Motion Sickness
What is Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness, sometimes called kinetosis, is a condition in which a person feels nausea and dizziness when exposed to certain types of motion. It is also known as car sickness, sea sickness, air sickness, or simulator sickness. Symptoms typically occur when traveling in a moving vehicle, such as an automobile, airplane, or boat. Motion sickness is a common problem, especially for children. The severity of the symptoms may vary from person to person.
Symptoms of motion sickness
The symptoms of motion sickness typically include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Sweating
- Pale skin
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Causes of motion sickness
Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear (where balance is regulated) and the eyes (which provide visual information) send conflicting signals to the brain. For example, if you are sitting in a car and looking at a book, the inner ear will sense the movement of the car, while the eyes will not see any movement. This can cause nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms.
Treatment of motion sickness
Treatment for motion sickness is usually aimed at reducing the symptoms. This can be done by:
- Taking medications to reduce nausea
- Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
- Avoiding reading while traveling in a moving vehicle
- Eating light meals before and during travel
- Sitting in the front seat of a vehicle
- Wearing pressure bands on the wrists (acupressure)
- Keeping the head still and eyes on the horizon
Prevention of motion sickness
The best way to prevent motion sickness is to avoid any activity that causes the symptoms. If you are unable to avoid these activities, here are some tips that may help:
- Avoid reading while traveling in a moving vehicle
- Sit in the front seat of a car, if possible
- Eat light meals before and during travel
- Avoid strong odors and smoke
- Take frequent breaks from activities that cause motion sickness
- Keep your eyes on the horizon and try to keep your head still
- Try not to think about the motion and concentrate on something else
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
- Take medications to reduce nausea, if necessary