Is It Nausea Or Something Else When To See A Doctor
Nausea may often have a benign cause but can also be a harbinger of something dangerous, Dr. Barsky says. If nausea persists, recurs, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms, one should consider seeking medical attention.
If you have the following symptoms in addition to nausea, seek medical advice immediately:
- Chest pains
Foods To Eat And 7 To Avoid If You Have An Upset Stomach
Picture the scene: You’re rolling through life without a care in the world. Then one day, you try out a new restaurant you’ve never been to before. Everything goes without a hitch, you have a great time that is, until six hours later, when you’re hunched over the toilet bowl. Sound familiar? It’s pretty likely that at some point or another, you’ve had this very experience. An upset stomach can strike when you least expect it, and can lead to some highly unpleasant consequences for your health.
There’s a wide range of causes of an upset stomach out there, from more acute conditions like norovirus , to sometimes less extreme but no less irritating occurrences of indigestion . And when this happens, you don’t want your diet to make you feel more sick.
Luckily, there are some canny food choices you can make when your stomach’s not feeling tip-top to minimize any nasty side effects and there are some foods you should definitely avoid, too, unless you want things to go south fast. Let’s take a look in this article.
What To Do About Fluids When You Have Diarrhea
Do drink plenty of fluid. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least one cup of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement. Water, fruit juices, caffeine-free soda, and salty broths are some good choices. According to the Cleveland Clinic, salt helps slow down the fluid loss, and sugar will help your body absorb the salt.
Dont consume beverages at extreme temperatures. Consume all liquids at room temperature, or slightly warmed, advises Dr. Ganjhu. Anything too hot or too cold can cause nausea.
Do drink a tea with chamomile. There is some research to suggest that products containing certain combinations of herbs, including chamomile, may help an upset stomach. A study published in the journal Molecular Medicine Reports cited the potential favorable effects of drinking a chamomile preparation that is combined with other herbs, in treating diarrhea.
Dont consume caffeine or alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can irritate the digestive tract and worsen diarrhea, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine.
Dillute your water with fruit juice. Ganjhu recommends diluting your water with fruit juices, like cranberry or apple juice, to make the H2O, which can sometimes be nauseating when you have diarrhea, easier to tolerate.
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Why Should We Avoid Taking Drugs On An Empty Stomach
Some medications must be taken on an empty stomach or before meals. This is due to the fact that certain foods and beverages might alter the way these medications operate. Taking certain drugs while eating, for example, may hinder the medicine from being absorbed by your stomach and intestines, making it less effective.
Remedies And Treatments For Upset Stomach And Diarrhea
Upset Stomach Remedies
Most stomach ailments can be treated at home. As soon as you start feeling sick, begin limiting your diet to clear liquids in frequent, small amounts. Make sure to drink enough fluids to keep your urine clear or a pale yellow.
If youâre not able to keep liquids down and begin to vomit, start with sips of water or sucking on ice chips. Once you are able to keep that down, try other fluids like:
- Clear soup broth or bouillon
- Clear soft-drinks like 7-Up, Sprite, or Ginger Ale
- Juices like apple, grape, cherry, or cranberry
- Popsicles
Once you are able to keep all liquids down, try some solid foods along with the liquids. Good foods to try are:
- Applesauce
- White rice
- White toast
It may take several days to one week to regain your appetite, energy level, and for your bowels to regain normalcy.
Diarrhea TreatmentsMost cases of diarrhea clear on their own within a couple of days without treatment. If you’ve tried lifestyle changes and home remedies for an upset stomach and diarrhea without success, your doctor might recommend the following:
Antibiotics might help treat diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. If a virus is causing your diarrhea, antibiotics won’t help. Alternatively, if your doctor determines that antibiotics are whatâs causing your diarrhea, they will likely lower the dose or switch to another medication.
Treatment to Replace Fluids
Treating underlying conditions
Upset Stomach and Diarrhea Prevention
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If It’s Nausea: Chew On Ginger
Ginger root is one of the better-studied natural remedies for stomach upset, particularly nausea. It’s been tested and shown effective to relieve nausea in pregnancy, chemotherapy patients and people experiencing nausea and vomiting after surgery. This suggests that less tenacious forms of nausea from your dietary indiscretions should be no match for ginger’s antiemetic powers. Its efficacy for abdominal pain and/or nausea seems to derive from a compound called gingerol, which has antispasmodic and muscle-relaxing effects.
You can get ginger in the form of tea, ginger chews, real ginger ale or ginger extract supplements though without standardized dosing, you may need to experiment with what an effective form and dose is for you. Research suggests that 1 gram of ginger root may be a therapeutic dose. If you take medications with a blood-thinning effect, consult your doctor before supplementing with concentrated ginger extract.
Is Upset Stomach In Dogs A Sign Of Food Allergies
An upset stomach every once in a while can be normal in a dog, but if it happens often, it could signal that something is wrong in their GI tract, says Randy Aronson, DVM, of P.A.W.S. Veterinary Center in Tucson, Arizona.
If digestive upset is a frequent occurrence for your dog, discuss the possibility of a food allergy with your veterinarian. When food allergies are diagnosed in dogs, it is often an allergy to a protein source, which is why a more novel protein may be recommended.
There are many options on the market, but examples may include beef, buffalo, venison, or lamb.
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When To See A Doctor For A Stomach Ache
If your symptoms are persistent and you’re having ongoing abdominal pain, it’s best to see your doctor rather than continuing to take these meds to rule out serious conditions.
Also, if your stomach ache is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever, Gagneja says you should seek medical attention as soon as possible instead of trying to mask the symptoms with OTC medications. These symptoms could be a sign of appendicitis, which must be treated by a doctor.
Keep in mind that OTC medications are just band-aids for relieving symptoms. They are not designed to address any serious underlying condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease , celiac disease, ulcers, or cancer, Gagneja says. This is why it’s not recommended to take these medications long-term if symptoms are persisting.
“If people keep on taking these symptom relief over the counter meds, then those diseases can be missed,” says Gagneja.
Pectin Supplements Can Prevent Diarrhea And Dysbiosis
When a stomach bug or foodborne illness causes diarrhea, pectin supplements can help speed up recovery.
Pectin is a type of plant fiber found in high quantities in apples and citrus fruits. Its often isolated from these fruits and sold as its own food product or supplement .
Pectin is not digested by humans, so it stays within the intestinal tract where its very effective at firming stools and preventing diarrhea .
In fact, one study found that 82% of sick children taking daily pectin supplements recovered from their diarrhea within 4 days, compared to only 23% of children not taking pectin supplements .
Pectin also relieves stomach upset by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract.
Sometimes, people develop uncomfortable symptoms of gas, bloating or abdominal pain due to an imbalance of bacteria in their intestines.
This can happen for a variety of reasons, but is especially common after gut infections, after taking antibiotics or during periods of high stress (
49 ).
While pectin supplements are effective at relieving diarrhea and promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria, its unknown whether natural foods rich in pectin would have the same benefits. More research is needed.
Summary Pectin, a type of plant fiber found in apples and citrus fruits, may help shorten the duration of diarrhea and promote healthy gut bacteria when taken as a supplement.
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What Is The Best Way To Relieve Gastritis Pain
Within 48 hours, most instances of moderate gastritis respond satisfactorily to the self-care treatments listed below.
How Ginger Helps Nausea And Vomiting During Pregnancy
Ginger is also a popular nondrug treatment for morning sickness. The available evidence suggests ginger is safe and effective for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A randomized, controlled trial involving 291 women less than 16 weeks pregnant was undertaken in Australia. The study showed ginger in early pregnancy reduced symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
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How To Avoid Doxycycline Side Effects
Doxycycline, an antibiotic commonly prescribed for acne and other conditions, can result in side effects similar to most other antibiotics, including nausea, upset stomach, and yeast infections 1. Other side effects, which are not common to most other antibiotics, include sensitivity to the sun — which might make you more likely to get a sunburn — and esophageal irritation or damage. Although it’s never possible to avoid side effects completely, you can take certain measures to avoid doxycycline side effects 1.
Ensure that your physician is aware of all medications and over-the-counter vitamin supplements or herbal remedies that you are taking. Certain medications might combine with doxycycline to intensify the side effects of both 1. For example, ibuprofen can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, just as doxycycline can — if you take both, you might be at risk for a bad sunburn.
Take doxycycline with food or following a meal. If you have taken doxycycline on an empty stomach before and gotten away with it, the next time may be different. Taking it with food helps minimize nausea and upset stomach.
Avoid, if possible, taking doxycycline along with other medications that are known to irritate the stomach as a side effect 1. With your doctor’s permission and advice, space out the medications accordingly.
Tips
Caffeine, alcohol and certain foods may cause further stomach upset.
Warnings
Diagnosis For Nausea After Eating
Your doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms, including when you feel nauseated, how long the feeling lasts, and what seems to trigger it.
Consider keeping a food diary if you commonly experience nausea after eating and arent sure of the cause.
In addition to what you ate, note the symptoms you experienced, how long they lasted, and how soon after eating they started. Keeping a diary of what you eat and how you feel afterward can help your doctor make a diagnosis.
Depending on what condition your doctor suspects, you might need tests, like:
- blood or urine tests
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Food Allergies And Intolerances
Certain foods, like shellfish, nuts, or eggs, can fool your immune system into identifying them as harmful foreign invaders. If you have a food allergy, your immune system launches a series of events that leads to the release of histamine and other chemicals when you eat one of these trigger foods.
These chemicals produce allergy symptoms, ranging from hives and mouth swelling to nausea. Other common food allergies include milk, wheat, soy, fish.
Food intolerances, unlike food allergies, are not life-threatening. But they can still cause uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and other symptoms.
As much as of the population may be affected by food intolerances. People commonly experience food sensitivities to dairy, gluten, food additives, and specific types of carbohydrates known as fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols .
What To Eat With An Upset Stomach
An upset stomach is a nonmedical term describing a range of gastrointestinal symptoms like gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. To relieve an upset stomach, here are four home remedies that have been shown to be helpful: peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, ginger and sports drinks. I’ll also share six things that can make you feel worse.
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Papaya Can Improve Digestion And May Be Effective For Ulcers And Parasites
Papaya, also known as pawpaw, is a sweet, orange-fleshed tropical fruit that is sometimes used as a natural remedy for indigestion.
Papaya contains papain, a powerful enzyme that breaks down proteins in the food you eat, making them easier to digest and absorb .
Some people do not produce enough natural enzymes to fully digest their food, so consuming additional enzymes, like papain, may help relieve their symptoms of indigestion.
There has not been a lot of research on the benefits of papain, but at least one study found that regularly taking papaya concentrate reduced constipation and bloating in adults .
Papaya is also used in some West African countries as a traditional remedy for stomach ulcers. A limited number of animal studies support these claims, but more human research is needed (
46 ).
In fact, one study found that the addition of cooked, green bananas was nearly four times more effective at eliminating diarrhea than a rice-based diet alone .
The powerful antidiarrheal effects of green bananas are due to a special type of fiber they contain known as resistant starch.
Resistant starch cannot be digested by humans, so it continues through the digestive tract all the way to the colon, the final portion of the intestines.
Once in the colon, it is slowly fermented by your gut bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids, which stimulate the bowels to absorb more water and firm up the stools .
What Causes Chronic Pd
Chronic causes of PD are conditions that may need ongoing treatment in order to prevent PD symptoms. These conditions include:
Irritable bowel syndrome: IBS is a disorder that causes a variety of gastrointestinal issues. These include diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal cramping. Its not clear what causes IBS.
Celiac disease: This autoimmune condition causes damage in your intestines each time you eat gluten. Gluten is a protein found most commonly in wheat products.
Microscopic colitis: This condition causes inflammation of your large intestine. In addition to diarrhea, symptoms include gas and abdominal cramping. The inflammation isnt always present, however. That means symptoms of PD can come and go.
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Bile acid malabsorption: Your gallbladder produces bile to help break down and digest fats in your food. If these acids arent properly reabsorbed, they may irritate your large intestines. This can lead to watery stools and diarrhea.
Gallbladder removal: People who have their gallbladder removed may experience frequent diarrhea in the first few weeks and months after the surgery. In most cases, the diarrhea will eventually stop, but some people will continue to have chronic diarrhea or PD after the surgery.
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What Are The Symptoms Of An Upset Stomach In Dogs
Your dog can have a stomach ache for any number of reasons, but you might not know what’s causing it. It could be that they are sensitive to something in their diet or just dealing with stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, some dog owners might not realize their pup is suffering from tummy troubles unless a dog has an accident on the living room rug.
Dogs may not show signs of pain as openly due to their instinctive tendency to hide weakness. However, some subtle symptoms could indicate an issue. Keep your eye out for the following behaviors and get in touch if you notice anything unusual. Here are the most common symptoms of an upset stomach to watch for:
What Not To Drink
Most likely, you wont be in the mood for these during a bout of stomach flu anyway, but avoid:
- caffeinated drinks like coffee, strong black tea, and chocolate, which can affect your sleep at a time when getting enough rest is crucial
- alcohol, which acts as a diuretic.
All of these things can also upset your stomach.
Keeping food down can be difficult with the stomach flu. Dont force yourself to eat if the mere thought of food makes you cringe. When you do finally feel you can get something down, its best to start slow and simple.
The BRAT diet bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast can be your go-to when it comes to an uneasy stomach. These four foods are easy to digest, contain carbohydrates to give you energy, and replenish nutrients:
- Bananas: Bananas are easy to digest, can replace the potassium you lose from vomiting and diarrhea, and strengthens stomach lining.
- Rice: White rice is easy for your body to process and provides energy from carbs. Brown rice has too much fiber and may produce excess gas.
- Applesauce: Applesauce provides an energy boost due to the carbs and sugars, and it contains pectin, which can help with diarrhea. Its also easy to digest.
- Toast: Avoid whole-wheat bread, as fiber can be difficult on the digestive system. White bread is processed and easier to digest.
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