Ways to Treat an Upset Stomach

There are few things worse than having an upset stomach and feeling nauseous. This condition can completely throw off your day, making you feel like you can’t get too far from the toilet and limiting the foods and drinks you can enjoy.

Luckily, our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team provides some ways you can treat your nausea at home, so keep reading!

• Here’s what to do: Avoid lying down. When the body is horizontal, the acid in the stomach is more likely to travel backward and move upward, which can make nausea worse. If you must lie down, prop up your head, neck and upper chest with pillows, ideally at a 30-degree angle.

• What to do next: Try ginger. Eating ginger or drinking ginger tea are some of the most popular, effective ways to treat feelings of nausea. The reason is that experts believe ginger contains compounds that work in a similar way to anti-nausea medications.

• What to do after: Consider lemons. Turn to lemons. Lemons contain citric acid, a naturally-occurring compound thought to aid digestion and soothe the stomach. Try adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to water and sip throughout the day.

• Another essential treatment: Drink water and stay hydrated. The body needs water to digest and absorb nutrients from foods and beverages efficiently. Drink enough water to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.

• Something to avoid: Carbonated beverages. Your parents might have suggested in the past that ginger ale and cola relieve nausea, but really, the opposite is true. Carbonated drinks may cause bloating and worsen acid reflux and GERD, all of which may cause nausea. In addition, most fizzy beverages are loaded with sugar, which may also make you queasier.

• Also, don’t forget: OTC medications! Nausea medications are called antiemetics, and when nausea is severe, you may need an OTC medication, like Dramamine or Pepto-Bismol, to help calm and soothe the stomach.

• Action steps to take: Nausea is usually nothing to worry about too much. Consult your doctor if the symptoms don’t go away after two days, or if they begin to get worse in that time.

• Doctor recommendations: One of the best things you can do to avoid feeling nauseous is to steer clear of foods that cause an upset stomach, such as alcohol, caffeine, fatty or greasy foods, spicy foods, and non-cultured dairy products, such as milk, cheese and ice cream.

Have further questions about your upset stomach? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team today!