If you are a woman, morning sickness is one of the first indications that you are pregnant. However, specialists believe it is not the only reason you may feel sick when you wake up.
“When we hear about morning sickness, most people’s first thought is pregnancy,” says Dr. Janice Johnston, chief medical officer and co-founder of healthcare provider Redirect Health.
“That’s because morning sickness is a very common side effect of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, affecting as many as seven out of ten pregnant women.”
However, according to many medical professionals, morning sickness or a general feeling of nausea right after waking up can be caused by a variety of things, including diet, lifestyle and mental health.
Some of the reasons why morning sickness may occur, and it is not pregnancy, are:
- insufficient sleep
- low blood sugar
- acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux)
- dehydration
- anxiety and distress
- nasal congestion
Although none of these health conditions are life-threatening, it would be good to recognize them in time to prevent further consequences and possible health risks, experts warn.