Nausea is not a pleasant experience and it can occur at any time of day, but when it happens in the middle of the night it can be especially bothersome. If you have experienced nausea at nighttime, there may be a number of conditions that can cause this to happen, which will need to be diagnosed and treated accordingly.
One of the most common causes of nighttime nausea is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux. This is caused when the band of muscle that separates your stomach and esophagus doesn’t tighten or close properly, which allows digestive juices to flow back up into your esophagus. This can lead to a burning sensation in the throat and sometimes a bitter taste in your mouth, which is unpleasant to say the least.
Other causes of nausea include poor diet, consuming cold foods or beverages, alcohol consumption and anxiety. If you are noticing that anxiety is causing your nausea, it is best to seek professional help through psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. This type of therapy helps you to identify negative thought patterns and reframe them in a more positive way.
No matter the root cause of your nausea, there are some things that you can do to try and improve your symptoms, including sleeping on your left side, avoiding fatty, spicy or sweet foods, eating smaller meals more frequently, drinking clear or iced water and taking anti-nausea medication if necessary. If you have tried these remedies and your symptoms are still lingering, it is important to see a doctor as they may be a sign of a more serious condition.