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Have you ever been so stressed that you felt nauseated or even threw up? Turns out, stress-induced nausea is a real thing.
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The physical impacts of stress are real. But family medicine specialist Timothy Tramontana, MD, MS, says there are effective ways of dealing with stress nausea and even avoiding it.
When you’re under stress, your body releases a flood of hormones to prepare you to face or flee from a perceived threat. These hormones light the fuse that sets off your fight-or-flight response.
Being in this survival mode affects all of your body’s systems, including your digestive system.
“Your anxious feelings can translate into a whole range of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including stress nausea, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits and even stress vomiting,” Dr. Tramontana explains.
But not everyone experiences stress nausea and stress vomiting. Dr. Tramontana says certain underlying health conditions can make you more prone to it, including:
The good news is that you’re not doomed to a life of stress nausea.
Dr. Tramontana says your first line of defense should be an ounce of prevention. He recommends three habits to help you avoid stress levels that can lead to nausea:
We know, we know, reducing stress is often easier said than done. When life throws the kitchen sink at you, here’s how to deal with stress nausea as it’s happening: Find some peppermint.
Studies show peppermint can help reduce mild nausea. Dr. Tramontana suggests sipping on peppermint tea, which is known to settle the stomach, or using peppermint oil.
If you’re using peppermint oil topically, just be sure to dilute it first. And bear in mind that peppermint can be poisonous to some pets, including cats, so don’t use it in a diffuser if you have furry friends at home.
If stress nausea starts becoming a regular issue for you, Dr. Tramontana recommends talking to your healthcare provider about it. They may be able to write you a prescription for a medication that can help with nausea, and they’ll want to rule out any other health concerns.
“If you have a couple of stress-induced nausea episodes that pass when the stress goes away, then we’ve probably identified the trigger,” Dr. Tramontana says, “but if it continues, then your doctor can work with you to figure out the cause.”
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Have you ever been so stressed that you felt nauseated or even threw up? Turns out, stress-induced nausea is a real thing. Our family medicine specialist shares effective ways of dealing with — and avoiding — stress nausea.
