Motion Sickness, an Unpleasant Sensation

What Is Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness is an unpleasant combination of symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and vomiting that can happen from any kind of movement. It has been estimated that one in three people may get motion sickness at some point. This condition is commonly seen in women and children aged 2 to 12. But still, the condition can affect anyone.

What Are the Causes of Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness or kinetosis occurs when two motion messages to the brain conflict. One motion message is from the inner ear (controls balance), and another is from the eyes; due to a change in position caused by travel, these two motion messages conflict, causing motion sickness.

Sensory organs play a major role in the mechanism of motion sickness. The sensory organs will inform the brain in what direction the body is pointing, moving, and whether standing still or turning. These messages will be then passed on to the inner ears, eyes, the skin pressure receptors in the feet, muscle, and joint sensory receptors, which track what body parts are moving, and the central nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord for processing all incoming sensory information.

They are also named car sickness, airsickness, or seasickness. People with a history of motion sickness should ask a healthcare provider how to prevent another episode from occurring in the future.

There is a disagreement between the brain's signals from ears, eyes, and other sensory receptors.

• Poor ventilation.

• Traveling by car, train, or airplane.

• Roller coaster or other similar rides in an amusement park.

• Ship or boat rides (seasickness).

• Using a rocking chair or hammock swing.

• Rotating devices such as centrifuges are used in astronaut training.

• Dizziness due to spinning.

What Are the Risk Factors Associated With Motion Sickness?

Prior history of motion sickness causes stress and anxiety, and it can increase the risk. The other factors that can increase the risk of motion sickness are;

• Family history of motion sickness.

• Pregnancy.

• Migraines.

• Inner ear disorders.

• Hormonal birth control.

• Menstrual periods.

• Parkinson's disease.

• Female gender.

• Children between the ages of 2 and 12.

What Are the Symptoms of Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness is a feeling of sickness induced by motion. Dizziness, nausea, and occasionally vomiting, fatigue and pallor (looking pale), non-vertiginous dizziness associated symptoms like headache, loss of or trouble maintaining your balance, malaise (tiredness), weakness, increased saliva production, cold diaphoresis (cold sweat), and flushing. Short, shallow, and rapid breathing will also be present.

What Are the Tips to Prevent Motion Sickness?

• Avoid excessive food and liquids that make you feel full.

• Avoid smoking.

• Avoid alcohol while traveling.

• Eat a light meal or avoid food altogether before traveling.

• Heavy food, spicy, fat-rich food makes one more sick.

• Avoid foods that do not agree with you.

• Sit in the front seat in the car or choose a comfortable seat.

• Avoid reading or watching movies while traveling.

• Do not sit in a backward-facing seat.

• Look straight ahead at a fixed point.

• Do not read while traveling.

• Maintain a reasonably straight-ahead view.

• Sit where there is fresh air while traveling.

• Take medication for motion sickness at least 30 to 60 minutes before traveling.

• Do not travel during difficult weather conditions like storms, large waves, air turbulence.

• Avoid traveling in rough terrain, where frequent acceleration and deceleration will occur.

• Avoid traveling where visibility is reduced.

• Avoid watching or talking with a co-traveler who is having motion sickness.

• The head can rest on the back of the seat.

What Is the Favorable Position With Least Motion?

• Plane: Over the wing.

• Car: Front seat (driver or passenger).

• Boat: The level closest to the water surface with a face towards the waves and away from the rocking bow.

• Bus: Sit near the front at the lowest level facing forward.

• Train: Sit at the lowest level facing forward.

How to Treat Motion Sickness?

The symptoms of motion sickness will stop once the motion stops. But medication can help manage the condition during travel.

An antiemetic is a group of drugs that help control motion sickness symptoms. Over-the-counter medicines, Meclizine, can be very effective. Medications such as Meclizine (Antivert, Bonine, Meni-D, Antrizine, Phenergan, Phenadoz, Promethegan), Promethazine, Scopolamine (transdermal patches, Transderm-Scop), Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and Cyclizine (Marezine) can be very helpful.

Before taking the medications for motion sickness, read the precautions on the package because most of these drugs may have side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, blurry vision, or disorientation. These medications should not be taken by people who drive vehicles or operate heavy equipment.

What Are the Home Remedies for Motion Sickness?

Treatment for motion sickness usually consists of simple changes in the environment, which includes:

• Getting fresh air.

• Biofeedback training.

• Relaxation techniques.

• Acupuncture.

• Herbs like ginger, peppermint, and tea.

• Essential oils.

• Lemon.

• Pickle juice.

• Lozenges.

• Candies.

• Face forwards and turn the air vents towards your face.

What Is the Prognosis of Motion Sickness?

We cannot cure motion sickness completely, but its symptoms can be controlled or prevented. People respond well to the treatments, and it can also help prevent the symptoms.

What Are the Complications of Motion Sickness?

Complications with motion sickness are not usually seen, but it may cause dehydration, electrolyte problems, or a lower esophageal tear due to severe or continuous vomiting when left untreated.

Conclusion:

Motion sickness is the unpleasant sensation that causes nausea and dizziness while riding in a moving vehicle. Nearly all people are affected with motion sickness, and most people will experience motion sickness at least once in their lifetime. Astronauts in zero-gravity space also suffer from motion sickness called the space adaptation syndrome. This condition cannot be cured but can be avoided and managed.