Nausea is the uncomfortable feeling that you may vomit. Nausea is a symptom, not a disease by itself, and the right response depends on its cause and severity.
When to seek emergency care: Seek urgent care for blood or dark "coffee-ground" material in vomit, severe or worsening abdominal pain, a severe headache with stiff neck, suspected poisoning, confusion, fainting, inability to keep fluids down, or clear signs of dehydration. Call 1122 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Common causes of nausea
Nausea can follow a simple, short-lived problem such as motion sickness or a stomach infection, but it can also accompany pregnancy, migraine, acid reflux, an ulcer, food poisoning, severe pain, medicines or anxiety. People using certain treatments — including some diabetes, weight-management and cancer medicines — may also experience nausea.
The timing offers clues. Nausea after questionable food may suggest food poisoning; nausea with a missed period may raise the possibility of pregnancy; nausea with one-sided throbbing headache and light sensitivity may occur with migraine. These clues are helpful, but they do not confirm a diagnosis.
What you can safely try
- Take small, frequent sips of water or oral rehydration solution rather than drinking a large amount quickly.
- When able to eat, start with small portions of plain food and avoid heavy, oily or strongly scented meals.
- Sit upright after eating and get fresh air if smells trigger symptoms.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational substances.
- Ask a pharmacist or doctor before taking anti-nausea medicine, particularly during pregnancy or for a child.
Hydration matters more than forcing food during a short illness. Dark urine, very little urination, dry mouth, marked weakness and dizziness can signal dehydration.
When nausea needs a medical review
Contact a healthcare professional if nausea keeps returning, lasts more than a couple of days, is causing weight loss, began after a new medicine, or occurs with persistent abdominal symptoms. Pregnancy-related nausea also deserves review when fluids cannot be kept down or daily functioning is affected.
How a doctor may investigate it
The clinician may ask when nausea started, whether vomiting is present, what you ate, recent travel, pregnancy possibility, bowel habits and medicines. Examination focuses on hydration and abdominal or neurological signs. Depending on the situation, tests may include blood, urine, pregnancy testing or imaging.
Which doctor should you see?
A general physician is usually the best first contact. A gastroenterologist may be appropriate for recurring nausea with reflux, ulcer-like pain or other digestive symptoms. An obstetrician/gynecologist can help with pregnancy-related symptoms, while a neurologist may be relevant when nausea repeatedly accompanies migraine or neurological symptoms.
Which specialist to see
SehatGPT routes persistent or unclear nausea first to a general physician, then to gastroenterology, gynecology or neurology when the symptom pattern supports it.
Frequently asked questions
Does nausea always lead to vomiting?
No. Many people feel nauseated without vomiting.
Can stress cause nausea?
Yes. Stress and anxiety can affect the digestive system, but persistent nausea should not automatically be attributed to stress.
Is lemon or ginger always safe?
Some people find them soothing, but they are not a treatment for serious causes. Concentrated supplements may interact with medicines or worsen reflux, so ask a clinician if you have a medical condition or are pregnant.