13 Causes of Immediate or Delayed Nausea

Feeling nauseous after eating is unpleasant and may be cause for concern if it happens frequently. Nausea is affected by many factors, including how much and what you eat, whether you have food intolerances, hormones, illness, or health conditions such as a stomach virus or gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

Learn more about some causes of nausea after eating, potential remedies, the effects of not eating, and when to seek help from a medical professional.

Causes of nausea immediately or shortly after eating

Nausea is a symptom that may occur immediately or shortly after eating, with or without vomiting. There are many possible causes of nausea. Nausea is usually caused by digestive problems, but infections, allergies, medications, and food poisoning can also be to blame.

Infect

Gastroenteritis is an infection of the intestines that causes inflammation. As a result, a person may experience cramps, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, and sometimes fever. Gastroenteritis (commonly called the stomach flu) can cause you to lose your appetite. Usually, you can resume your normal diet after the virus subsides.

food allergy

When a person experiences mild to severe food allergy symptoms, nausea or vomiting may occur. Food allergies occur when an immune response develops to food. The body recognizes this substance as foreign and develops natural defenses, overreacting to its exposure to defend against it. This may happen right after eating food or a few hours later.

Symptoms affecting other body systems may also occur. These include rashes, hives, swelling, and itching.

Gastrointestinal problems or diseases

Certain conditions or diseases of the digestive system may cause nausea after eating. Appendicitis, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, dumping syndrome (a group of conditions caused by food moving from the stomach to the small intestine too quickly after eating), celiac disease, and ulcers are just some of the conditions. Many of these conditions are associated with other symptoms, such as abdominal pain.

In rare cases of intestinal obstruction, a person may also vomit. Vomiting occurs when a blockage in the intestines causes food and liquid to back up into the stomach.

drug

Medications have side effects, and nausea is one of them. For example, certain medications given to people with diabetes to lose weight or lower blood sugar may cause nausea.

One of the side effects of Ozempic (semaglutide) is delayed gastric emptying, or Gastroparesis (Gastroparesis causes food to move slowly from the stomach to the small intestine). This may cause nausea when eating. Delayed gastric emptying results in reduced food intake, resulting in caloric deficit and weight loss.

In addition, chemotherapy and painkillers can increase the risk of nausea. For people receiving chemotherapy, the combination of drugs circulating in the blood activates chemoreceptor trigger zones in the brain.

hormones

Hormone imbalances can affect every aspect of the body. One of the symptoms is nausea. For example, many people are at increased risk for migraines before or during menstruation due to a rapid decline in estrogen. Migraines can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Additionally, people with endometriosis (a tissue similar to the lining of the uterus that grows outside the uterus and responds to estrogen) may experience a number of symptoms, including nausea and bloating.

Pregnant

During the first trimester of pregnancy, people are more likely to experience nausea as their bodies adjust to hormonal changes. Sometimes, these feelings are accompanied by vomiting.

Hormones thought to play a role in this include estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (the hormone detected by pregnancy tests).

In extreme cases, pregnant women may experience hyperemesis gravidarum, which is extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting. This is less common than morning sickness, but more serious, and can occur at any time during pregnancy.

eat too much

Eating too much in one meal can put stress on the stomach and lead to indigestion. Indigestion may cause bloating, gas, nausea, and even vomiting.

eat lots of fat

If you feel nauseous after eating a fatty meal like cheeseburgers and French fries, you’re not alone. Dietary fat can cause nausea by releasing gut hormones and peptides.

Ingesting fat and protein stimulates intestinal cells to release cholecystokinin (CKK). CKK slows gastric emptying, which increases feelings of fullness and may cause nausea.

Waiting too long between meals

Going for long periods of time without eating (such as intermittent fasting) increases the risk of unpleasant feelings such as nausea. Additionally, if you’ve been fasting for a long time, you may overeat at your next meal, increasing your risk of nausea.

lie down after eating

Lying down after eating increases the risk of stomach acid flowing into your esophagus. This can increase nausea or cause a burning sensation in your throat, especially if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

food poisoning

Food poisoning can cause feelings of nausea and vomiting soon after eating.For example, food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus It is characterized by sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Usually accompanied by diarrhea, which can occur 30 minutes to 8 hours after eating.

Laxative use

Many over-the-counter (OTC) constipation medications contain psyllium, a type of fiber that absorbs fluid in the intestines, helping to bulk up stool and make it easier to pass. However, one of the potential side effects is nausea.

Eating disorder history

Eating disorders, such as restrictive eating, may cause gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying). Gastroparesis is also associated with a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes. It can cause nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and feeling full after eating only small amounts of food.

What to do if you have nausea and vomiting?

You may experience nausea and vomiting at the same time for a variety of reasons. This may occur early in pregnancy if you have a digestive disorder or during an acute illness, such as during the stomach flu.

If you experience vomiting along with severe stomach pain, you need immediate medical attention to rule out more serious causes such as intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, or pancreatitis.

Effects of not eating due to nausea

Not eating for a day or two or regaining appetite after an acute illness is usually not a problem. However, if you are unable to maintain enough fluids, your risk of becoming dehydrated increases. If possible, drink a sip of water and rehydrate, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte.

Medical evaluation is needed if you are unable to control your fluid intake or if your nausea is accompanied by weight loss, pain, fever, or other types of symptoms.

What can relieve nausea after meals

First, you need to find out what’s causing your nausea. Evaluate your diet, medical history, medications, and bowel habits.

Consider keeping a journal or recording what you eat, when you eat it, and whether you feel sick. You may find that a specific food or foods are giving you trouble. If not, investigate other possible causes of nausea.

Some foods that are easier to tolerate when you are feeling nauseous include crackers, dry white toast, white rice, bananas, and sweet potatoes. But you shouldn’t restrict your diet long-term, so if nausea persists and you can’t eat a varied diet, contact your health care provider.

Try some herbal ginger, chamomile or peppermint tea after a meal.

Other measures that may help include:

• Eat regularly, chew your food thoroughly and don’t eat too fast.
• Avoid lying down or wearing tight clothing after eating, especially if you have gastroesophageal reflux.
• Increase fiber slowly and drink adequate amounts of fluids.
• Take your medications as prescribed.

If you have prolonged nausea and vomiting and other symptoms such as pain, contact your healthcare provider.

generalize

Feeling nauseous after eating is an unpleasant symptom that can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormones, foods eaten, medications, and underlying health conditions.

Changing your diet may help, but if your nausea isn’t diet-related, you’ll need to dig deeper. If you notice a pattern or you feel nauseous every time you eat, get a medical evaluation to rule out any underlying conditions.