A Sick Feeling That Can Only Be Eased by Eating
In many cases, when you feel ill, you also don’t feel like eating. However, certain symptoms can actually improve when you eat something. Nausea, dizziness and other ill feelings might get better if you eat something. When in doubt, eat a few soda crackers or something light, like a small cup of soup, and see if you feel better. Don’t start with a large, heavy meal.
Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar can cause:
- trembling
- sweating
- nausea
- palpitations
- clammy skin
Low blood sugar can be cased by a medical condition such as kidney failure or diabetes mellitus, but it can also be due to crash dieting or simply skipping meals. Once you eat, your blood sugar should go back and the symptoms and feeling of sickness will dissipate.
Low Blood Pressure
How to Lose Weight With Hypoglycemia
Learn More
Symptoms of low blood pressure can be easily confused with symptoms of low blood sugar or other health problems 3. One of the best ways to fix low blood pressure is to eat regular small meals throughout the day and to make sure you don’t skip meals or spend too many hours without eating something. Caffeine also raises blood pressure, so you might see the symptoms disappear if you have a cup of coffee or eat some chocolate.
- Symptoms of low blood pressure can be easily confused with symptoms of low blood sugar or other health problems 3.
- One of the best ways to fix low blood pressure is to eat regular small meals throughout the day and to make sure you don’t skip meals or spend too many hours without eating something.
Morning Sickness
According to the American Pregnancy Association, about half of all pregnant women experience morning sickness 2. For some, this might be one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. Morning sickness is often just nausea, although some women might also experience vomiting. The best way to deal with morning sickness is to eat. Soda crackers, watermelon and salty potato chips can all help relieve the ill feeling.
- According to the American Pregnancy Association, about half of all pregnant women experience morning sickness 2.
- Soda crackers, watermelon and salty potato chips can all help relieve the ill feeling.
Stress
How to Get a Sugar Rush
Learn More
People who eat for emotional issues might feel a physical need for food. When they feel stressed, depressed or upset, their bodies and minds might ask for food. Although the ill feeling is more mental than physical, it’s likely they will feel better after eating comfort foods. These can be sweets or salty foods, but they’re likely to be high in calories and fats.
- People who eat for emotional issues might feel a physical need for food.
- When they feel stressed, depressed or upset, their bodies and minds might ask for food.
Related Articles
References
- "Psychology Today"; Stress and Eating; Hara Estroff Marano; November 2003
- American Pregnancy Association: Morning Sickness
- EMedicine Health: Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
- MayoClinic.com: Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- Golding JF. Motion sickness. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;137:371-390. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63437-5.00027-3
- Huppert D, Benson J, Brandt T. A Historical View of Motion Sickness-A Plague at Sea and on Land, Also with Military Impact. Front Neurol. 2017;8:114. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00114
- Lackner JR. Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting. Exp Brain Res. 2014;232(8):2493-2510. doi:10.1007/s00221-014-4008-8
- Chimirri S, Aiello R, Mazzitello C, et al. Vertigo/dizziness as a Drugs' adverse reaction. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S104-S109. doi:10.4103/0976-500X.120969
- Matsangas P, Mccauley ME. Sopite Syndrome: A Revised Definition. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2014;85(6):672-673.
- Hromatka BS, Tung JY, Kiefer AK, Do CB, Hinds DA, Eriksson N. Genetic variants associated with motion sickness point to roles for inner ear development, neurological processes and glucose homeostasis. Hum Mol Genet. 2015;24(9):2700-2708. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddv028
- Golding JF, Patel M. Meniere's, migraine, and motion sickness. Acta Otolaryngol. 2017;137(5):495-502. doi:10.1080/00016489.2016.1255775
- Tarnutzer AA, Berkowitz AL, Robinson KA, Hsieh YH, Newman-Toker DE. Does my dizzy patient have a stroke? A systematic review of bedside diagnosis in acute vestibular syndrome. CMAJ. 2011;183(9):E571-E592. doi:10.1503/cmaj.100174
- Matchock RL, Levine ME, Gianaros PJ, Stern RM. Susceptibility to Nausea and Motion Sickness as a Function of the Menstrual Cycle. Womens Health Issues. 2008;18(4):328-335. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2008.01.006
- Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP. The Neurophysiology and Treatment of Motion Sickness. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687
- Motion Sickness. Dizziness and Balance website. Updated June 22, 2017.
- Dizziness and Motion Sickness. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery website.
- Motion Sickness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Updated May 31, 2017.
Writer Bio
Tammy Dray has been writing since 1996. She specializes in health, wellness and travel topics and has credits in various publications including Woman's Day, Marie Claire, Adirondack Life and Self. She is also a seasoned independent traveler and a certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant. Dray is pursuing a criminal justice degree at Penn Foster College.