Dear doctor;

I always feel nausea when I delay to have my meals.  Worse still, I feel like vomiting when I’m done with eating. This is worrying me.

Derrick

Dear Derrick,

What you are suffering from is a dyspepsia or acid peptic disease. Normally when one eats, the acid of the stomach is neutralised. But delay in eating can lead to increased acid production. This may cause nausea, vomiting or burning pain, one or more of these symptoms. In this case, one may feel like vomiting after eating also. Skipping breakfast tends to aggravate this problem. This problem can also occur with meals lacking in fiber.

Taking heavy meals tends to aggravate this problem. If one takes evening meals late in the evening, just before going to sleep, he can feel nauseous the next day. This happens because if one sleeps shortly after eating, there is not enough time for the food to be digested. Drinking alcohol before meals can induce and aggravate dyspepsia.

If the bowels are not evacuated regularly as with chronic constipation, the person may feel nauseous and sensation to vomit. Certain medications like pain killers also cause nausea and vomitting with no stomach pain. Overwork, lack of sleep, mental stress are other factors which can lead to dyspepsia.

It is advised to take small frequent meals, avoid taking meals late in evening and avoid alcohol. Drink more water. The meals should consist of fresh green vegetables, fruits and whole grains which provide fiber and aid in digestion. Learn to relax physically as well as mentally.