Many factors can make your stomach churn. If you know you’re not pregnant and you didn’t eat anything bad, you may be wondering why you are feeling nauseous. Queasiness is a sickening feeling that ranges from slightly uncomfortable to unbearable. Nausea usually occurs right before dry heaving or vomiting, though you may never actually vomit. Here are some possible causes for your nausea, and what you can do for some relief.

Constantly Losing Sleep?

If you’re experiencing sleep deprivation issues like jet lag or insomnia, your body’s neuroendocrine response could lead to nausea. Sleep promotes good health, it’s the fuel of life. If you’re having trouble sleeping, check out our tips to falling asleep here.

Are You Hungry?

Your blood sugar levels drop when you go too long without eating. When your blood sugar gets too low, you may feel nausea and dizziness. Avoid any foods that are sweet, greasy, fried or sweet, as these may worsen nausea. Try more natural remedies such as ginger or peppermint tea or bland foods such as bread or crackers to help ease the feeling of nausea.

Thirsty? Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!

It may sound simple, but if you’re dehydratedyou may feel nauseous. Even mild dehydration could make your stomach feel queasy. You should drink at least 12 8-ounce glasses of water every day to overcome being dehydrated. Not big on drinking water? Try orange juice, clear fruit drinks, electrolyte replacement and sports drinks.

Medicate on an Empty Stomach?

Sometimes taking simple over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil, Ibuprofen or Tylenol on an empty stomach could leave you feeling nauseous. Any time you take an over-the-counter medicine, be sure to have a small snack like crackers with it and drink plenty of water.

Anxiety?

The emotions of stress, excitement and anxiety are common. Nausea may be related to a stressful event, like an upcoming presentation or a big meeting.

Motion Sickness?

It happens when your brain is confused about your body’s movement. Riding in a car often causes motion sickness. Your eyes and ears send signals to your brain that you are moving, but your inner ear the helps you stay balanced tell your brain that you aren’t moving. These mixed signals may cause nausea. Try to sit where you get the smoothest ride and look out into the distance to calm the feeling.

Diet and Lifestyle

Many other factors may cause nausea. If you experience nausea in the morning, your diet or lifestyle may be a causing factor. The following may help:

• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Avoiding large unhealthy meals before bed
• Sticking to a regular sleep schedule
• Eat a small meal in the morning

When to See a Doctor

If you have ruled out pregnancy and the problem persists, see your doctor. Severe, ongoing nausea, could be a sign of a serious condition.