This unpleasant disorder is quite common and can affect people of all ages.
The causes of morning sickness are many and of different origins. When present in a transient manner and is of mild intensity, the disorder may be due to poor eating habits, significant psychological stress or meals eaten too quickly. On the other hand, if it recurs frequently, morning sickness may be the sign of an organic disease that requires immediate medical evaluation.
When morning sickness persists, it is always a good idea to contact your doctor for appropriate investigations and any therapeutic interventions.
) and stomach. This manifestation typically occurs within minutes of waking up and may be accompanied by a desire to vomit. In some cases, however, it is precisely the feeling of nausea that causes awakening. , located in the medulla oblongata. These stimuli activate nerve endings distributed along the digestive tract (pharynx, stomach and small intestine) or other centers of the central nervous system (brainstem or vestibular system).
A particular type of morning sickness is that of pregnancy.
During the first three months of pregnancy, waking up feeling nauseous is a common problem for many pregnant women; from a certain point of view, this malaise can be considered "normal".
During gestation, the cause of morning sickness is a sharp rise in the levels of certain hormones (chorionic gonadotropin, estrogen and progesterone), which stimulate the nausea center located in the brain. Sometimes, the disorder can also manifest itself in the last trimester, along with acid regurgitation and slowing of digestion, due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus compressing the stomach.
Usually, morning sickness is preceded by a feeling of emptiness in the stomach and can be triggered by the sight or smell of particular foods or substances.