10 Nov Motion Sickness: Why It Happens
Motion sickness can occur when you’re riding a vehicle, or boat, standing on a boat deck, or being on amusement park rides. There are some people who also experience it when playing video games or virtual reality games.
It happens when your inner ear senses differently from the movement you see. This can also be due to your brain’s inability to process conflicting messages.
Motion sickness symptoms can present themselves slowly or all at once.
Motion Sickness Symptoms
Symptoms of motion sickness include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Salivating more than usual
- Having cold sweats
Certain people are more susceptible to motion sickness, especially if they have the following risk factors:
- Family history of motion sickness
- Inner ear disorders
- Menstrual periods
- Migraine headaches
- Parkinson’s disease
- Pregnancy
There are ways to prevent and manage motion sickness, which can be helpful if you are planning to go on a trip or travel.
Motion Sickness Prevention and Management
If you know that you get motion sickness during a trip or a car ride, you can start by picking where you sit. There are no fool-proof ways to prevent motion sickness, but planning might help with symptoms.
Choose the passenger seat if you are riding a car and the window seat if you are on a bus.
For planes, you should sit in the wing section. If you are on a train, you should choose a forward-facing seat to prevent motion sickness.
Sitting in the middle of the boat on the upper deck can be an optimal spot for those experiencing motion sickness.
It will also help to bring medications that help motion sickness such as antihistamines and patches or oral pills that prevent nausea.
These might help you if you are experiencing motion sickness:
- Get some fresh air
- Look at objects in the distance
- Lie back
- Try ginger or ginger ale to settle your stomach
- Get something sweet
- Take your medications
- Take a break
To get an in-depth look at your motion sickness, a visit to your health care provider might help.
There are no specific diagnostic procedures for motion sickness, but your doctor might recommend a physical examination and check your ears.
It will also help to mention your symptoms and when they started.