Do you feel nauseous or nauseated?

There’s nothing worse than feeling nauseous/nauseated. Whether it strikes after a long day of work, a big meal, or just out of nowhere like an unexpected visit from your in-laws, that queasy sensation in your gut is never welcome.

But wait – did you know there’s actually a difference between feeling nauseous and feeling nauseated? It might seem like splitting hairs, but stick with me for a minute while we dive into the world of bodily discomfort.

What Does It Mean To Be Nauseous?

Let’s start with the easy one: when someone says they feel “nauseous,” what do they mean?

Chances are good that this person is saying they feel sick to their stomach. Their abdomen might be churning or cramping, and they may have the urge to vomit.

However (and here comes the tricky part), when you describe yourself as being “nauseous,” technically speaking you’re saying that something has caused nausea in someone else. In other words:

  • The smell of those leftover burritos made my coworker nauseous
  • My dad gets nauseous watching rollercoasters

You get the idea – if you want to use “nauseous” correctly according to strict grammar rules, then use it only as an adjective describing something that induces feelings of nausea.

What About Feeling Nauseated?

Feeling nauseated, on the other hand, refers specifically to experiencing nausea oneself. So when you say “I’m nauseated,” what you’re really saying is that you personally feel ill at ease.

Again though (sorry folks!), strictly speaking English grammar dictates that “feeling nauseated” isn’t grammatically correct – rather “being” would be more appropriate!

Do people follow these linguistic rules in everyday conversation? Not really, most people use the words interchangeably. However, if your English teacher ever corrected you for saying you felt nauseous instead of nauseated, now you know why.

Let’s look at some examples so this all sinks in:

  • The stale donut was making me feel nauseated
  • That horror movie left me feeling totally nauseous

Why Do We Get Nauseous/Nauseated Anyway?

Ah yes, the age-old question. There are a few common reasons that might lead to nausea:

Stomach Irritation:

When your stomach lining gets irritated and inflamed (helloooo spicy food), it can cause cramping and vomiting.

Motion Sickness:

Your inner ear is responsible for giving information about movement — when things are moving while you’re stationary or vice versa confusion arises! A disconnect between what we see vs what our ears tell us can make us feel dizzy which may result in severe cases of motion sickness.

Anxiety/Stress:

Our delightful friends anxiety and stress often rear their ugly heads as stomach discomforts such as bloating or feeling like throwing up.

There’s a hint into why they say “butterflies in your stomach”.

Medical Conditions:

Nausea can also be caused by medical conditions including but not limited to gall bladder problems, kidney disease etc.

Hey Doc – When Is It Time To Worry?

Although rarely serious on its own (and more oft than not will clear up within hours) persistent symptoms warrant further inquiry with a doctor.

In addition to Speaking up when there is ongoing or severe discomfort; other signs worth taking note of include blood spotting/vomit black stool – signifying internal bleeding; difficulty breathing/chest pain could point towards cardiac complications ; yellowing skin/eyes suggets liver trouble.

If You Are Concerned It’s Best Consult With Your Doctor.

Tips For Feeling Better When Nauseous/Nauseated

Ok, let’s assume you’ve made it this far in the article because you’re currently dealing with some unhappy stomach shenanigans. You can use the following tip to try and alleviate your nausea:

Ginger Tonic:

Ginger helps soothe an upset stomach by helping reduce inflammation; one way to fully get into that ginger goodness is through a ginger tonic or tea. (plus… all those anti inflammatory benefits!)

Mint Favors:

Peppermint and spearmint seasonings are known for their calming effect on stomach muscles; opt for snacking on mints or having mint flavored gum handy as well.

Chamomile Tea:

Similarity Chamomile’s antibacterial properties offer alleviation of gassiness alongwith serving soothing aromatherapy help settle upset tummies.

Small light meals:

Small amounts of bland foods – like toast, crackers/broth-based soups can have comforting effects but not overwhelm ill-settled tummy-achieving more would disrupt delicate balance!

When It’s Time To Seek Medical Help?

We always say better safe than sorry! Here are some signs which may warrant a visit to the doctor when feeling nauseous/nauseated:

  • Severe pain in abdomen
  • Chestpain/palpaitations
  • Blood-vomit/black stool mentioned before – if there’s notable blood lost within any bodily discharge please go immediately.
  • Dehydration/Excessive Thirst: Not uncommon especially accompanied with diarreah/vomiting this isn’t something we want going unattended.

Conclusion

Determining whether you feel nauseous or nauseated might seem like splitting hairs, but it has implications for how grammatically correct sentences will be perceived. The good news? Most people don’t care enough about grammar colloquially to worry whether they sound “correct”; they just want to feel better.

Whether your nauseous/nauseated-feelings are passing or more persistent, there’s no need for them to promote off-days. Small remedies like ginger tonic and chamomile tea can work wonders in settling a queasy stomach but serious, repeated symptoms warrant medical attention. In short,

Try the peppermint tricks while you make an appointment with a professional because isn’t it time we move past nausea-inducing discomforts?

Cheers to clean bill of health!

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