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What is motion sickness?
Motion sickness is an illness that arises suddenly. Movement, such as travel in a car or on a plane, or some visual activities, like playing video games or watching spinning objects, can lead to motion sickness. Symptoms of motion sickness include nausea, dizziness, sweating and vomiting.
What causes motion sickness?
Motion sickness results from mixed messages being sent in different areas of the brain, which can include the inner ear, the eyes and the sensory receptors, such as the muscles and the skin.
Treating motion sickness
A number of medications, including over-the-counter agents and prescription products, can be used to treat motion sickness. Antihistamines can provide relief from the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, but these medications can cause drowsiness, and non-drowsy antihistamines are not effective.
Consuming dry, bland foods like plain crackers and clear, carbonated drinks like ginger ale can help to reduce the symptoms of nausea. Peppermint may also be effective; it is available in the form of mints or as an aromatherapy agent.
Preventing motion sickness
Numerous strategies have been found to decrease the likelihood of experiencing motion sickness. In addition, scopolamine is an FDA-approved medication that comes in the form of a pill or a patch that has been shown to prevent motion sickness.
Choosing the proper seat may decrease the likelihood of motion sickness, depending on the mode of transportation. The best positions include: a cabin in the middle of the ship; a window seat over the wing of a plane; a forward-facing seat on a train; or the front seat in a car. If you are the passenger in a car, do not read or look at electronics.
Do not consume alcohol or heavy, greasy and/or acidic foods before traveling. Avoid other products, such as caffeine and tobacco, that may negatively affect circulation. Drink water before a trip begins and continue drinking it throughout the trip.
Avoid other passengers who are experiencing motion sickness, as well as strong odors. A full night’s sleep before travel may also minimize the chances of developing motion sickness.
Additional information can be found on these websites:
http://www.entnet.org/content/dizziness-and-motion-sickness
https://familydoctor.org/condition/motion-sickness/