Any number
of conditions can make you sick to your stomach after a meal, from food
poisoning to pregnancy. A closer look at your other symptoms can help you
pinpoint what’s causing your nausea. Once you’ve identified the problem,
your doctor can help you find a treatment that will stop you from getting sick
to your stomach. Then you can enjoy your meals, nausea-free.
Causes
There are
many conditions that can make you nauseated after eating.
1. Food allergies
Certain
foods, like shellfish, nuts, or eggs, can fool your immune system into
identifying them as harmful foreign invaders. When you eat one of these trigger
foods, your immune system launches a series of events that leads to the release
of histamine and other chemicals. These chemicals produce allergy symptoms,
which can range from hives and mouth swelling, to nausea.
2. Food
poisoning
Food that
sits around for too long or isn’t properly refrigerated attracts bacteria,
viruses, and parasites that can make you sick. Food poisoning symptoms like
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, typically start within a few hours after
you’ve eaten contaminated food.
3. Stomach
virus
This common
bug, which is sometimes nicknamed the “stomach flu,” infects the intestines and
triggers gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea. You can catch a stomach virus by getting too close to someone who’s
sick, or by eating food or drinking water that’s been contaminated with the
virus.
4. Pregnancy
One of the
earliest signs that you’re pregnant is an uneasy, queasy feeling, which often
starts during the second month of your pregnancy. Changing hormone levels
trigger pregnancy nausea.Though it’s officially termed “morning sickness,”
nausea can strike at any time of day, including mealtimes. Sometimes the smell
or taste of certain foods is enough to make your stomach roll. The feeling is
temporary, and it won’t harm you or your baby.
5. Acid reflux
A burning
feeling behind your breastbone, known as heartburn, is the hallmark symptom of
gastroesophageal disease (GERD), but this condition can cause nausea, too. GERD
happens when the muscular valve between your esophagus and stomach
malfunctions, allowing stomach acid to leak up into your esophagus.
6. Anxiety and
stress
Stress
doesn’t only take a toll on your emotions. It affects your physical health,
too. A difficult breakup or job loss can make you lose your appetite, or feel
sick after you eat. The nausea should let up once you get your stress under
control.
7. Cancer
treatment
Some
chemotherapy drugs cause nausea as a side effect. The nausea should go away
after you’ve finished the treatment.
Symptoms
Having
nausea once in a while after you eat isn’t cause for alarm, but you should call
a doctor if it doesn’t go away within a week. Call right away if you have any
of these other, more serious symptoms:
•blood in your vomit or
stools
•chest pain
•confusion
•diarrhea that lasts for more than a
few days
•extreme thirst, little urine
production, weakness, or dizziness, which are signs of dehydration
•fever of over 101.5°F (30°C)
•intense pain in the abdomen
•rapid heartbeat
•severe vomiting or trouble keeping
food down
Prevention
Try these
tips to avoid feeling sick after you eat:
•Suck on ice cubes or crushed ice.
•Avoid greasy, fried, or spicy
foods.
•Eat mainly bland foods, such as
crackers or toast.
•Eat smaller meals more frequently,
instead of three large meals.
•Relax and sit still after you eat
to give your food time to digest.
•Eat and drink slowly.
•Serve foods cold or at room
temperature if the smell of cooked food makes you feel queasy.
Your
outlook will depend on what’s causing your nausea, and how you treat it.
Usually, nausea after you eat will get better once you address the source of
the problem.
