Repeated feelings of nausea and retching do not necessarily indicate an autonomic nervous system disorder.
Causes vary widely and may include gastroenteritis, reflux esophagitis, medication side effects, migraines, pregnancy, and ear disorders. If you experience weight loss, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or new neurological symptoms, prompt medical evaluation is essential.
Some people experience an upset stomach when they wake up in the morning, feel the urge to retch before important events, and postpone meals because even a small amount of food makes them feel nauseous.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
If you are suffering from frequent indigestion, it is advisable to take the time to identify the cause.
Since these symptoms may indicate conditions such as stomach ulcers or inflammation—rather than simple nausea or abdominal pain—it is advisable to get tested.
Since this condition can increase the risk of intestinal metaplasia and stomach cancer, treatment should be sought at a stage when prevention is still possible.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan When consulting about orthostatic dizziness, the first step is to avoid automatically attributing all symptoms—such as temporary loss of vision upon standing—to autonomic nervous system issues.
Various causes—such as changes in blood pressure, dehydration, anemia, heart rhythm abnormalities, medications, ear disorders, and hypoglycemia—must be identified; however, if the patient experiences fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, paralysis on one side of the body, or slurred speech, an emergency evaluation is the top priority.
It is common to experience a momentary dizziness and blurred vision when standing up after lying down or sitting.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan When consulting about functional dyspepsia or postprandial discomfort, the first thing to do is not to dismiss the discomfort lightly just because “the test results were normal.”
We need to assess whether you feel bloated even after eating only a small amount, whether you experience upper abdominal pain, heartburn, or nausea after meals, whether there are any warning signs such as weight changes, black stools, or difficulty swallowing, and what your current medications, sleep patterns, stress levels, and eating habits are like.
It can be especially frustrating when you feel full after eating only a small amount of food, experience a tight sensation or nausea in your upper abdomen after meals, and burp frequently—only to be told by doctors that medical tests show no significant abnormalities.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan When consulting on reflux esophagitis, it’s not just about looking at stomach acid.
If you experience recurring heartburn, acid reflux, a sensation of something stuck in your throat, frequent belching, or a feeling of fullness in the epigastric region, you should consider not only your meal portions, late-night snacks, caffeine intake, and sleeping position, but also your gastrointestinal motility, stress, and autonomic nervous system tension.
When people experience a burning sensation in the chest, acid reflux, or a persistent feeling that something is stuck in their throat, many think of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan When consulting on irritable bowel syndrome, it is important not to view abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation in isolation, but to assess them in conjunction with diet, anxiety, sleep, stress, and bowel movement patterns.
Even if medical tests show no major abnormalities, if you frequently experience abdominal pain and feel anxious about going out because of bathroom needs, it may be a sign that both your gut and your autonomic nervous system have become hypersensitive.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder that often leads patients to ask, “Why does my stomach feel so uncomfortable when the test results say everything is fine?”
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
In particular, if you are losing weight unintentionally or your food intake continues to decrease, it is better to identify the cause and develop a recovery plan together rather than simply dismissing it as a general decline in health.
A loss of appetite can happen to anyone.
During periods of a busy schedule, lack of sleep, feeling under the weather after a cold, or high stress, you may lose your appetite for a few days before it naturally returns.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan When seeking counseling for panic disorder, it is important not to dismiss symptoms such as sudden shortness of breath and a racing heart as simply being “weak-minded.”
Anyone would panic if they suddenly felt short of breath, experienced a racing heart, and were overcome by the fear that they might collapse right then and there.
When you go to the emergency room and are told that your ECG and blood tests show no major abnormalities, you may feel relieved, but you’re still left wondering, “Then why do I feel so bad?”
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan During consultations for indigestion and abdominal bloating, we determine why symptoms such as a heavy feeling after meals, a sensation of fullness in the upper abdomen, belching, heartburn, and a feeling of gas in the abdomen recur.
Even if an endoscopy reveals no major abnormalities, factors such as gastrointestinal motility, eating speed, stress, sleep, and autonomic nervous system tension can all play a role, so it is important to consider both your daily routine and your physical condition.
There are people who feel bloated even though they haven’t eaten much, experience a sensation of fullness and discomfort in the upper abdomen after eating even a small amount, and only feel relief after burping.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan During a consultation for autonomic nervous system-related headaches, it is important to look beyond just the area where the headache is felt and also check for accompanying symptoms such as neck and shoulder tension, lack of sleep, eye strain, jaw tension, stress, palpitations, indigestion, and dizziness.
Chronic headaches are not merely a result of muscle tension; they may be linked to autonomic nervous system hyperarousal, in which the body remains in a constant state of tension.
If the pain returns even after repeated use of pain relievers, it is advisable to take a comprehensive look at both your pain patterns and daily routine.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan During a consultation for “damjeok” syndrome, it is important to look beyond just indigestion—such as a tight or bloated sensation in the epigastric region—and check for accompanying symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
When gastrointestinal motility decreases and stress persists for a long time, it can lead to a feeling of fullness accompanied by symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system.
Even if test results show no major abnormalities, if symptoms recur, it is advisable to review your eating habits, stress levels, sleep patterns, bowel movements, and chest discomfort to assess both “damjeok” and the balance of the autonomic nervous system.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Ulsan You may want to seek consultation for autonomic nervous system-related dizziness if you experience a foggy head, a spinning sensation when standing up, and recurring symptoms such as heart palpitations, cold sweats, anxiety, and fatigue—even though medical tests have shown no significant abnormalities.
However, sudden severe dizziness, paralysis, slurred speech, chest pain, fainting, or severe headaches require immediate medical attention.
Dizziness is a truly uncomfortable symptom.
Jo Seong-won Korean medicine doctor (KMD) · Inae Korean Medicine Clinic, Ulsan
Articles on Clinote are general medical information and do not replace diagnosis or treatment. Symptoms and treatments differ from person to person, so always consult a doctor. Clinic information is based on public data and details provided by the clinics; please check with the clinic before visiting.