Why Does Drinking Water Make Me Feel Nauseous? A Singapore Guide

For instance, when you feel the urge to drink a glass of water, that’s completely normal. Drinking water will help you regulate your body temperature, aid digestion, transport nutrients, and keep your vital organs functioning properly without any calories or sugars.

Despite that, there are instances when some people experience nausea when they take water. For instance, you may experience feelings of bloating, discomfort, light-headedness, or even vomiting shortly after drinking water.

If you experience any of these symptoms, then you’re not alone. There are several possible explanations for why you may experience nausea when you drink water. Understanding these possible explanations will help you stay properly hydrated while at the same time making you comfortable.

Nausea refers to an unpleasant sensation that makes you want to vomit. It’s normally accompanied by feelings of discomfort in the stomach, chest, or throat. It may also be accompanied by dizziness, weakness, sweating, or an increase in saliva.

Nausea is your body’s response to something that’s not quite right inside your digestive system. While nausea is normally associated with food, infection, or motion sickness, there’s also the possibility that you may experience nausea when you drink water.

Singapore prides itself on having one of the cleanest and safest supplies of drinking water in the world. This is due to the strict treatment and monitoring process that PUB (Public Utilities Board) undertakes.

There may be traces of heavy metals or industrial chemicals that may get mixed up in your water supply due to old plumbing or building pipes.

These substances may irritate the stomach lining, leading to the following effects:

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Stomach discomfort

Using a good quality water filtration system, especially reverse osmosis filtration , will help remove these impurities and make your water gentler on sensitive stomachs.

Chlorine is used in Singapore's water treatment process to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. While it is good for our health, it may still irritate sensitive stomachs.

Possible effects:

• Nausea
• Bloating
• Stomach upset

Although it is unlikely that Singapore's tap water contains parasites and microorganisms, if it is from an untreated source, such as private wells, poorly maintained water tanks, or outdoor water supplies, it could be contaminated with Giardia or Cryptosporidium . These parasites may cause gastrointestinal illness.

If you are experiencing acid reflux or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) , drinking water may make your condition worse. Water may put pressure on your stomach, causing stomach acids to be pumped back up into your oesophagus.

Ways to reduce nausea:

• Take small sips
• Avoid lying down immediately after drinking
• Drink slowly

It is possible that drinking water may cause nausea if you drink it first thing in the morning or after fasting for a long period of time. When your stomach is empty, it is possible that your stomach acids are already high. A light snack before drinking water may help.

These are substances such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These substances regulate muscle and nerve functions. Drinking too much water may result from excessive sweating, which is common in Singapore’s hot and humid weather.

Excessive drinking of pure water may result in an electrolyte imbalance and cause nausea, weakness, and dizziness. Intake of electrolyte-rich drinks may help alleviate the electrolyte imbalance.

Nausea may result from the intake of ice-cold water. Drinking cold water irritates the lining of the stomach and may trigger muscle contractions in the digestive tract.

Hydration is a must in Singapore’s weather. Here’s how you can stay hydrated without the nausea:

It is not advisable to gulp down too much water at once. Drinking in small sips may help alleviate the nausea.

Excessive intake of too much water before, during, or after meals may cause nausea. Drinking too much water may dilute the stomach acid and digestive enzymes in the body.

For better digestion:

• Drink a glass of water 30 minutes prior to meals
• Wait 30 minutes after meals before consuming large quantities of water
• Take small sips during meals

After a workout or outdoor activity in the sun, try coconut water or an electrolyte-enriched beverage instead of regular water.

Filtered water is free from chlorine, heavy metals, and unpleasant tastes that may irritate sensitive stomachs. If you are looking for the highest level of purification for drinking water, try a reverse osmosis filter.

If you experience nausea frequently after drinking water, consult a doctor. Frequent nausea may be a symptom of underlying health problems such as gastritis, acid reflux, infections, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Click here to learn more about What Is Fluoride in Water?

Experiencing nausea after drinking water may not be the most comfortable feeling. Fortunately, nausea is usually preventable in most cases.

Common reasons for nausea when drinking water are:

• Water quality
• Acid reflux
• Imbalance of electrolytes in the body
• Drinking too fast
• Drinking on an empty stomach

Modifying the way you consume water may help, especially in the warm Singapore weather.