Nausea is one of the worst feelings in the world, but we all experience it at one point or another.
Whether you're feeling ill because you get motion sickness, you're coming down with a stomach bug, or you're in the early stages of pregnancy, it's never fun.
Sometimes, it's obvious what's causing your nausea. Maybe you ate some bad food or drank a little too much during a night out.
If you're nauseous for no identifiable reason, though, it can be very unsettling. Many people don't realize that nausea can actually be caused by a number of physical and mental health issues, including gallbladder problems, acid reflux, and anxiety.
When you feel sick to your stomach, all you want to do is curl up in bed and wait for it to pass. Sometimes you should pay a little more attention, though.
Read below to find out more about some of the most unexpected causes of nausea.
Photos: Laura Caseley for LittleThings; pxhere
What Is Nausea?
Although we've all experienced nausea at some point in time, many of us don't actually know its definition.
According to WebMD, "Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting."
Nausea Causes #1: Acid Reflux
Acid reflux — formally called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — is caused when gastric acid from your stomach flows back up into your esophagus or food pipe, explains Cedars-Sinai.
Most people with acid reflux experience heartburn, but some may also feel nauseous when the stomach acid moves up through the body.
#2: Anxiety
Many people think that anxiety is purely psychological, but it can actually have a number of physical symptoms as well.
Harvard Medical School explains, "Anxiety is a reaction to stress that has both psychological and physical features." They go on to say that anxiety can cause "light-headedness, nausea, diarrhea, and frequent urination."
#3: Heart Attack
Chest pain is not the only physical symptom of a heart attack.
"As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort," according to the American Heart Association. "But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain."
#4: Adrenal Gland Problems
"The adrenal glands, located on the top of each kidney, are responsible for releasing different hormones. Adrenal gland disorders occur when the adrenal glands produce too much or too little of these hormones," explains the National Institutes of Health.
When your adrenal glands aren't working correctly, it can cause a number of symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.
#5: Gallbladder Problems
The gallbladder, which is a four-inch muscular sac under the liver, stores bile until the small intestine needs it to digest fat.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are a number of gallbladder issues that can make you feel nauseous, including gallbladder inflammation, biliary colic, and common bile duct stones.
#6: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, "Cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS, is a disorder that causes sudden, repeated attacks — called episodes — of severe nausea and vomiting."
Doctors aren't completely sure what causes CVS, but there are a number of treatment options once a diagnosis has been confirmed.
#7: Vasovagal Syncope
According to the Mayo Clinic, "Vasovagal syncope occurs when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress."
Some of the common symptoms of vasovagal syncope include light-headedness, tunnel vision, and nausea.
Learn more about vasovagal syncope in this LittleThings article.
#8: Intestinal Obstruction
The Mayo Clinic explains, "Intestinal obstruction is a blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through your small intestine or large intestine (colon)."
Intestinal obstructions cause a number of symptoms, including abdominal swelling, cramps, constipation, loss of appetite, and nausea and vomiting.
Other Causes
There are a number of other causes of nausea, including appendicitis, an enlarged spleen, a hiatal hernia, meningitis, a peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, and more.
Set up an appointment with your doctor if you think you have nausea caused by a health issue.
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