Written By: Nirmalya Dutta | Published : June 12, 2014 8:38 AM IST
He is perhaps the greatest player to ever play the game but Lionel Messi's tendency to vomit before and during football matches has many fans and experts worried. However, his father Jorge Messi looked to allay fears and said it was nothing to be concerned about.
Messi was seen vomiting and then receiving a tablet from the bench during Argentina's 2-0 victor over Slovenia in a warm-up match on Saturday and the forward has was also seen vomiting in a friendly match in March against Romania. The same incident occurred in a Supercopa game for Barcelona against arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2011.
But Jorge Messi said that, although the retching could be caused by the pressure of professional football, it was nothing to worry about. 'This subject has been around for years now,' he said. 'The necessary studies were done at Barcelona. All the doctors say there is no need to be concerned. It does not just happen to him, but to other great athletes in other sports too. 'It is a bit about the stress, or a little stomach problem, but there is nothing else. There is no need to give it too much attention, he must take precautions and nothing else.'
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella echoed Jorge Messi's words, putting the vomiting down on Saturday down to 'anxiety more than anything,' while Lionel Messi himself has previously played down the problem. Perhaps the Argentine forward can take a pointer or two from great rival Cristiano Ronaldo who never seems to get anxious and thrives in big occasions.
Why do we vomit?
Cause # 1: Stress, fear and anxiety
Symptoms: Stress, fear, and anxiety can cause the body to function abnormally resulting in a number of stomach and intestinal distresses including nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and even Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Stress and fear cause extra adrenaline to be released in the body causing an imbalance in your digestive system.
What you can do about it: Nausea due to a fearful situation is temporary and you don't have much to do about it as it goes away once the situation is resolved. Try to relax. Stress and anxiety, on the other hand, are more chronic and you need to address the underlying causes of the same to get rid of the symptoms. It is better to get professional help for your stress and anxiety. Your doctor may prescribe some antibiotics to ease nausea and vomiting.
Cause # 2: Overeating and eating disorders
Why: Overeating causes nausea because your digestive system fails to process the food properly. It is very common in people who have a weak digestive system or those who have had surgery that reduces the functional capacity of the digestive system.
What you can do about it: Starchy but not greasy food normalizes the rhythm of gastric contractions and helps lower nausea. If overeating is the cause, try aromatherapy with essential oils of lemon, mandarin, (any citrus scent for that matter), lavender, or mint. Try chewing on peppermint to relieve nausea. Read more
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