Waking Up With Nausea In The Morning? Surprising Causes Beyond Pregnancy And Solutions

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Updated Dec 30, 2024 | 06:00 AM IST

Waking Up With Nausea In The Morning? Surprising Causes Beyond Pregnancy And Solutions

SummaryMorning nausea can result from various factors other than pregnancy or certain medications. Addressing these underlying causes can help alleviate symptoms effectively and help you build healthier morning habits.

A morning routine can be a great way to start the day off on the right foot, but waking up with nausea can make even the best of intentions fall by the wayside. While morning nausea is commonly linked to pregnancy, it has other causes that range from lifestyle habits to serious health conditions. Though some people may not find cause for concern with the occasional queasiness, persistent symptoms may warrant a doctor's visit.

Here's a comprehensive look at the reasons you might wake up nauseous and what your body might be signaling. Morning nausea can be caused by the simplest eating habits or can be as complex as hormonal or digestive disorders. Late-night meals, dehydration, low blood sugar, and even stress or anxiety can trigger it.

Sometimes, the cause may also be some medications or certain health conditions. The cure will only be found if the underlying cause is known.

What are the Possible Causes of Morning Nausea?

1. Eating Habits

Late Night Food Intakes: Consuming heavy or undigested food close to bedtime leads to indigestion and nausea in the morning. Fatty, spicy, or dairy products are some of the primary culprits. This is because your body can't digest these meals properly while you're asleep and often causes discomfort.

Not Enough Food Ingestion: On the other hand, not having enough food before sleeping would cause a drop in the blood sugar levels overnight resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, shakiness, and nausea.

2. Dehydration

Dehydration is when there is an inadequate amount of water within your body. Severe dehydration may have no symptom of nausea. However, severe dehydration cases may trigger dizziness, confusion, and nausea as long as fluid loss occurs overnight.

3. Stress and Anxiety

Stress can be coupled with nausea. Anxiety has a tendency to affect one's digestive system by bringing a change in the body's hormone levels, leading to stomach upset when trying to wake up.

4. Acid Reflux

One of the most common causes of morning nausea is acid reflux, which is essentially the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. The condition is worsened when the individual lies down while sleeping. This makes morning symptoms more prone to nausea and a burning sensation in the throat.

5. Alcohol Consumption

The overconsumption of alcohol, especially right before bed, will cause dehydration and inflammation of the stomach lining, resulting in morning nausea.

Also Read: What Is A Vestibular Migraine Diet?

6. Constipation

This might include irregular bowel movements, resulting in bloating, nausea, and stomach cramps. Other factors that tend to cause constipation are a low-fiber diet, insufficient hydration, and lack of exercise.

7. Medications

Some medications, such as birth control pills and specific cancer treatments, list nausea as a side effect. If you suspect your medication is the cause, contact your doctor for alternative options.

8. Pregnancy

The characteristic sign of early pregnancy is morning sickness, which typically results from hormonal changes. If combined with a missed menstrual cycle, this would be one of the likely causes for your symptoms.

How to Manage Morning Nausea

  • Don't eat heavy meals for three hours before bedtime. Eat well-balanced meals with some protein, fiber, and healthy fats in them, which will allow your blood sugar levels to stabilize.
  • Avoid spicy, greasy, or dairy-rich foods before bedtime. Instead, incorporate lighter fare such as whole grains, lean proteins, and vegetables.
  • Be sure to drink at least 11.5 to 15.5 cups of water per day as recommended by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences. Start your morning with a glass of water to get your hydration kickstarted.
  • Add relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to your daily schedule to control stress. Professional help should be sought when anxiety continues.
  • Head elevation at night will also help prevent acid reflux. Avoid consuming fatty foods and late-night snacks to avoid the stomach from producing stomach acid.
  • Limit alcohol intake and not at bedtime. For you with frequent nausea every time, you may opt to forego alcohol drinking in most cases.
  • More fiber may be added through fruit consumption, vegetables, and high-fiber meals or servings. Staying hydrated plus being active keeps you quite regular.

When Should You See a Doctor

Morning nausea that lasts more than a few days or is accompanied by severe symptoms should be seen by a doctor. Signs that require immediate care include:

  • Chest pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • High fever with stiff neck
  • Blood in stool

If your symptoms are related to a new medication or an ongoing health condition, consult your healthcare provider for specific advice.

Waking up nauseous can be pretty scary; however, with a few simple changes to lifestyle patterns, this situation can bring relief to most. This could include altering your evening routine, keeping hydrated, or handling stress in healthy ways, for example. If this symptom continues for a more extended period of time, consult with your doctor for any serious issues that might need attention.

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Updated Apr 28, 2025 | 02:15 PM IST

Grief Can Change The Way Your Heart Functions, Especially After 50

SummaryHeartbreak is a painful experience, both mentally and physically. Many people talk about how this experience altered their life and functionality. However, many do not realize that heartbreaks are also capable of altering your heart’s anatomy.

“Heartbreaks happen to many people, it’s ok” or “You’ll move on, it’s a heartbreak, not the end of the world” and similar phrases as these are ones we have all heard. However, how much truth these sentences hold has been questioned. Many people experience mental health issues after experiencing heartbreak like depressive episodes and anxiety symptoms. However, did you know that heartbreaks can actually affect your heart?

The pain associated with heartbreaks is often thought of as psychological, but it can actually weaken the ability to pump blood effectively. This is a condition known as the broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

According to the Harvard Health Publishing, it is a sudden change in the shape of the heart's left ventricle, which is its primary pumping chamber. This is a concerning issue as it weakens the heart’s ability to effectively circulate blood throughout the body.

The British Heart Foundation explains that some people, like women over 50s are more susceptible to getting this issue. It could also be an issue if you have other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

Symptoms Mimic A Heart Attack

Harvard explains that most cases of this syndrome occur in the age frames of 58 to 75. 5% of these women thought they were having a heart attack. The symptoms can indeed be very similar to those of a heart attack and may include:

  • Sudden, intense chest pain
  • A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the chest
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Heart palpitations (irregular or forceful heartbeat)
  • Feeling faint or lightheaded
  • Nausea

Can Stress Cause This Issue?

While the precise cause of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains under investigation, medical experts believe that a sudden surge of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, triggered by intense emotional distress, plays a significant role. The syndrome often occurs following significant emotional events like bereavement, serious illness, or trauma, which is why it's commonly referred to as 'broken heart syndrome'. But that is not the only reason why you may experience this, other causes may include sudden drop in blood pressure, severe pain, asthma attack, intense fear, serious illnesses or surgery, etc.

When doctors are diagnosing this syndrome, they look for things like, no evidence of blockages in the angiogram, which helps them rule out heart attacks, they also use imaging techniques like echocardiogram, that will show abnormalities in the left ventricle.

Fortunately, it is temporary. The condition is typically managed with medications aimed at reducing the strain on the heart and minimizing the risk of complications. These medications can include:

  • Diuretics (to reduce fluid buildup)
  • Beta blockers (to slow heart rate and lower blood pressure)
  • Blood thinners (to prevent blood clots)

Can You Prevent Broken Heart Syndrome?

While most people recover fully, approximately one in ten patients may experience a recurrence of broken heart syndrome. Additionally, some individuals may have persistent symptoms or lasting changes to the shape of their heart, potentially requiring long-term medication.

Once a person has fully recovered from broken heart syndrome, it is advisable to focus on managing stress levels, adopting a healthy diet, and maintaining regular physical activity to help prevent future episodes.

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Updated Apr 28, 2025 | 11:15 AM IST

Vague Symptoms Of This Deadly Disease Caused Woman To Mistake It For Menopause

SummarySometimes looking beyond the surface level can help you avoid grave mistakes. While you may see a regular health symptom, further probing can reveal the true nature of the seeming non-issue.

Misleading signs are often worse than no signs, you may be working on the symptoms when the disease is already doing damage to your body. When something goes wrong in our body, most of us can catch onto it. However, we almost always tackle the most obvious issue, not knowing there could be something worse going on.

A similar issue happens to a UK-based woman, named, Loise who was suffering with high blood pressure and dismissed it as a symptom of menopause. Soon she found out that it was in fact not menopause that she was going through, rather she had been battling kidney cancer and did not know about it.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide with nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Cancer is a generic term for many different diseases that affect parts of one's body, according to the World Health Organization. Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer in UK adults and 14th most common cancer worldwide. According to Cancer Research UK, the average number of cases reported for kidney cancer in 2017-19 UK was 13,834. It is also more common in the elderly, aged 80-84, and there has been a 92% rise in the incidence rates of kidney cancer since the 1990s.

Misleading Symptoms and Important Warnings

In the Kidney Cancer UK's TikTok page, Louise's highlights the critical importance of recognizing that not all symptoms in middle-aged women are solely due to hormonal changes. In her case, the elevated blood pressure was an indicator of an aggressive form of kidney cancer.

Often, kidney cancer doesn't manifest with clear and distinct symptoms, and it is frequently discovered incidentally during tests conducted for other health concerns. Louise emphasized the challenge of diagnosis, "Symptoms are unfortunately vague, especially for women, as it includes high blood pressure, night sweats, blood in your urine and flank pain. GPs often relate these to menopause symptoms." She strongly advises everyone to "regularly scan your body" and to pay attention to persistent discomfort. She urged, "How long have those niggling pains been there? Get them checked - always better to be safe than sorry!"

What To Expect After The Diagnosis?

Reflecting on her own diagnosis, Louise recounted having "high blood pressure but unseen blood" in her urine. She explained how her cancer was detected, "I was lucky routine bloods picked up an issue with my liver, prompting ultrasound."

Her treatment journey involved significant surgical interventions, "I have now had two major surgeries to remove cancer and my kidney within the last 15 months. I'm three weeks post open surgery and recovering well." The outcome of recent tests brought encouraging news, "The news that all the biopsies came back as not cancer has been amazing."

Currently, Louise is managing side effects from her immunotherapy treatment. Looking ahead, Louise remains realistic but hopeful "My cancer was the most aggressive at grade 4 so there will always be a high chance of it coming back, but medications and research is changing all the time and I have faith that the surveillance scans will help us nip anything untoward in the bud!"

Kidney Cancer Symptoms You Should Look Out For

While kidney cancer often progresses without noticeable symptoms, the NHS indicates that when they do appear, they can include:

  • Blood in your pee
  • A lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck
  • Persistent pain between your ribs and waist
  • Unexplained loss of appetite or weight loss
  • Persistent fatigue or lack of energy
  • A recurring high temperature
  • Excessive sweating, particularly at night

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Can Natural Disasters Impact Your Mental Health? Here's What Experts Say

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Updated Apr 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM IST

Can Natural Disasters Impact Your Mental Health? Here's What Experts Say

SummaryRecent flooding in Kentucky’s Franklin County highlights how natural disasters not only threaten physical safety but also leave lasting impacts on mental health, experts and studies reveal.

Throughout the first week of April, the state of Kentucky witnessed flooding, due to heavy rains, specifically in the Franklin County. The reason being, it is located on the Kentucky River for over 200 years. While such natural disasters can cause distress in terms of physical safety, expert also reveals that such natural disasters could impact one's mental health too.

Natural disasters like Kentucky's recent flooding can have serious impacts on victim's mental health, reveals Christal Badour, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky and a trauma recovery research.

As reported in Weku NPR, the UK psychologist explains that reactions to traumatic events typically fall into short-term and long-term symptoms. These include people feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, and difficulty communicating. While most people eventually recover without lasting effects, some may struggle for a longer duration.

These long-term issues include depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Badour also notes that people who already had a mental health difficulty before the natural disaster could also further feel isolated. Along with that, individuals with fewer financial resources could be at more risk of long-term problems.

Are These Long-term Symptoms Common?

According to a report from Clinical Psychology Review, 20 to 80% of people will experience long-term symptoms after a disaster. These rates could vary depending on the type of disaster one faces. PTSD symptoms often improve after the first year, however, depression and anxiety are more likely to linger.

What Do Other Experts Say?

There have been previous studies too that confirm the same. As per a 2024 study, titled Impact of Natural Disasters on Mental Health: Evidence and Implications, by Eamin Z Heanoy and Norman R Brown, notes: "Natural disasters are large-scale catastrophic events, and they are increasing in frequency and severity. Converging evidence indicates that the mental health consequences of disasters are extensive and are often associated with trauma and the disruption of personal and socioeconomic factors in people’s lives."

However, the study also notes that although most individuals who experience disaster-related traumatic events do not develop mental illnesses, some could experience adverse psychological effects of the disaster.

Another expert, Nomy Levy-Carric, MD, MPhil, writes for Mass General Brigham, which is an institute dedicated to serving the community and enhancing patient care, teaching, and research, notes that natural disaster can indeed leave a lasting impact on individuals, families, and often an entire community.

Levy Carrick notes: "A person’s reaction depends on many factors, including their past experiences, what is happening in their life at that moment, the nature of their exposure, and the support available to them as they rebuild. The sudden loss of control and uncertainty can be overwhelming, making it harder to cope in both the short and long term."

What Are The Types Of Natural Disasters?

  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
  • Earthquakes
  • Tornadoes
  • Wildfire
  • Floods
  • Blizzards and winter storms
  • Drought and extreme heat
  • Landslides and mudslides

The doctor notes the Psychological First Aid or PFA provides a structured way to support emotional recovery immediately after a disaster.

However, notes Badour, there is still a major gap in treatment. Most disaster relief services only last up to one year.

“After that year has passed, a lot of people feel like there's no one there to help them, especially if you're in a community that was already lacking in mental health support and resources,” she said.

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