Always feel sick: Causes, treatment, and when to see a doctor Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Why do I always feel sick nausea Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — By Jennifer Huizen — Updated on June 21, 2022A lack of sleep, poor diet, anxiety or stress can often cause a person to feel sick. However, it could also be a sign of pregnancy or chronic illness. When sick, a person may experience stomach discomfort and vomiting. The medical term for this is nausea. In this article, we look at the causes, symptoms, and treatments for a person feeling sick all the time. Causes symptoms and treatments Share on PinterestCharday Penn/Getty ImagesA person may feel sick due to a short-term issue or as a result of a chronic condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2019, around 60% of American adults had at least one chronic or long-term condition, and 40% had two or more. Below are some common reasons why someone might feel sick, plus their symptoms and how to treat each one.infectionsdigestive disordersimmune conditionsanxietychronic stresslack of sleepdietalcohol, drugs, and medicationspregnancy Infection Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can all cause a person to feel sick. Food poisoning is a common reason that a person may feel sick. However, infections can also spread through other means. People may be more at risk of catching an infection if they:work with childrenwork in the healthcare industrylive in close quarters with other people, such as in dormitoriestravel a lot or use public transportation frequently Learn more about the types of infection here. Treatment Infections such as food poisoning will typically resolve independently with rest. If someone experiences vomiting or diarrhea due to infection, they must ensure they drink plenty of fluids. A person can reduce their risk of infection throughproper food preparation and storagefrequent handwashingcovering the face when close to someone with a contagious illnessusing hand sanitizers Digestive disorders Many common digestive disorders can cause a person to feel sick. These include:hiatal herniagastritisstomach ulcersgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) Learn more about common digestive disorders here. Treatment The treatment of common digestive disorders will vary depending on the cause. However, most treatment plans will include a combination of lifestyle modifications and medication. Immune conditions Autoimmune conditions weaken the immune system and make it easier to develop infections, colds, and flu. People with chronic immune conditions tend to feel sick more often and may take longer to recover from illnesses. More than 23.5 million Americans live with an autoimmune condition. Common immune conditions that can make people feel sick include:lupusHIVceliac diseaseinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)asthmaallergiestype 1 diabetesmultiple sclerosisGraves’ disease Autoimmune conditions cause many symptoms, including fatigue, rashes, insomnia, and gastrointestinal problems. Discover more about autoimmune conditions. Treatment The only way to treat symptoms related to an autoimmune condition is to seek medical treatment and monitoring for the condition. Anxiety Many people may not associate anxiety with feeling sick, but often it can make a person feel sick to their stomach. A person with anxiety may feel nauseous or find that they get sick more often because their anxiety weakens their immune responses. Other symptoms of anxiety include:sweatingshortness of breathfeeling dizzyincreased heart rateshaking or trembling It is natural for people to experience anxiety. When a person feels anxious continuously, and this gets in the way of daily life, they may wish to talk with a doctor about anxiety disorders. If a person feels anxiety on most days for 6 months or more, a doctor may diagnose them with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A person may have a specific anxiety disorder or a phobia if their anxiety is specific to certain situations, such as social contact or unhygienic places. Learn more about the types of anxiety and their symptoms here. Treatment Anxiety and anxiety disorders are treatable. Possible options include:Lifestyle changes: Resolving the cause of anxiety, which may be lifestyle factors, relationships, drugs, or alcohol, may reduce symptoms.Psychotherapy: Talking therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT) are effective at treating many anxiety disorders.Medication: Doctors may prescribe medications such as beta-blockers to treat anxiety. Discover more treatments for anxiety here. Chronic stress Stress is a natural response to a perceived threat. However, continual stress can affect the mind and body. People with chronic or extreme stress can have many different symptoms, as stress affects the immune system, nervous system, hormones, and heart functioning. Other symptoms of chronic stress can include:a lack of energydigestive problems, such as diarrhea and constipationinsomnia, or difficulty sleepinganxietymuscle pain or stiffnessheadaches Discover more about chronic stress here. Treatment Treatment will start with identifying what stressors are causing the condition. From here, a person may be able to take steps to reduce the influence of these stressors. However, not all causes of stress are within a person’s control. If possible, people may be able to reduce their exposure to stressors. However, this is not always possible. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help people manage their response to stressors. Many traditional and alternative therapies exist to help manage or alleviate stress.resolving sources of conflictregular exercisepracticing exercises for mindfulness and stress release, such as yogaseeking support Learn more about stress management here. Lack of sleep Proper, regular sleep is important for mental and physical health. Sleep deprivation can increase a person’s risk of developing physical and mental health problems. Common symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation, or a lack of adequate sleep, include:stomach discomforthigh blood pressurejoint paindaytime sleepinessfatiguedifficulty concentrating or completing tasksirritability and anxietymore frequent infections and longer healing timedepression Treatment Common ways to improve sleep deprivation include:develop a regular sleep scheduleremove any sources of distraction from the bedroomtreat conditions that hinder sleep, such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and anxietylimit caffeine intake Why is sleep so important for good health? Learn more here. Poor diet and dehydration Dehydration and malnutrition or having a poor diet, put stress on the body. A chronic lack of proper nutrients and hydration can cause many problems, including:feeling sickvomitingchronic fatigue and weaknessdizziness or light-headednessdifficulty concentratingpoor immune health and extended healing timeweight loss Treatment There is no single amount of plain water a person should drink daily. Recommendations for daily water intake differ depending on a person’s age, sex, pregnancy status, and illness. However, some health professionals recommend around 6-8 glasses of water per day. If a person feels persistently dehydrated despite adequate fluid intake, they should visit their doctor To treat and prevent malnutrition, people should eat a balanced diet rich in various nutrient-dense foods. Alcohol caffeine drugs or medications Alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs, and many prescription medications can affect a person’s physical health. For example, some anticancer drugs cause sickness, and alcohol consumption can affect sleep and cause gastrointestinal diseases. Treatment If a prescription medication is causing a person to feel sick, they should speak with their doctor to discuss alternatives or supplementary treatments. In cases of caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drug use, reducing consumption or abstinence can often improve symptoms. Learn more about detoxing from alcohol here. Seeking help for addiction may seem daunting or even scary, but several organizations can provide support. If you believe that you or someone close to you is struggling with addiction, you can contact the following organizations for immediate help and advice:Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-4357 (TTY: 800-487-4889)National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 Pregnancy During pregnancy, a person may feel sick due to morning sickness. Despite its name, this can occur at any time of the day. Learn more in our dedicated pregnancy and parenthood hub here. Complications People who always feel sick are more likely to have to skip work or school, or they may be less able to perform day-to-day activities. This is especially true when a person has a chronic condition. Chronic conditions can also cause anxiety and interfere with activities that are important to good health, such as proper sleep, exercise, and socializing. Though the specific complications depend on the cause, a person who feels sick all the time and whose symptoms do not improve may develop depression, anxiety, or fatigue. When to contact a doctor Anyone who feels sick for more than a week or two should seek medical attention. A doctor can figure out the cause of the sickness and provide treatment. A doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes or therapies that can reduce symptoms. Talking with a doctor about prolonged sickness is also important so they can rule out or treat underlying medical conditions. Outlook It is common for people to feel sick, and it is not a cause for concern. Symptoms are often self-limiting and may resolve independently or with minor home treatments. However, feeling sick continuously can signal an underlying health condition. Treating these conditions will often resolve sickness symptoms. Summary People may feel sick due to medical conditions, environmental factors or unhealthy habits Rest, adequate hydration, and dietary changes can treat many short-term causes of sickness. However, when symptoms result from a chronic condition, treating the underlying cause is necessary to resolve symptoms. Last medically reviewed on June 21, 2022Anxiety / StressImmune System / VaccinesNutrition / DietSleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia 13 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.About chronic diseases. (2022). https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htmAnxiety disorders. (2022).https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disordersAutoimmune diseases. (2021).https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/autoimmune-diseasesBarnhill, J. W. (2020). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/anxiety-and-stressor-related-disorders/generalized-anxiety-disorder?query=Generalized%20Anxiety%20DisorderFood poisoning. (2021).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoning/Get the facts: Drinking water and intake. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/plain-water-the-healthier-choice.htmlLi, G., et al. (2018). A new participant in the pathogenesis of alcoholic gastritis: Pyroptosis.https://www.karger.com/Article/Fulltext/492902Malnutrition: Causes. (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/causes/Sickness (nausea) and cancer drugs. (2020).https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/side-effects/sicknessSleep deprivation. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emres/longhourstraining/sleepdeprivation.htmlStress effects on the body. (2018).https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/bodyThe eatwell guide. (2019).https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/Vomiting and morning sickness. (2021).https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — By Jennifer Huizen — Updated on June 21, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageCauses and treatment of nausea and vomitingMedically reviewed by Harshil Matta, DO Nausea and vomiting can be symptoms of many health conditions. Here, learn about some common causes, get some treatment tips, and find out when to see…READ MOREWhat are the best ways to get rid of nausea?Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH A look at how to get rid of nausea, a common complaint with a range of potential causes. Included is detail on physical changes to make to reduce…READ MOREWhat does nausea feel like? Symptoms, causes, and treatmentsMedically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. What nausea feels like can vary between people and depends on the cause. Nausea is a common sign of pregnancy but is also a symptom of many other…READ MORENausea and GERD: Causes, symptoms, and treatmentMedically reviewed by Mikhail Yakubov, MD Nausea may be due to acid reflux, which happens with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD treatments include lifestyle changes and medications.READ MORE