12 Reasons Why You Have Nausea After Eating

Causes of Vomiting and How to Treat in Adults, Babies, and When Pregnant

Vomiting — forcefully expelling what’s in your stomach through your mouth — is your body’s way of getting rid of something harmful in the stomach. It may also be a response to irritation in the gut.

Vomiting isn’t a condition, but rather a symptom of other conditions. Some of these conditions are serious, but most aren’t a cause for concern.

Vomiting can be a one-time event, especially when it’s caused by eating or drinking something that doesn’t settle right in the stomach. However, vomiting repeatedly can be a sign of an emergency or a serious underlying condition.

Read on to learn the causes of vomiting in adults, babies, and pregnant women, how to treat it, and when it’s considered an emergency.

The most common causes of vomiting are different in adults, babies, and pregnant or menstruating women.

Vomiting in adults

The most common causes of vomiting in adults include:

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• foodborne illnesses (food poisoning)
• indigestion
• bacterial or viral infections, like viral gastroenteritis, which is often referred to as a “stomach bug”
• motion sickness
• chemotherapy
• migraine headaches
• medications, like antibiotics, morphine, or anesthesia
• excessive alcohol consumption
• appendicitis
• acid reflux or GERD
• gallstones
• anxiety
• intense pain
• exposure to toxins, such as lead
• Crohn’s disease
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• concussion
• food allergies

Vomiting in babies

Common causes of vomiting in babies include:

• viral gastroenteritis
• swallowing milk too quickly, which can be caused by the hole in the bottle teat being too large
• food allergies
• milk intolerance
• other types of infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), middle ear infections, pneumonia, or meningitis
• accidentally ingesting a poison
• congenital pyloric stenosis: a condition present at birth in which the passage from the stomach to the bowel has narrowed so food can’t pass through easily
• intussusception: when the bowel telescopes in on itself resulting in a blockage — a medical emergency

Vomiting when pregnant

Causes of vomiting in pregnant women include:

• morning sickness
• acid reflux
• foodborne illnesses (food poisoning)
• migraine headaches
• sensitivity to certain smells or tastes
• extreme morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which is caused by rising hormones

Vomiting during menstruation

Hormone changes during menstruation can make you nauseous and make you throw up. Some women also experience migraine headaches during their periods, which can also cause vomiting.

Treatment for vomiting depends on the underlying cause. Drinking plenty of water and sports drinks containing electrolytes can help prevent dehydration.

In adults

Consider these home remedies:

• Eat small meals consisting of only light and plain foods (rice, bread, crackers or the BRAT diet).
• Sip clear liquids.
• Rest and avoid physical activity.

Medications can be helpful:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like Imodium and Pepto-Bismol may help suppress nausea and vomiting as you wait for your body to fight off an infection
• Depending on the cause, a doctor may prescribe antiemetic drugs, like ondansetron (Zofran), granisetron, or promethazine.
• OTC antacids or other prescription medications can help treat the symptoms of acid reflux.
• Anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed if your vomiting is related to an anxiety condition.

In babies

• Keep your baby lying on their stomach or side to lessen the chances of inhaling vomit
• Make sure your baby consumes extra fluids, such as water, sugar water, oral rehydration solutions (Pedialyte) or gelatin; if your baby is still breastfeeding, continue to breastfeed often.
• Avoid solid foods.
• See a doctor if your baby refuses to eat or drink anything for more than a few hours.

When pregnant

Pregnant women who have morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum may need to receive intravenous fluids if they’re unable to keep down any fluids.

More severe cases of hyperemesis gravidarum might require total parenteral nutrition given through an IV.

A doctor may also prescribe antiemetics, such as promethazine, metoclopramide (Reglan), or droperidol (Inapsine), to help prevent nausea and vomiting. These medications can be given by mouth, IV, or suppository

Adults and babies

Adults and babies should see a doctor if they:

• are vomiting repeatedly for more than a day
• are unable to keep down any fluids
• have green colored vomit or the vomit contains blood
• have signs of severe dehydration, such as fatigue, dry mouth, excessive thirst,sunken eyes, fast heart rate, and little or no urine; in babies, signs of severe dehydration also include crying without producing tears and drowsiness
• have lost significant weight since the vomiting began
• are vomiting off and on for over a month

Pregnant women

Pregnant women should see a doctor if their nausea and vomiting makes it impossible to eat or drink or keep anything in the stomach.

Medical emergencies

Vomiting accompanied by the following symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency:

• severe chest pain
• sudden and severe headache
• shortness of breath
• blurred vision
• sudden stomach pain
• stiff neck and high fever
• blood in the vomit

Infants younger than 3 months who have a rectal fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, with or without vomiting, should see a doctor.

Predicting when you might vomit

Before you vomit, you may begin to feel nauseous. Nausea can be described as stomach discomfort and the sensation of your stomach churning.

Young children may not be able to recognize nausea, but they may complain of a stomachache before they vomit.

Prevention

When you begin feeling nauseous, there are a few steps you can take to potentially stop yourself from actually vomiting. The following tips may help prevent vomiting before it starts:

• Take deep breaths.
• Drink ginger tea or eat fresh or candied ginger.
• Take an OTC medication to stop vomiting, such as Pepto-Bismol.
• If you’re prone to motion sickness, take an OTC antihistamine such as Dramamine.
• Suck on ice chips.
• If you’re prone to indigestion or acid reflux, avoid oily or spicy foods.
• Sit down or lie down with your head and back propped up.

Vomiting caused by certain conditions may not always be possible to prevent. For example, consuming enough alcohol to cause a toxic level in your bloodstream will result in vomiting as your body attempts to return to a non-toxic level.

Drinking plenty of water and other liquids to replenish lost fluids is important after a bout of vomiting. Start slowly by sipping water or sucking on ice chips, then add in more clear liquids like sports drinks or juice. You can make your own rehydration solution using:

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 teaspoons sugar
• 1 liter water

You shouldn’t have a big meal after you vomit. Begin with saltine crackers or plain rice or bread. You should also avoid foods that are difficult to digest, like:

• milk
• cheese
• caffeine
• fatty or fried foods
• spicy food

After you vomit, you should rinse your mouth with cool water to remove any stomach acid that could damage your teeth. Don’t brush your teeth right after vomiting as this could cause damage to the already weakened enamel.

Vomiting is a common symptom of many conditions. Most often, vomiting in both adults and babies is a result of an infection called gastroenteritis, indigestion, or food poisoning. However, there can be several other causes.

In pregnant women, vomiting is often a sign of morning sickness.

Vomiting can be concerning if a person shows signs of severe dehydration, or it accompanies chest pain, sudden and severe abdominal pain, a high fever, or a stiff neck. People who’ve recently had a head injury or are vomiting blood should see a doctor right away.

If you’re experiencing vomiting, make sure to sip water and other clear fluids to prevent dehydration. Eat small meals when you’re able to, consisting of plain foods like crackers.

If the vomiting doesn’t subside in a few days, see a doctor.

Last medically reviewed on October 30, 2019

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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• Lete I, et al. (2016). The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy. DOI:
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• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Intussusception.
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12 Reasons Why You Have Nausea After Eating

No one likes feeling sick to their stomach, especially when you just finished a really good meal. But if you’re feeling nauseated within minutes or hours after eating, there may be something going on underneath the surface.

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Gastroenterologist Christine Lee, MD, helps us nail down some of the reasons behind why nausea happens after eating and what you can do to ease your symptoms.

Why you might have nausea after eating

There are many situations that trigger nausea, and this can make it difficult to figure out its exact cause. Some common causes could be related to stress, food allergies, food poisoning, unwanted side effects from medications, taking too many supplements or vitamins, or pregnancy, to name just a few. Gallbladder, liver or pancreatic disease, or diabetes and thyroid disorders can also contribute to feeling sick after chowing down on your favorite foods.

Dr. Lee offers 12 reasons you may be feeling nauseated.

1. Viral or bacterial infection

Ever heard of someone catching a stomach bug? This is just that: If you’ve caught a viral or bacterial infection, your whole body is going to go through it. You might experience nausea right after eating, generally lasting 24 to 48 hours, but you may likely experience a whole slew of other symptoms, too, like fever, muscle aches and joint pain.

“It generally affects your whole body,” says Dr. Lee. “This comes on quick and it usually goes away on its own.”

2. Food poisoning

You can have a physical reaction to eating rotten food. This can happen if you leave food (like meat or dairy products) out for too long, or your food has been mishandled or contaminated by whoever’s preparing the food. Food poisoning sets on suddenly. Luckily, nausea from food poisoning resolves on its own, as well.

“Vomiting or having diarrhea is not always a bad thing in some situations,” says Dr. Lee. “It’s your body’s way of getting rid of the offending agents like an infection, toxins and other things before they’re absorbed.”

3. Food allergies

Food allergies affect everyone differently. In most cases, the first time you experience a food allergy, you may have mild symptoms. Every encounter after that can escalate much faster and cause a more intense reaction. Some examples of allergic reaction symptoms include breaking out in a rash or hives, feeling cold and clammy, a drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate and swelling of your eyes and throat in addition to nausea (or you might not feel nauseated at all).

4. Stress and anxiety

Your body can have physical reactions to stress and anxiety even if it’s been simmering for days on end. The reason you may experience physical symptoms like nausea is that your brain’s “fight or flight” response kicks in, dumping a ton of hormones into your bloodstream that forces your body to react. And everyone has varying levels of this threshold.

“Let’s say two people are watching a movie. One person enjoys horror movies but the other person is terrified,” says Dr. Lee. “The stress hormones that are activated are different between the two people. One can experience increased heart rate or other physical changes like nausea while the other is simply enjoying the movie.”

5. Acid reflux

You can get heartburn shortly after eating, especially when you’ve been eating spicy foods or a greasy or heavy meal. This burning sensation in your upper chest and throat can also sometimes cause nausea.

Acid reflux happens because there’s a large amount of stomach acid that gets splashed back up into your esophagus (throat) and it lingers there. For many, it’s normal and not a sign of anything clinically wrong. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is when your esophagus is harmed from excessive exposure to stomach acid resulting in chronic irritation, inflammation, ulcers and more.

6. Irritable bowel syndrome

Sometimes, your intestines just don’t move the way they need to. If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you may have issues moving stool through your intestines. It may move too fast or slow even though your colon is structurally normal.

“If your irritable bowel syndrome is acting up and you have stool stored in your colon, then your nausea can get worse because what doesn’t go down will eventually come up,” explains Dr. Lee.

One way to identify if you have IBS is to ask yourself where the pain is coming from. If you reach for your chest or throat, you may have acid reflux. But if you reach for your belly button, your bowels may be the issue.

7. Overeating

“Your stomach can only hold so much,” says Dr. Lee. “Once your stomach is full and food is still sitting there and you continue to eat, you’re going to feel nausea.”

Overeating can occur when “eating while bored.” Instead of eating when you’re hungry, you tend to reach for snacks and other things out of habit, out of boredom or while multitasking.

“There’s so much distraction when we live busy lifestyles, so more and more people are grabbing things on the go and we’re not able to discern what we’re eating, when we’re eating or how much we’re eating,” notes Dr. Lee.

You can avoid this by trying to stick to a routine and setting aside time to have regular meals whenever possible. It’s also helpful to plate your food (vs. eating directly out of a bag or box) to maintain portion control.

8. Medications

Some medications like neurological medications, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications and mood-altering medications can affect your appetite and eventually lead to nausea. Other common medications that cause nausea are opioid-based narcotics and other pain medications.

9. Diabetes

Having too high or too low blood sugar can cause nausea, as well. But if you’ve had a long history of diabetes, even if it’s well-controlled, you can also develop what’s called diabetes-related gastroparesis (previously referred to as diabetic gastroparesis). This means your stomach doesn’t operate and move the way it should, and digesting food can be a slow process.

10. Gall bladder disease

You can thank your gall bladder for the ability to eat all those greasy foods you love. The bile created by your liver is stored in your gall bladder. Your gall bladder then releases that bile to break down fatty foods. When you have gall bladder disease, this important process can be disrupted and lead to nausea and other symptoms.

If you have gall bladder disease, you might experience nausea 15 to 20 minutes after eating, and it’s generally accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, changes in stool (poop) color and sometimes unexplained weight loss.

11. Pancreatitis

This condition can happen as a result of gallstones, alcohol use, autoimmune disorders and other reasons. Your pancreas goes to work creating enzymes to break down food every time you’re eating, but if your pancreas is inflamed or damaged, it might not create enough enzymes to get the job done.

“Disorders of the pancreas can result in abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and unexplainable weight loss,” says Dr. Lee.

12. Chronic mesenteric ischemia

Also known as intestinal ischemic syndrome, this condition is caused when blood flow to your digestive organs is compromised. This can be caused by a buildup of plaque in your arteries or from hardening of your arteries, as well as prolonged low blood pressure, arterial inflammation and more.

Those who are more at risk for this condition include people who are older who have a smoking history, high cholesterol or other vascular disorders like coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease, to name a few.

How do you stop nausea after eating?

Nibbling on saltine crackers, small amounts of ginger and resting up — these are all things Dr. Lee calls conservative management. You shouldn’t try treating yourself or doing too much, but if you’re not feeling well, there are some small things you can do to ease the “sick” feeling of nausea.

The most important thing you can do is keep yourself hydrated and get rest. Plus, you should monitor when you’re feeling nauseated, what brought it on, how long it lasts and what made it feel better. This is all important information that can help your doctor determine a diagnosis.

“If it keeps coming back or fails to improve or resolve on its own, it’s not normal and you should get it checked out,” advises Dr. Lee.

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Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying (“throwing up”) of stomach contents through the mouth.

What Causes Nausea or Vomiting?

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions such as:

• Motion sickness or seasickness
• Early stages of pregnancy (nausea occurs in approximately 50%-90% of all pregnancies; vomiting in 25%-55%)
• Medication-induced vomiting
• Intense pain
• Emotional stress (such as fear)
• Gallbladder disease
• Food poisoning
• Infections (such as the “stomach flu”)
• Overeating
• A reaction to certain smells or odors
• Heart attack
• Concussion or brain injury
• Brain tumor
• Ulcers
• Some forms of cancer
• Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
• Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying (a condition that can be seen in people with diabetes)
• Ingestion of toxins or excessive amounts of alcohol
• Bowel obstruction
• Appendicitis

The causes of vomiting differ according to age. For children, it is common for vomiting to occur from a viral infection, food poisoning, milk allergy, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, or blocked intestines and illnesses in which the child has a high fever.

The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When appearing shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may be caused by food poisoning, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), an ulcer, or bulimia. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may also indicate food poisoning. However, certain food- borne bacteria, such as salmonella, can take longer to produce symptoms.

Is Vomiting Harmful?

Usually, vomiting is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Some examples of serious conditions that may result in nausea or vomiting include concussions, meningitis (infection of the membrane linings of the brain), intestinal blockage, appendicitis, and brain tumors.

Another concern is dehydration. Adults have a lower risk of becoming dehydrated, because they can usually detect the symptoms of dehydration (such as increased thirst and dry lips or mouth). But young children have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated, especially if they also have diarrhea, because they often are unable to communicate symptoms of dehydration. Adults caring for sick children need to be aware of these visible signs of dehydration: dry lips and mouth, sunken eyes, and rapid breathing or pulse. In infants, also watch for decreased urination and a sunken fontanelle (soft spot on top of the baby’s head).

Recurrent vomiting in pregnancy can lead to a serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum in which the mother may develop fluid and mineral imbalances that can endanger their life or that of their unborn child.

Rarely, excessive vomiting can tear the lining of the esophagus, also known as a Mallory-Weiss tear. If the esophagus is ruptured, this is called Boerhaave’s syndrome, and is a medical emergency.

When to Call the Doctor About Nausea and Vomiting

Call a doctor about nausea and vomiting:

• If the nausea lasts for more than a few days or if there is a possibility of being pregnant
• If home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury has occurred (such as head injury or infection) that may be causing the vomiting
• Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, or there are signs of dehydration.
• Take an infant or child under six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts more than a few hours, diarrhea is present, signs of dehydration occur, there is a fever, or if the child hasn’t urinated for 4-6 hours.
• Take a child over age six years to the doctor if vomiting lasts one day, diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, there are any signs of dehydration, there is a fever higher than 101 degrees, or the child hasn’t urinated for six hours.

You should seek immediate medical care if any of the following situations occur with vomiting:

• There is blood in the vomit (bright red or “coffee grounds” in appearance)
• Severe headache or stiff neck
• Lethargy, confusion, or a decreased alertness
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Rapid breathing or pulse

How Is Vomiting Treated?

Treatment for vomiting (regardless of age or cause) includes:

• Drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids
• Avoiding solid food until the vomiting episode has passed
• If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, an oral rehydrating solution such as Pedialyte should be used to prevent and treat dehydration.
• Pregnant women experiencing morning sickness can eat some crackers before getting out of bed or eat a high protein snack before going to bed (lean meat or cheese).
• Vomiting associated with cancer treatments can often be treated with another type of drug therapy. There are also prescription and nonprescription drugs that can be used to control vomiting associated with pregnancy, motion sickness, and some forms of dizziness. However, consult with a doctor before using any of these treatments.

How Can I Prevent Nausea?

There are several ways to try and prevent nausea from developing:

• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
• Eat slowly.
• Avoid hard-to-digest foods.
• Consume foods that are cold or room temperature if you are nauseated by the smell of hot or warm foods.
• Rest after eating with your head elevated about 12 inches above your feet.
• Drink liquids between meals rather than during meals.
• Try to eat when you feel less nauseated.

How Do I Prevent Vomiting Once I Feel Nauseated?

When you begin to feel nauseated, you may be able to prevent vomiting by:

• Drinking small amounts of clear, sweetened liquids such as soda or fruit juices (except orange and grapefruit juices, because these are too acidic)
• Resting either in a sitting position or in a propped lying position; activity may worsen nausea and may lead to vomiting.

To prevent nausea and vomiting in children:

• To treat motion sickness in a car, seat your child so they face the front windshield (watching fast movement out the side windows can make the nausea worse). Also, reading or playing video games in the car could cause motion sickness.
• Don’t let kids eat and play at the same time.

Show Sources

SOURCES:
National Institutes of Health.
American Academy of Family Physicians.

KidsHealth.org (Nemours Foundation).