Feeling Sick Nausea

Feeling sick (nausea) is common and usually goes away on its own. There are some things you can try that might help.

Things that may help you stop feeling sick

Do

get plenty of fresh air
distract yourself - for example, listen to music or watch a film
take regular sips of a cold drink
drink ginger or peppermint tea
eat foods containing ginger - such as ginger biscuits
eat smaller, more frequent meals

Don't

do not eat or cook strong-smelling food
do not eat hot, fried or greasy food
do not eat too quickly
do not have a large drink with meals
do not lie down soon after eating
do not wear clothes that are tight around your waist or tummy

If you're being sick

If you're also being sick (vomiting), you could become dehydrated.

Find out what to do if you're vomiting

See a GP if you:

are feeling sick and do not feel better in a few days
often feel sick (it keeps coming back)

The GP can look for the cause and suggest treatments.

They may prescribe anti-sickness medicine if needed.

Call 111 for advice if you cannot see a GP.

Call 999 if:

You suddenly feel sick and have:

chest pain that feels tight or heavy
pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck or jaw
shortness of breath

This could be a heart attack.

Common causes of feeling sick

Lots of things can make you feel sick.

Any other symptoms you have may give you an idea of the cause. But do not self-diagnose - see a GP if you're worried.

Other symptoms	Possible cause
Diarrhoea or vomiting	Norovirus or food poisoning
Headache and a high temperature	An infection, such as flu
Heartburn or bloating after eating	Acid reflux
Headache and sensitivity to light or sound	Migraine
Dizziness	Labyrinthitis or vertigo

Other reasons for feeling sick include:

pregnancy (morning sickness)
motion sickness
anxiety
alcohol
medicines
recent surgery

Do not worry if you're not sure what's causing you to feel sick. Try the things that may stop you feeling sick and see a GP if you do not feel better in a few days.

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

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