What Causes Nausea, Vomiting, Lightheadedness And Dizziness After Eating Food?

Posted on Tue, 4 Oct 2016

Question: My daughter is 18. She runs cross country. She always throws up after a strenuous workout and seems lightheaded. After her last race she also experienced shakes. Also, for the past month, she has complained about nausea and dizziness after meals. Any ideas? This occurs almost as soon as she finishes eating.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can be due to gastritis or anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hello, I have studied your case I think this can be due to gastritis or anxiety. I have few questions to understand hwr condition.
1.What is her body weight?
2.is she have lot of stress or lack of sleep during competitions?
3.Does she have pain in abdomen or any history of weight loss?
Please send me answers of these questions and I will try my best to help you.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (2 hours later)

1 She weighs 125-130.
3. Her weight really hasn't changed over the past several years other than the addition of muscle mass. No abdominal pain that I know of.
2. She is a worrier. This does cause stress. Also, she has had trouble sleeping for at least 18 months. Right now, she is worried about college applications and keeping her spot on the Varsity team.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
She need to be seen by psychiatrist

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I think she is having anorexia nervosa.This is common problem in young teenage girls.They suddenly start dieting and do not take nutrition properly. So whenever they involved in high demand physical activities they complain of weakness, dizziness and some time vomiting.Not only this even looking at food some time can cause nausea. I would suggest you to keep a watch in her daily dieting habits. If you see that she is not eating food properly or avoiding most of the nutritional things in diet then she will require counsellling.
In case you found that her diet is normal and despite that she is having nausea and vomiting then a gastroscopy is needed.As some time during a event stress can cause increase acidic stomach leading to gastritis.
Meanwhile You can encourage her to drink more solids like Banana or apple and less liquid juices or energy drink during event, as solids causes less vomiting.Tablet Ciplar just before event can decrease her anxiety.
I hope this answer will be useful for you. Let me know if you have any other follow up questions.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (2 days later)

She is not dieting. As a matter of fact, she is very nutrition conscious. She eats a banana with peanut butter at 5:00am before her morning 6:00am workout. After the workout (~7:45-8:00am) she eats again. She has lunch at 1:00pm and then we have dinner around 7:00pm. Everyday, she eays a variety of meats, vegetables and starches. She also, makes sure she is well hydrated. She drinks 120-150 ounces of water a day depending on the intensity of her workouts. I do not beleive she is anorexic.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would suggest you to see a gastroenterologist

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
if her diet is normal and you think that she is not having any anxiety or stress induce issue then you need to rule out gastritis.For this you need to see a gastroenterologist. He might advise you to get gastroscopy or some blood test like Liver function test. Gastritis is also common in young girls and specially in athletes.
thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar