Why does gastritis cause nausea?

Nausea is a very common presentation of Gastritis. The stomach may become more sensitive to stretching after food or drink, and inflammation can affect the nerve pathways involved in the urge to vomit.

Gastritis means inflammation of the stomach lining. It can occur with infection, medicines that irritate the lining, alcohol, or other causes. Nausea may come with upper abdominal discomfort, early fullness, bloating, loss of appetite, or vomiting.

Symptoms can vary from one episode to another. Feeling sick does not by itself identify the cause, because nausea also occurs with many conditions outside the stomach.

Take frequent small sips of fluid if nausea makes drinking difficult. Choose small, plain meals when you can tolerate food, and avoid alcohol or foods that clearly worsen your symptoms.

Check with a clinician or pharmacist before using pain medicines, supplements, or anti-nausea products, particularly if you have ulcers, take regular medicines, are pregnant, or have a long-term condition. A clinician can assess whether testing or treatment for the underlying cause is needed.

Seek urgent medical care for vomit containing blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black tar-like stool, severe or worsening abdominal pain, fainting, confusion, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine or marked dizziness.

Arrange a medical review if nausea keeps returning, you cannot keep fluids down, symptoms interfere with eating, or you have unexplained weight loss or trouble swallowing.

Ask what may be irritating your stomach lining, whether any current medicine could contribute, and whether testing for infection or another digestive condition would help. Mention when nausea occurs, what you have eaten or taken, and whether there is pain, vomiting, or a change in stool.