Do you battle insomnia at night, leaving you feeling tired and nauseous during the day? You are not alone if you have experienced the unsettling combination of sleep deprivation and nausea.

The big question here is, can lack of sleep cause nausea? We will provide the answer by studying the intricate relationship between sleep and nausea.

We will also explore the science behind this connection and provide tips to help you break free from the cycle. So, let’s dive in.

Why sleep is essential for health

Sleep is an essential activity that ensures normal physiological function. Having adequate sleep is as crucial to your health and well-being as exercising and eating balanced meals, and a lack can lead to mental exhaustion and physical symptoms such as fatigue and nausea.

Here are reasons why sleep is essential for improving your health:

  • Adequate sleep helps to boost your immune system and fight against certain diseases.[1]
  • It enhances your memory and cognitive function.
  • Sleep deprivation can heighten the risks of medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, etc.[2]
  • It ensures normal body metabolism of food nutrients.
  • It allows for the production of hormones that impact physiological processes.
  • Sleep helps to improve cardiovascular health.
  • It can help to stabilize emotions and prevent depressive moods.

As mentioned above, sleep aids in metabolism, which can help prevent nausea. But how does this happen? More importantly, can lack of sleep cause nausea?

What is the link between insomnia and nausea?

According to a 2015 study, sleep deprivation causes an increase of certain biochemical substances called proinflammatory cytokines.[3]

These proinflammatory cytokines include interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor. They can stimulate an inflammatory response in the body, causing symptoms such as fever and pain.[4]

The balance of these biochemical substances can be altered or increased by infections, injury, or stressful conditions like insomnia.[5]

When this happens, these biochemicals can irritate the gut lining and cause digestive diseases like gastroesophageal reflux disease, which come with symptoms like nausea. Note, however, that scientists are still studying their relationship.

Can lack of sleep cause nausea?

Can lack of sleep cause nausea? People who suffer from the awful combination of sleep deprivation, nausea, and tiredness often ask this question. The connection among these symptoms is evident in the numerous studies that have indicated a lack of sleep can cause nausea.[6]

A 2021 study reveals that nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are associated with increased sleep disturbance.[7] Another study shows that sleep disturbance can cause digestive diseases, of which nausea is a symptom.[8] Both of these studies support the relationship between sleep deprivation and nausea.[9]

Moreover, lack of sleep disturbs your body’s physiological processes and affects your digestive system by irritating your stomach lining and causing nausea.

So, if you have been wondering whether being tired and nauseous are related to lack of sleep, as you can see, it’s certainly a possibility. Therefore, breaking this detrimental cycle and tackling your sleep troubles can help you avoid nausea and improve your overall health.

How do I know the nausea is caused by lack of sleep?

1. Emotional distress

You might be experiencing emotional distress and feeling nauseous. If so, it’s reasonable to ask the question, “Can lack of sleep cause nausea through emotional distress?”

Sleep deprivation can express symptoms in the body both physically and emotionally, such as mood swings, lethargy, and irritability. These emotional changes can also cause nausea.

2. Headaches

Headache is a common sign associated with getting inadequate sleep. If you are experiencing headaches due to sleep deprivation, you may also experience nausea and vomiting.[10]

3. Memory issues

Sleep is vital for the consolidation of memories. Lack of sleep might make it difficult for you to remember things, which can heighten your anxiety, which may be accompanied by nausea.

4. Difficulty concentrating

As with memory loss, getting inadequate sleep impairs your ability to concentrate and focus while executing tasks. This can lead to increased stress and anxiety which, again, may cause you to feel nauseous.

5. Impaired motor skills

As previously noted, sleep deprivation comes with symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and lethargy. These symptoms can disorient you, impair your motor skills, and trigger physical discomfort and nausea.

6. Frequent illnesses

Sleep deprivation, especially for a prolonged period, can weaken your immune system and predispose you to illnesses, which may include nausea.

The above points should provide more insight into the question, “Can lack of sleep cause nausea?” As such, if you’re familiar with any of them, you may want to review your sleep habits to explore this potential connection.

How can you prevent sleep deprivation?

1. Stretching exercises

Experts reveal that exercise can help you fall asleep faster and have a good night’s rest. Getting some form of movement for at least 30 minutes daily can keep your brain and body’s physiological processes running effectively and aid in better sleep. It’s important to note that exercising during the day is ideal for better sleep.[11]

2. Yoga

Yoga allows you to relax and release stress that triggers insomnia. The stretches, poses, and breathing patterns all contribute to helping relieve stress and reduce the release of stress hormones.

Yoga poses that support better sleep, in particular, include the Uttana Shishosana, also known as the extended puppy pose, the Baddha Konasana, or bound angle pose, and the Supine twist.

3. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that involves using needles in specific areas of the skin to stimulate the body. Research shows that it is a beneficial technique in curing insomnia.[12]

4. Nuu3 Deep Sleep Gummies

Dietary supplements may be valuable in helping sleep deprivation. For example, you can use Nuu3 Deep Sleep Gummies, a supplement formulated with ingredients scientifically proven to promote better sleep. Using this all-natural supplement as directed before bedtime may help you tackle insomnia and nausea at night.

Sleep Deprivation

What are the side effects of lack of sleep?

Lack of sleep alters the body’s normal functioning, leading to several side effects. These include the following:

  • Drowsiness: This leads to a lack of focus and attention during daily activities.
  • Headaches: Your brain may not have enough time to recuperate and repair itself, which may disrupt the regulation of the neural pathways and lead to headaches.
  • Frequent forgetfulness and memory loss.
  • Nausea and vomiting: Following years of research, a link has been established between insomnia, nausea, and vomiting, which again, addresses the question, “Can lack of sleep cause nausea?”
  • Illnesses: This occurs due to lowered immune response.

How long does it take to recover from sleep deprivation?

As with other conditions, recovery from sleep deprivation varies among individuals. The recovery process may take time for some, while for others, it could be just a few days or weeks. However, although no one solution will work for everyone, promoting healthy sleep habits overall is the key to recovery. Therefore, it’s important to develop a regular sleep schedule, create a relaxing sleep environment, and practice good sleep hygiene.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum amount of sleep you can function on?

Sleep requirements depend on one's age; while babies need 16 hours, adults need seven or more hours to function optimally.[13]

Does lack of sleep affect the brain?

Yes. For example, sleep deprivation can affect the section of the brain responsible for memory.

Why do I feel nauseated even if I sleep at night?

While you may seek information on how to cure nausea from lack of sleep and act on it, this may be futile due to hormonal issues, motion sickness, low blood sugar, etc. Therefore, If you feel nauseated even after sleeping, it’s best to consult your physician.

Conclusion

So, can lack of sleep cause nausea? Yes, it can, as this is one of several side effects associated with sleep deprivation.

As we’ve seen, the human body requires rest and adequate sleep to function optimally. When it is stressed and lacks adequate sleep, certain biochemical substances are released that cause inflammation in the gut, which in turn induces irritation of the stomach and causes nausea.

Fortunately, the solution may not be as elusive as you thought and by practicing good sleep hygiene and following the tips in this article, you can recover from sleep deprivation, nausea, and several other side effects of insomnia