Doctor reveals why you wake up feeling sick every morning
Topics: Advice, Health, Life, Mental Health, Pregnancy, Sleep, Tyla Exclusive
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: elenaleonova/Getty Images/Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images
Topics: Advice, Health, Life, Mental Health, Pregnancy, Sleep, Tyla Exclusive
Ever woken up in the morning feeling way more like you've been hit by a truck instead of the ideal bright-eyed and bushy-tailed start to the day?
Maybe you rise at dawn with recurring splitting headaches, nausea or a funny tummy?
Well, it seems there's actually a reason for this as a doctor has given us the rundown on everything we need to know about the phenomenon which leaves us perpetually feeling like we've woken up on the wrong side of the bed every single day.
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Dr Claire Merrifield, a GP and medical director at Selph, has told Tyla that there are a whole bunch of reasons why you could feel poorly first thing in the morning.
And, before we get into it, she advises first and foremost to speak to your GP as soon as possible if it’s a consistent issue.
One of the biggest reasons you may wake up feeling groggy is down to dehydration.
Dr Merrifield explains that some people may feel dehydrated or have low blood sugar levels in the morning.
"If you eat your dinner at 6pm, and go to bed at 10pm, waking up at 6am, you won’t have eaten or drunk for 12 hours, which is a long time," she said.
So, if you find that after you’ve eaten something or had a drink the feeling goes away, it might be a good idea to try and eat a bit more for dinner or take a glass of water to bed.
However, if it doesn’t help and this feeling persists, it’s important to see a doctor.
A second reason why you may be feeling so sick in the morning is down to acid reflux.
Also known as heartburn, the NHS explains that acid reflux is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat.
"Acid reflux can often be worse at night on an empty stomach, usually eating breakfast or taking an over the counter anti-acid medicine will help if this is the culprit," Dr Merrifield warned.
"If it’s a persistent issue it can be helpful to test for the bacteria Helicobacter pylori which is a common cause of acid reflux."
As we know, our mental health can have a huge impact on our physical health with Dr Merrifield outlining: "Anxiety and stress can cause physical symptoms, which often include headaches, migraines and nausea.
"If you’ve had a particularly bad night’s sleep, or suffer from insomnia, you might often wake up feeling nauseous."
According to the expert, you can minimise these feelings by practising mindfulness and meditation before bedtime.
Light exercise such as a short walk in the evening may also help.
"Again, it’s important that you see a doctor if you are feeling particularly stressed and anxious and this is causing you to feel sick in the morning," the doctor reiterated.
And last, but by no means least, is pregnancy.
Now, don't freak out, but Dr Merrifield explained the sickness in the morning is 'a common symptom in early pregnancy', adding: "If there is a chance you could be pregnant, it’s important to take a pregnancy test as soon as you can."
And, as a general suggestion, the doctor recommended: "Anyone who feels sick a lot with no obvious cause should talk things through with their doctor to check for the cause."