Ways to Manage Symptoms When You’re Feeling Sick

Here we will go over ways to manage symptoms when you’re sick.

Nausea is a common symptom that can occur for several reasons. Illness, nervousness, pregnancy, and motion sickness are just a few examples among the hundreds.

Although an upset or queasy stomach is common, it is still an uncomfortable experience that interrupts daily life and can sometimes even be unbearable. Luckily, you can use a few simple tips and tricks to find some relief while nauseous. 

Let’s jump right in. 

Get Fresh Air

Fresh air improves symptoms when feeling ill in many ways. For starters, it increases blood flow which helps carry oxygen and nutrients to the stomach and intestines.

Getting fresh air can also decrease stress and anxiety, which is a good bit of information to remember when stress is the cause of your nausea. If you feel ill due to pollutants or overheating, the clean cool air can offer relief.

When you feel too sick to get up and take a stroll outside, sit next to an open window to receive the same benefits of fresh air. 

Stay Hydrated

When an individual is dehydrated, their nausea may worsen because nausea is a side effect of dehydration.

Water helps the body flush toxins that may be causing illness or irritating the lining of your stomach. Additionally, water helps the body deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body just like fresh air does.

While choosing a beverage to keep you hydrated, avoid sugary and caffeinated since drinks can further dehydrate and further upset the stomach. For more information on the importance of staying hydrated while sick, visit Livestrong.com.

Consume Ginger

If you have ever been told to drink ginger ale as a child because you had a stomach ache, it was likely because the person making the suggestion understood that ginger is effective for settling the stomach.

Ginger root contains many chemicals that improve various symptoms, but there are two in particular that are especially good for nausea relief. Gingerols and shogaols can quickly relax the intestinal tract. This near-instantaneous relaxation can decrease bloating, indigestion, and intestinal cramp.

Consume Something Sour

Although it may sound counterproductive, sour foods do a great job of relieving nausea in many ways. 

• Sour foods increase saliva production, which helps process foods and flush toxins from the body. 
• Sour foods also increase stomach acid production, killing harmful bacteria and breaking down food.
• Sour foods increase blood flow, delivering oxygen to the stomach.

Some great sour food options include lemonade, lemon head candy, sour patch kids, and grapefruit. 

If you feel brave, you can take a bite directly from the lemon or lime for a more effective response. 

Take a Nap

Taking a nap gives your body a chance to heal and recover. During this time, your digestive system can slow down, which decreases stomach acid production. Stomach acid is essential to fighting illness and toxins but causes nausea. 

Additionally, a nap gives your mind and body a break from your symptoms. Sometimes “sleeping it off” is the best treatment for an illness.

Use Over the Counter Medication

A handful of over-the-counter medications are incredibly effective for easing stomach pain and nausea when feeling sick.

Dramamine- This is an antihistamine that is marketed as a preventative and treatment of the symptoms of motion sickness. That said, Dramamine works well at relieving any nausea.

Bonine- This medication is also an antihistamine but works best if taken an hour before a nausea-inducing event.

Pepto-Bismol- This is the most popular medication and is known for relieving many symptoms. The brand’s famous jingle suggests that the medication quickly helps with nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, and diarrhea. 

Use Cannabis

Cannabis’ ability to relieve nausea, pain, and other symptoms has been heavily researched, and the findings were that the plant could be an incredibly beneficial treatment of various symptoms. 

Cannabis may be the most well-known treatment for nausea caused by chemotherapy. 

Marijuana products are often prescribed to cancer patients and other individuals experiencing chronic nausea because an impressive %94 of patients receive relief after consumption.

For more information on using medical marijuana for nausea relief, visit Veriheal.com.

Eat Bland Foods

Vomiting is a common side effect when feeling ill. Although emptying potential toxins and bacteria from your stomach can be beneficial, it can also cause dehydration and irritation of the throat and GI tract. Vomiting also puts a strain on your muscles and organs.

You can avoid vomiting by eating bland foods because they are easy to digest, replenish nutrients, and add substance to your stomach when acid is the only thing in there.