Morning sickness: From meaning to symptoms, here's everything about it
Mornings are rarely any good for those who wake up sick, especially women during the first three months of pregnancy. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur any time of the day or night, demanding urgent action to overcome it. From its meaning and causes to symptoms and when to seek a doctor, here's everything about this nauseous condition.
Meaning: Let's understand what morning sickness exactly is
Morning sickness induces vomiting or nausea-like symptoms that occur during pregnancy. It is a very common health condition to experience as about 70% of pregnant women in the world suffer from it during their first trimester. It can start as early as the sixth week of your pregnancy and may peak during the eighth or 10th week. Usually, it disappears by the 13th week.
Causes: Experts haven't been able to find the reasons yet
The exact causes of morning sickness are unknown. However, medical experts believe that it happens largely owing to hormonal changes in the body. A mix of both physical and chemical compositions like low blood sugar levels, fluctuations in blood pressure, stress, anxiety, fatigue, overeating, weather conditions, motion sickness, smell, metabolic changes, and high levels of estrogen have also been identified as some factors.
Symptoms: Vomitings, acid reflux, throat irritation, and much more
The symptoms of morning sickness, their frequency, and their intensity vary from person to person. However, the most common symptoms of this condition include nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, heartburn, a feeling of something stuck in the throat, gastric issues, and constant hunger pangs. Some may also feel headaches, migraines, motion sickness, vertigo, and discomfort in the digestive tract.
Here's when you should seek a doctor immediately
Although morning sickness is manageable at home and vanishes after a particular time, one shouldn't simply ignore it if it's happening multiple times a day and bringing along many other symptoms. Seek a doctor if morning sickness also leads to dizziness, loss of fluids in the body, or production of low or no urine. If your heart also races with it, schedule an appointment.
