or gelatin, for example. See other healthy snacks you can eat before bed.
4. Hangover
The hangover is another of the most frequent causes for the morning sickness and that happens after the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
When there is excess alcohol in the body, hydration levels decrease, as does the amount of glucose in the blood, which ends up resulting in typical hangover symptoms, such as nausea, headache and extreme sensitivity to light.
What to do: the most important thing is to try to replenish the body's hydration levels, drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and replenishing glucose levels, by eating fruits, for example. In addition, in some people, drinking a cup of unsweetened coffee can also help. Check out 7 tips to cure your hangover faster.
5. Gastroesophageal reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux happens when stomach acid reaches the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, a bloated stomach and feeling sick.
Although nausea caused by reflux can appear at any time of the day, it often appears in the morning, especially since the stomach has been empty for a long time and because the lying position facilitates the passage of acid between the stomach and the esophagus.
What to do: A good tip to reduce reflux symptoms upon waking up is to sleep with the head of the bed slightly elevated, so that the acid cannot rise easily from the stomach to the esophagus. In addition, having a small snack before bed also helps to shorten the period of time the stomach is empty, reducing acidity. Better understand what is reflux and how to treat it.
7. Gastric ulcer
Sickness is a common symptom in people with gastric ulcers and, although it can happen at any time of the day, it can be present early in the morning. This is because, as the stomach has been without food for many hours, the acid is able to act with greater intensity on the ulcer, worsening inflammation at the site and aggravating symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, for example.
What to do: to treat gastric ulcer it is important to follow a diet based on natural and whole foods, in addition to consulting a gastroenterologist to assess the need to start treatment with antacid medications. See other symptoms of gastric ulcer and how it should be treated.
8. Inflammation of the ear
The ear has a structure, known as the vestibular system, which is responsible for the balance of the body. Thus, if you have an inflammation of the ear, it is possible that this structure will end up being affected, causing changes in balance that can be perceived as nausea.
Generally, in addition to nausea, inflammation of the ear also causes other symptoms such as ear pain, itching, decreased ability to hear, and even pus out of the ear.
What to do: Whenever an inflammation of the ear is suspected, it is very important to consult an otolaryngologist to confirm the diagnosis and start the most appropriate treatment, which may include the use of antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drops. Understand what can cause ear inflammation and how to treat it.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- NHS. Vomiting and morning sickness in pregnancy. Available in: . Accessed on 19 May 2020
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH. Gastroesophageal reflux. Available in: . Accessed on 03 Feb 2020