Introduction
People may feel nauseatic immediately or within a few hours after eating. This is normal. If this happens regularly, there might be something the patient should worry about. There could be different reasons for feeling nauseatic after eating.
What Are the Causes of Nausea After Eating?
Many different reasons and conditions can make the individual feel nauseatic after eating. It can be due to any stomach condition, food intolerance, illness, etc. Finding the cause can help avoid potential triggers and make the patient feel okay.
The following are the reasons for nausea after eating:
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Food Poisoning - Food poisoning can happen when the food is not cooked properly. Suppose the food is not heated to the desired temperature if the cooking surface and the hands are unclean before handling the food. When natural products like meat, fish, eggs, and poultry come in contact with ready-to-eat food, it could be the reason for food poisoning. Food poisoning causes symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea, starting within 30 minutes to an hour after contaminated food. But some symptoms can take several days to appear.
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Pregnancy - Nausea is observed in early pregnancy. The person feels uneasy, and this nauseatic feeling usually starts during the second month of pregnancy. The change in hormone levels triggers nausea. Nausea during pregnancy is known as morning sickness. It can strike at any time of the day, including during meals. The more severe form of morning sickness is hyperemesis gravidarum which causes frequent vomiting, body weight loss, dehydration, and cause imbalance of nutrients in the body. But if the patient experiences extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, talk with the healthcare provider about the treatment options.
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Anxiety and Stress - Stress and anxiety affect mental and physical health, including the digestive system. Nausea is a symptom of social anxiety disorder and other phobias. There is a gut-brain connection during stressful conditions that might release hormones and chemicals that enter the digestive tract, which harms the gut.
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Cancer Treatment - The side effect of chemotherapy drugs is nausea. Nausea can occur with oral and oral medications taken IV. The risk of nausea and vomiting depends on the drugs used in the chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can also cause anticipatory nausea and vomiting, where there is a chance of developing nausea and vomiting with certain triggers. The anticipatory triggers increase along with the number of chemotherapy sessions.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract, including disturbance in bowel habits and abdominal pain. Nause is the main complaint in people with IBS, such as diarrhea and constipation. Three types of IBS are Diarrhea-predominant, constipation-predominant, alternating diarrhea, and constipation. Modifications in diet and exercise may help to relieve IBS symptoms, along with medications, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavior therapy, and acupuncture.
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Motion Sickness - Motion sickness is caused by the motion that the individual has not been adapted to. Eating before or after traveling can make nausea worse. Nausea caused by motion sickness stops after the trigger is gone or within 24 hours.
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Gallbladder Diseases - The gall bladder is an organ in which the body digests fats. The diseases of the gallbladder and gallstones can affect the ability to digest fats. The inflammation of the gallbladder is called cholecystitis.
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Acid Reflux - Acid reflux is a burning feeling in the breast bone, known as heartburn. Heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal disease (GERD). This condition causes nausea.
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Food Allergies and Intolerance - Food allergies and intolerance cause uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and other symptoms. People experience food sensitivities to dairy, gluten, additives, etc.
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Stomach Virus - The stomach flu infects the intestines and triggers gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Stomach flu can also be caused by contaminated food and water or raw foods.
What Are the Symptoms of Nausea After Eating?
There are different symptoms of nausea after eating, which include:
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Food allergy symptoms are swelling of the mouth, difficulty in breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, hives, and itching.
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The symptoms of gallbladder disease are pain in the upper right abdomen and vomiting after food.
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For food poisoning or stomach virus vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever.
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For acid reflux, symptoms are burning in the chest, burping, and coughing.
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For stress and anxiety, the symptoms are muscle aches, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, and irritability.
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During pregnancy, the symptoms are missed periods, fatigue, tenderness, and swollen breasts.
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For motion sickness, the symptoms are vomiting, dizziness, nausea, and uneasy feeling.
How Is Nausea After Eating Diagnosed?
Depending on the condition of the patient, the doctor may suggest a few tests like
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Routine blood or urine test.
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Colonoscopy.
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CT scan, X-ray, or ultrasound.
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Skin test to detect any food allergies.
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Endoscopy.
How to Prevent Nausea After Eating?
Tips to prevent nausea include:
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Eat bland food like crackers or toast.
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Avoid spicy, oily foods.
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Eat slow and smaller meals.
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Suck on an ice cube.
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Sometimes the smell of cooked food can make the individual queasy, so serve food cold or at room temperature.
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Try to relax and sit after having food.
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Avoid overeating.
What Is the Treatment for Nausea After Eating?
There are different methods to treat nausea after eating including:
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Take the anti-nausea medication prescribed by the doctor.
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Eat bland foods like clear broth, chicken, and oatmeal.
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Avoid foods that trigger nausea.
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In the case of gallstones, take medications to dissolve gallstones.
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Avoid spicy and fatty foods.
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Take antacids to reduce stomach acid.
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Talk with a healthcare provider about the condition.
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Try relaxation techniques like yoga and medication.
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Suck on ice cubes or crushed ice or popsicle.
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Do not sleep immediately after eating or drinking.
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Monitor when the patient feels nauseated; look for the triggers, the duration, and what made it better.
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Suck on mint, or try chewing gum.
Conclusion
Feeling nausea after eating can be related to problems in the gastrointestinal tract and neurological or hormonal issues. One needs to assess the condition first and then treat the condition accordingly.
