Nausea

What is nausea?

Nausea is the feeling you get when you think you might throw up. Sometimes it leads to vomiting, but not always. The best way to describe it is as an uncomfortable feeling in your throat and stomach, where you feel an urge to puke.

It can be caused by lots of things, like migraines, food poisoning, viruses, pregnancy, or even car, boat, or plane rides (motion sickness). Nausea can also be a side effect of treatments like chemotherapy.

Who gets nausea?

Anyone can get nauseous, and most people have experienced it at least once. Sometimes we know why it’s happening, and other times it’s a surprise.

If you have migraines with “aura,” nausea can be a symptom. You might feel nauseous during early pregnancy (morning sickness). You can also get nauseous when you’re carsick or seasick (motion sickness).

How common is nausea?

It’s pretty common to feel nauseous occasionally, especially in situations that trigger it, like being on a boat or having a stomach bug. Since it can be caused by so many things and often goes away quickly, it’s hard to say exactly how often it happens. (A lot of the time, people get nauseous, it passes, and they don’t even see a doctor about it.)

Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy) is very common. Estimates range from 50%^[1] to 70%.^[2]

Nausea is more common in people taking certain medications or with specific health conditions. For example, if you’re having chemo, you’re more likely to feel nauseous as a side effect. Some pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can also cause nausea.

What causes nausea?

The feeling of nausea is caused by signals sent from a sensory part of your body (like your eyes or nose) to your brain. There’s a trigger zone in your brain called the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). It receives and interprets messages from your body, which are carried by neurotransmitters. These messages are then sent to the vomiting center in your brain, leading to that sick feeling.

Can nausea lead to other problems?

Generally, nausea is just an unpleasant feeling and isn’t harmful. It can lead to vomiting, and vomiting a lot can cause dehydration. So it’s important to drink plenty of fluids if you’re sick.

Sometimes the underlying cause of nausea can be serious. If you’re feeling nauseous often and don’t know why, see a doctor. There could be an underlying condition that needs attention.