What does ANV mean in UNCLASSIFIED

Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting (ANV) is a type of nausea and vomiting caused by a conditioned response or fear of the same experience that was previously associated with some form of stimulation, such as chemotherapy or gastroenteritis. ANV typically occurs before the onset of the stimulation, leading to anticipatory anxiety symptoms.

ANV affects people in different ways; however, it is known to affect up to 60% of patients who have undergone chemotherapy treatments. It can also occur with motion sickness, radiation therapy, and other medical conditions.

Signs and symptoms of ANV can vary from person to person but typically include feelings of dread before exposure to a feared stimulus, anticipatory anxiety, physical discomfort, feelings of weakness or fatigue, dry heaving or gagging without vomiting, abdominal cramping or pain, hunger pains, sweating, trembling or shaking, lightheadedness or dizziness.

Possible risk factors for developing ANV include prior experiences with nausea/vomiting related to a stimulus such as chemotherapy; personal tendencies towards anxiety; being female; cognitive tendencies such as catastrophic thinking (i.e., expecting the worst); being under stress; and having certain personality traits such as low self-esteem.

A diagnosis of ANV can be made through patient history taking and evaluation. Your doctor may ask questions about your past medical history as well as your current condition in order to determine if you may have ANV. Your doctor may also perform certain tests to help make an accurate diagnosis.

Yes! Treatment options for mitigating effects from ANV include drug therapies such as antiemetics (anti-nausea agents), psychotherapy including behavioral techniques like relaxation training (breathing exercises & visual imagery) & hypnosis; biofeedback techniques (teaching patients how their body reacts to stimuli); environmental modifications like avoiding triggers; lifestyle adjustments such as eliminating caffeine/alcohol consumption & eating smaller meals throughout the day & increasing physical activity levels.

Lifestyle adjustments that may help reduce your likelihood of experiencing ANV include avoiding triggers such as specific foods/smells/environments which could cause nausea/vomiting episodes; eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of large meals all at once; limiting alcohol/caffeine consumption; getting adequate restful sleep each night; reducing emotional stressors where possible; practicing relaxation exercises regularly like deep breathing & progressive muscle relaxation techniques; increasing physical activity levels regularly where able & learning mindfulness techniques like meditation/yoga which enable better stress management & improve overall wellbeing.

Home remedies that may help alleviate symptoms associated with anticipatory nausea and vomiting include drinking clear fluids like water or ginger ale to settle an upset stomach when feeling nauseous/dizzy; using cooling compresses over areas feeling nauseous by placing cold packs on forehead or wrists - this helps reduce peripheral blood flow resulting in decreased heartrate & decrease in nausea sensations - however always check temperature beforehand if using hot water bottle incase too hot! Avoiding trigger foods during times when feeling more anxious about potential episodes occurring would also be beneficial.

Dietary considerations which should be kept in mind when experiencing anticipatory nausea and vomiting include eating bland foods when feeling nauseous eg crackers bread rice etc - these absorb stomach acid thus helping calm an unsettled stomach - small amounts frequently ie 6-8 times daily rather than 3 large meals would also be beneficial - avoid lying down after eating which increases acid reflux chances & avoid greasy sugary fatty spicy stimulating beverages prior triggering episodes.