Page 111 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

COMMON CONDITIONS: CHEST AND ABDOMINAL PROBLEMS 109

Nausea and vomiting

There are many reasons for nausea. The mere sight or smell of
WARNING
something unpleasant, or a food you dislike, may trigger sweating
and queasiness. Anxiety and motion sickness are also common Seek immediate medical help if
nausea and vomiting follow a head
causes. Nausea doesn’t always lead to vomiting; if it does, it is
injury or are accompanied by:
often due to gastroenteritis (an infection), food poisoning, or excess ● Blood in the vomit
alcohol. Morning sickness is common in early pregnancy, and ● Severe headache or stiff neck
migraine sufferers may vomit during attacks. Nausea and vomiting ● Severe abdominal pain
are usually short-lived, but repeated vomiting may dehydrate you.

See your doctor first
DRUG REMEDIES
Arrange to see your doctor if you can’t
establish the cause of your nausea or vomiting. Oral rehydration solutions (see
p.188) replace salts, sugar, and minerals that have
been lost from your body through vomiting. They are
available as ready-to-use bottled solutions in a
What you can do yourself variety of flavors. Sip them instead of, or in addition
to, regular drinks.
Try these measures to help you recover quickly from
nausea and/or vomiting and prevent dehydration.
● If you feel nauseated, open a window or step
outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air. NATURAL REMEDIES
● Drink at least 8 glasses of clear fluids, such as
Ginger (see p.183) can be soothing during a
water or apple juice, each day. Sip slowly. Avoid bout of nausea and is a useful treatment for motion
drinks that can irritate the stomach, such as alcohol, sickness (see p.110). You can take ginger root
coffee, and cola, and avoid drinking during a meal. capsules; alternatively, eat some pieces of
Passing small volumes of dark urine shows you are crystallized or raw ginger, add powdered ginger
becoming dehydrated and need to drink more. to a glass of fruit juice, or make ginger tea.
● If you can, eat small, frequent meals. Eat slowly.
Start with bland foods such as boiled rice, pasta,
chicken soup, or dry toast. Avoid spicy and oily
foods and very hot or very cold foods and drinks. Seek further medical advice
● Try to rest after meals; sit in a chair or propped up Arrange to see your doctor if:
in bed (lying flat may make you feel worse). Don’t ● Your nausea or vomiting doesn’t start
move around too much, as this can lead to vomiting.
to subside within 24 hours
● Avoid strong odors such as perfumes, since they ● You develop any other symptoms
can provoke vomiting. ● You are taking regular medication, such
as birth control pills, because vomiting may
● Taking ginger (see NATURAL REMEDIES, right) may
reduce its effectiveness
relieve nausea, especially motion sickness.
● If you have morning sickness, keep plain crackers
by your bed and eat one just before you get up.
● Take an oral rehydration preparation if you have
been vomiting (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).