Morning sickness and nausea are two associated medical terms because nausea is a symptom present in people with morning sickness. Moreover, nausea is defined as having discomfort in the stomach.
The key difference between morning sickness and nausea is their cause. Morning sickness is a condition characterized by nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, while nausea is a symptom of many health conditions characterized by an uncomfortable feeling in the back of the throat or stomach.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Morning Sickness
3. What is Nausea
4. Similarities – Morning Sickness and Nausea
5. Morning Sickness vs Nausea in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Morning Sickness vs Nausea
7. FAQ – Morning Sickness and Nausea
What is Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is the nausea and vomiting usually occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy. Morning sickness can improve at the 13th week of pregnancy. The signs and symptoms of morning sickness include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, heartburn or reflux, sea sickness or motion sickness, feeling like something stuck in the throat, and hunger pangs. It can be caused by low blood sugar, an increase of the hormone HCG, blood pressure fluctuations, changes in the metabolism, stress, being overtired, eating or smelling certain foods, motion sickness, and warm weather.
Morning sickness can be diagnosed through physical examinations, urine tests, and blood tests for HCG. Furthermore, morning sickness can be treated through diet changes, lifestyle changes, wearing acupressure wristbands, and acupuncture.
What is Nausea?
Nausea is defined as a feeling of discomfort in the stomach. It is characterized by heaviness, tightness, a feeling of indigestion that doesn’t go away, and vomiting. It can be caused by anesthetics, chemotherapy, digestive problems such as gastroparesis, inner ear infection, migraine, motion sickness, obstruction in the intestines, stomach flu, and viruses.
Nausea can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for nausea may include taking nausea medications, drinking clear ice-cold drinks, avoiding fried, greasy, or sweet food, eating slowly and in smaller quantities, avoiding activities after eating, avoiding brushing teeth after eating, and choosing foods from all the food groups as people can tolerate them to get the required nutrition.
Similarities Between Morning Sickness and Nausea
- Morning sickness and nausea are two related medical terms.
- Both can be caused by motion sickness.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examinations and blood tests.
- They can be treated through specific lifestyle changes and therapies.
Difference Between Morning Sickness and Nausea
Definition
- Morning sickness is extreme, excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
- Nausea is the uneasiness in the stomach.
Causes
- Morning sickness is a result of pregnancy.
- Nausea can be caused by conditions like gallbladder disease, food poisoning, infection, bulimia, and gastroparesis.
Characteristics
- Morning sickness is characterized by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, headache, rapid breathing, salivating more than usual, and sweating.
- Nausea is characterized by a lack of appetite, vomiting, profuse sweating, retching, stomach ache, and an uneasy feeling in your chest, upper abdomen, or back of the throat.
Diagnosis
- Morning sickness is diagnosed by physical examination, urine test, and blood test.
- Nausea is diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, and blood tests.
Treatment
- Morning sickness can be treated by vitamin B-6 supplements (pyridoxine), ginger, and drugs such as doxylamine (Unisom), intravenous fluid, and anti-nausea medications.
- Nausea can be treated by taking nausea medications, getting plenty of fresh air, distracting oneself by listening to music or watching a film, taking regular sips of a cold drink, drinking ginger or peppermint tea, and eating smaller, more frequent meals.
The following table summarizes the difference between morning sickness and nausea.
Summary – Morning Sickness vs Nausea
Around half to two-thirds of all pregnant women will experience morning sickness of pregnancy to some degree. Morning sickness and nausea are two related medical terms. This is because nausea is one symptom of morning sickness. However, nausea is only the uneasiness in the stomach. This is the basic difference between morning sickness and nausea.
FAQ: Morning Sickness and Nausea
1. When does pregnancy sickness start?
- Pregnancy sickness starts in the first trimester. At least 7 in 10 pregnant women have morning sickness in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Morning sickness starts at about 6 weeks of pregnancy and will become worse at about 9 weeks.
2. How long does morning sickness last?
- Morning sickness continues till the 13th to 16th week (3rd or 4th month). Some women have nausea and vomiting throughout their entire pregnancy; however, it does not hurt the baby.
3. How do you help relieve morning sickness?
- Taking anti-nausea medications, choosing foods carefully, drinking plenty of fluids, paying attention to nausea triggers, taking prenatal vitamins, and rinsing the mouth after vomiting can help relieve morning sickness.
4. What is nausea a symptom of?
- Nausea can be a symptom of viral and bacterial infections, motion sickness, migraine, food poisoning, abscesses of the brain, inner ear infection, certain medications, and warm weather.
5. What foods reduce nausea?
- Eating toast, mashed potatoes, plain rice, bananas, protein-rich foods like low-fat Greek yogurt, plain chicken or turkey, protein shakes, mild fruits, and vegetables can reduce the chances of getting nausea.
Reference:
1. “Morning Sickness: When It Starts, Treatment & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic.
2.“Nausea: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Symptoms-vomiting” (Public Domain) via Picryl
2. “Faceless pregnant woman caressing belly on bed at home” (CC0) via Pexels
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