What is Nausea?
Nausea is a feeling of wanting to vomit. This feeling for some is short lived while for others it is prolonged. For the times when Nausea is prolonged, it could either be physically caused or psychological. Other origins of Nausea include; a problem in the brain, problems in the gastro-intestinal tract, menopause and pains, motions and medications for gastro-intestinal tract organs. Given there are so many origins for Nausea, the work of establishing exactly what is causing your Nausea is complex and may need close attention if you are tell on its origin. In this article we will major on the correlation between Menopause and Nausea.
Symptoms of Nausea
While nausea symptoms are often not painful, they often leave an individual feeling quite uncomfortable. They are felt in the upper abdomen, the chest, and at the back of the throat.
Symptoms that accompany Nausea include:
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Cramps in the stomach
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Lightheadedness
- Diarrhea
- A feeling of just being sick
Causes of Nausea
The leading causes of nausea include the first trimester of pregnancy and intense pain that could be from an injury or illness.
- Emotional stress
- Indigestion
- Gallbladder disease
- Food poisoning
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Chemotherapy
- The poor functioning of muscles of the stomach
- Migraine
- General anesthesia
- Taking an overdose of alcoholic drinks
- Vertigo
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Motion sickness
- Rotavirus
There are many other conditions and diseases that bring along the feeling of nausea.
Nausea and Menopause
There is still much going on in the study of menopause and Nausea. The following are the connections that are deemed to be there between menopause and Nausea.
The first of those links is hormonal fluctuations. There are two reproductive hormones that are produced by the ovaries; estrogen and progesterone. With the coming of menopause, there is fluctuation of these two hormones. Scientific research has shown that dramatic drop of progesterone hormone leads to gastrointestinal issues such as Nausea, diarrhea, gas and heart burn.
There is also a parallelism that appears to develop between morning sickness and menopause. Just as it is in morning sickness, the Nausea feeling during menopause is also experienced during mornings. It should be noted that just as the fluctuations in hormones in menopause cause nausea feeling, the same fluctuations in hormones are credited for morning sickness. This adds more weight the theory that nausea could be caused by fluctuation in hormone levels.
Another factor that could lead to menopause nausea is menopausal stress and anxiety. The gastrointestinal tract is said to be very sensitive to stress and anxiety. Other menopausal symptoms/complications such as insomnia, fatigue, night sweats, change in blood sugar levels, and blood pressure; compound and lead to nausea. Factors that make a menopausal woman more prone to nausea include lack of exercise and improper diets.
Nausea varies amongst menopausal women. There are those who will have slight nausea that will go away on its own while there are others who will have severe nausea that may need treatment.
Risks Factors of Nausea
The following are personal risk factors for nausea:
- Women are more predisposed to nausea compared to men
- Individuals younger than 50 years are more prone to nausea than the elderly
- People who experience motion sickness and/or have nausea when taking particular drugs have a high risk of having nausea
- Individuals with anxiety are more likely to have nausea
- Morning sickness often comes with nausea
- If you are likely to have nausea when sick
- Those who drink alcohol have a higher risk of nausea
Complications of Nausea
Most of nausea often clears up by itself. However there are instances where nausea that is accompanied by vomiting could be caused by chronic conditions. When nausea and vomiting persists, it could lead to dehydration and malnutrition. Constant vomiting could lead to the decaying of the tooth enamel and also weakening of the hair and nails.
Prevention of Nausea
To prevent menopause nausea, eat small portions of meals several times a day. Eat them slowly and be sure to rest after eating. For those vomiting, try to take in small amounts of sugar drink and avoid acidic ones as they may upset your stomach. For those feeling nauseated, try eating crackers when getting up and heavy proteins when going to sleep. Those who have motion sickness avoid snacking along the way. You can also use prescribed medication to prevent nausea when travelling.
Treatment
- Take smaller and frequent meals
- Take only light and plain foods
- Avoid foods that are greasy, fried, or have strong flavors
- Take cold drinks
- Rest after eating
- Drink much fluids to ensure hydration
- Do not take any solids until vomiting has subsided
- Avoid medication that may upset your stomach
- Take oral rehydration drinks
Lastly, the use of Menoquil has been found to be effective with many menopausal symptoms including nausea. It has less side effects and has worked for many women.
If the condition persists, visit with your health physician.
Conclusion
As shown above, Menopause and Nausea correlates in one way all another.The good thing is that you can prevent nausea with the mentioned tips.We hope this article has equipped you with necessary knowledge to know how to handle nausea.
Cassie Bell is an editor, blogger, writer, and teacher, and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Arkansas. Previously, she was a soldier in the Army for eight years as a Dental Assistant and currently work full-time as an English teacher. She believes children are the future, and my goal is to make them life-learners. She builds a positive rapport with students, parents, and the community. She believes in continuing to higher your education and professional development to enhance content and pedagogical skill as well as technology. She is a mother of two with her husband in Arkansas. You can connect with her on Linkedin.