Introduction
Motion sickness is a common condition, occurring due to conflicts among the senses. It happens because of the difference between actual motion and expected motion. Motion sickness disrupts travel but can be managed effectively. Proper treatment enhances well-being and prevents accidents caused by sickness while driving. This knowledge helps you to manage motion sickness and enjoy smoother journeys.
Source: Deep AI
Causes of Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is caused due to confusion of signals in the brain. Lets understand through an example:
Suppose you are sitting in the roller coaster, it’s moving you upside down, you are seeing something, your inner ears sense something else and your muscles feel some other thing. Your brain can’t take these mixed signals and gets confused, as a result you are feeling sick and a little dizzy. It is also known as ‘Kinetosis’.
- Role of the inner ear and vestibular system
The inner ear is a part of a network called ‘Vestibular System’. It detects the head movement and sends signals to the brain, when a person is experiencing motion the brain gets mixed signals from eye, inner ears , muscles and joints hence, the person feels dizziness and sick during traveling through car, train, airplanes and some people experience the same when sitting on rides at fairs.
Symptoms of Motion Sickness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling irritated
- Headache
- Salivating excessively than usual
- Rapid breathing
- Sweating
Effective Treatments and Preventive Measures
- Don’t eat heavy meals. You can eat light meals that include low fat and bland starchy food before travelling.
- Redirect Your gaze can help you to prevent dizziness. Avoid reading books, using phones/tablets, instead focus on the objects in the distance or closing your eyes also helps.
- Get some fresh air. If you are in a vehicle, rolling your windows will ease symptoms of rapid breathing.
- Change your seat. Always avoid sitting by the windows, as it can make you feel dizzy. Instead, sit in the middle and focus on the front.
- Try Ginger/Peppermint as it prevents nausea and vomiting.
- Take a break. If you are travelling for a long journey, taking a break and stretching your body helps you.
- Medications: You can also take medicines to avoid the symptoms. Medicines like antihistamines such as Dimenhydrinate, can be taken for allergies and also ease motion sickness symptoms.
There are many Scopolamine Patches present in the market to prevent nausea and vomiting. You have to stick it behind your ear at least 4 hours before travelling.
Note: Consult your physician before taking any of these pills as they have some side-effects too and are not suitable for childrens.
Conclusion
Motion sickness, caused by conflicting sensory signals, can significantly disrupt travel but is manageable with effective strategies including medications, behavioural adjustments and alternative therapies. Preventive measures such as choosing the right seat, focusing on the horizon can also help reduce susceptibility. However, research should focus on developing more effective treatment options with fewer side effects to enhance travel comfort and safety.