Morning sickness without being pregnant: what is it due to?

Nausea is an unpleasant sensation and the imminent desire to vomit, which are usually located in the epigastrium or throat and can end in vomiting, explains Dr. Ana Martínez Virto, Associate Physician in the Emergency Department of the La Paz Hospital in Madrid. , which adds that they can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as stomach pain, lack of appetite, and even fatigue, among others.

The most frequent cause of its appearance is associated with hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, but there are many other reasons why a person may feel morning sickness that have nothing to do with a possible pregnancy, says this specialist.

1 . 13 reasons why you may have nausea in the morning

There are many reasons why we can feel nauseous in the morning. Once pregnancy has been ruled out, Dr. Ana Martínez Virto explains the main reasons why we might experience this discomfort:

• Food poisoning, or an intolerance or allergy to some food, or something you ate or ate for dinner the day before, even if it was in good condition. “If the nausea is sudden and is followed by vomiting and appears within two hours of ingestion, it is possible that it is food poisoning,” says the expert.
• prolonged fasting Going without eating for many hours can result in a drop in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of hypoglycemia include nausea and dizziness. Although it is more common in people with diabetes, it can happen to anyone.
• Diseases of the digestive system, such as GERD or gastroesophageal reflux, gastroenteritis, or a peptic ulcer, among others.
• Effects of some medications. Side effects of certain drugs can include nausea; This is very common, for example, with chemotherapy to fight cancer, but it can also happen with some pain relievers and antibiotics, birth control pills, etc. If you are undergoing medical treatment, consult this problem with the specialist.
• Psychological problems. A panic attack or anxiety attack can manifest with a variety of symptoms, including abdominal discomfort and nausea. The same happens with stress, since a situation of continued stress can become somatized, resulting in health problems.
• Migraine and other neurological disorders. A severe migraine headache can be accompanied by nausea or vomiting, among other symptoms.

• Hangover. Consuming alcoholic beverages before going to bed, even if you don’t get drunk, can cause you to wake up with a hangover and nausea as one of its symptoms.
• dehydration. If you’re not well hydrated, especially when temperatures are high and you’ve been sweating all night without replenishing lost fluids, you may also feel nauseated when you wake up.
• Little or bad sleep. Lack of sleep has serious consequences for long-term health, but after a restless night it is normal to find yourself tired and without energy, and you can also feel an upset stomach accompanied by nausea and the urge to vomit.
• After a surgical procedure. It is quite common to feel nauseated or vomit after surgery, both due to the intervention itself and the anesthetic drugs.
• Pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is due to inflammation in the pancreas and can cause digestive problems (the pancreas secretes enzymes to help with digestion). It usually causes abdominal or back pain, fever, etc.
• Gallbladder stones, which can cause pain in the back, upper abdomen, and nausea. These symptoms are often worse after eating, especially if high-fat foods are eaten.
• Some types of cancer. Cancers that affect the digestive system, such as the esophagus, or the areas of the brain that control digestion may also be related to frequent nausea.

2 . When we should worry about morning sickness

Nausea can be sporadic and be associated with a specific situation that is not serious and generally resolves spontaneously, but Dr. Martínez Virto warns that “if morning sickness is persistent or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or chest pain, or weight loss, a doctor should be consulted to determine the cause and make a diagnosis.”

In the American medical encyclopedia Medlineplus, they indicate that you should be concerned if:

• You have abdominal pain.
• The nausea ends up causing vomiting and you think it is due to poisoning.
• Vomiting continues for 24 hours, you have vomited three or more times in the same day or you are not able to keep down any liquid you drink.
• The vomit contains blood or is dark.
• You have a headache or a stiff neck.
• You experience signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth or infrequent or dark urine.

3 . 10 tips to relieve morning sickness

Even if they are not serious, morning sickness can be very annoying, and Dr. Martínez Virto offers some tips to alleviate it, such as:

• Eat light and soft foods.
• Avoid copious dinners, fried foods, rich in fat or sweets at night.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Eat slowly, in small amounts and more frequently.
• Avoid physical activity after eating.
• You should not stop drinking fluids, since dehydration increases nausea
• Do not take medicines or herbal products without medical supervision, since they can mask a more serious pathology.
• Taking vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) supplements, ginger, and medications, such as doxylamine, are other options as suggested by the Mayo Clinic.
• Grab a light snack right after you wake up and before you get out of bed (a trick that can work for some pregnant women, too), as recommended by Dr. Debra Rose Wilson on Healthline.
• Have good sleep hygiene and use relaxation techniques to deal with stress.