What Causes Chronic Nausea?

Nausea is a queasy feeling or a feeling of the need to vomit. "Chronic" is used to describe conditions that are continuous or frequently occurring. Conditions and treatments that can lead to chronic nausea include motion sickness, fibromyalgia, and chemotherapy.

Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting messages from the body. These messages typically occur during travel, whether by car, boat or airplane. Riding roller coasters or amusement park rides that cause spinning can also result in motion sickness. The conflicting messages from the eyes, the inner ear, and other body parts can also occur in anticipation of movement.

In addition to chronic nausea, symptoms of motion sickness can include vomiting, cold sweats, and headaches. Symptoms will start to subside when the movement is over. People who wish to avoid motion sickness can try sitting in well-ventilated areas, focusing on the horizon, or eating crackers. In addition, a physician may prescribe a scopolamine patch.

The exact causes of fibromyalgia, a medical condition that is characterized by body-wide pain and tender soft tissues, are unknown. Speculation about the origins of fibromyalgia include that the body's pain message transmissions are miswired, that sleep disorders are a cause rather than a symptom of the condition, or that a virus leads to fibromyalgia. Women between the ages of 20 and 50 are the most common group to develop fibromyalgia.

Many people who have fibromyalgia experience chronic nausea. Additional symptoms can include fatigue, irritable bowel systems, and numbness. Some people experience less intense symptoms over time. Others' symptoms may become more severe. Treatments can include changes in diet, antidepressants, and exercise.

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells as well as reduce cancer symptoms. This form of treatment is also used to fight immune system conditions such as lupus and to prepare a patient for a bone marrow transplant. In addition to causing chronic nausea, chemotherapy can lead to hair loss, anemia, and fatigue.

Not everyone develops chronic nausea during chemotherapy. Using certain drugs, including dacarbazine, cisplatin, and carboplatin, increases the risks of developing chronic nausea. Doctors may prescribe medications such as palonosetron, haloperidol, or antihistamines in order to prevent chronic nausea. In addition, chemotherapy patients often eat smaller meals, practice relaxation techniques and drink fluids in order to help reduce the impact on chronic nausea on their lives.