Nausea is a term used to describe a feeling of stomach upset, light-headedness, dizziness, and often an urge to vomit. Nausea can be caused by a number of different viruses, medications, conditions, diseases, and environmental factors. Some forms of nausea, such as that caused by motion or the flu, are transitory in nature and can usually be treated with simple over-the-counter medicines or rest and fluids. However, other causes of nausea can be much more long-lasting and difficult to treat.
Simple lifestyle changes can be one solution for some types of nausea. For example, overeating, eating too little, or drinking too much alcohol can lead to nausea. By adopting a healthy diet and drinking only in moderation, nausea can be effectively prevented. Stress and pain are other common causes of nausea. Getting enough sleep and adopting effective stress management techniques can prevent nausea. If intense pain is chronic due to injury or other medical conditions, over-the-counter pain relievers are often ineffective or lead to unwanted side effects. Cannabis can be a good pain management tool and can prevent nausea caused by chronic or intense pain.
One of the most common causes of nausea that impacts a person’s well-being is medication. Those who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments and those with HIV who are using anti-viral drugs can experience nausea so severe that it prevents them from fully benefiting from their treatment or causes them to forego treatment because they cannot withstand the side effects.