You’re twiddling with a straw wrapper, glancing at the door expectantly as you wait for your date to arrive. Or maybe your friend is driving, and you’re loathing every bump they hit along the way. Maybe you just realized you took one too many bites from your heaping plate of loaded nachos. Or maybe it’s the first clue you’re finally welcoming a new member to your family. 

Nausea is a universal feeling. With its seemingly endless list of causes, nausea is a frequent experience for some.

As common as nausea is, it often feels like a mystery. Do you feel sick because of something you ate, or are you still stressed about that work meeting? Dr. Thao Tran, a family medicine physician, offers insight into this, including why it happens and how to relieve it. 

Why do I feel nauseous?

“Nausea is a sensation that is usually in the stomach but is perceived to be in the throat and mouth,” says Dr. Tran.

The feeling is distinct, but the culprit could be any number of things. 

According to Dr. Tran, the sensation can be attributed to conditions that fall most likely into these categories:

• Gastrointestinal (GI): food poisoning, reflux disease, or constipation
• Infectious: H. Pylori or norovirus (stomach bug)
• Neurological: headaches, migraines, and even brain tumors 
• Psychological: stress and anxiety 

Nausea can also be a side effect of certain medications and is often an early symptom of pregnancy. 

Is nausea normal?

With so many potential causes, occasional nausea is a part of life. Dr. Tran says “it’s normal if there’s a specific cause for it.”

“So, for example,” says Dr. Tran, “if you have chronic reflux, and it happens at the same time every time you eat certain foods, that’s clearly a very normal thing.”

Sometimes, though, nausea is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong—and the difference typically lies in the severity of your symptoms. Nausea on its own may not be a major cause for concern, but paired with chest pain could indicate a heart attack. 

Pay attention to both the severity and how long your nausea lasts. 

“If you have persistence of symptoms without a cause,” Dr. Tran says, “it’s not normal and needs to be checked out by a physician.”

Once you’ve confirmed your nausea isn’t serious, you can rest easy, right? Perhaps not. Nausea is still nausea—and no one likes to suffer.

How to feel better

The best fix for your nausea is the one that addresses the cause. If you have reflux disease, use an antacid. For pregnant women, vitamin B6 supplements may help. If you’re especially stressed, do something relaxing to ease your nerves. 

Here are a few other things you can do at home to feel better: 

• Hydrate: “Hydration is key,” says Dr. Tran. “Hydration with a lot of electrolytes.” Whether it’s Gatorade, coconut water, or just plain water—keep sipping to stave off nausea. 
• Eat ginger: “It’s great for its anti-nausea properties,” says Dr. Tran. Take it in tea or get it from candies, supplements, or even chewing on fresh ginger. 
• Try peppermint: Another great tea for soothing nausea, but it can also be applied as an oil to the temples or chest. 
• Use acupressure bands: You can relieve your nausea by applying pressure on specific parts of the body. Acupressure bands, like Sea-Bands, apply the pressure for you for on-the-go relief. 
• Modify your diet: “Things that are really heavy on your stomach, really oily, things that have a lot of strong smells, a lot of spices, are really irritating to the stomach,” says Dr. Tran. Eating smaller meals can also help. 
• Look into over-the-counter medications: Dr. Tran recommends Dramamine to ease symptoms of motion sickness, Meclizine for nausea associated with vertigo, and Emetrol for upper respiratory or upper GI infections can relieve symptoms. 

Each of these at-home methods is great for finding relief in a pinch. But preventing nausea is, of course, the best way to stay feeling good. Dr. Tran suggests “just staying healthy in general, actively hydrating, and being mindful of your medications.”