Topic Overview
What is motion sickness?
If you've ever been sick
to your stomach on a rocking boat or a bumpy airplane ride, you know the
discomfort of
motion sickness. Although it doesn't cause long-term
problems, motion sickness can make life miserable, especially for people who
travel a lot.
People can feel sick from the motion in cars,
airplanes, trains, amusement park rides, or on boats or ships. Motion sickness
is sometimes called airsickness or seasickness. Video games, flight simulators,
and looking through a microscope also can cause motion sickness. In these
cases, the eyes see motion, but the body does not sense it.
Children from 5 to 12 years old, women, and the elderly seem to be more
susceptible to motion sickness, while it is rare in children younger than age
2.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of motion
sickness are a general sense of not feeling well (malaise), nausea, vomiting,
headache, and sweating.
What causes motion sickness?
Motion sickness
occurs when the
inner ear, the eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send
unexpected or conflicting messages to the brain. One part of your
balance-sensing system (your inner ear, vision, and sensory nerves that help
you keep your balance) may sense that your body is moving, while the other
parts do not sense motion. For example, if you are in the cabin of a moving
ship, your inner ear may sense the motion of big waves, but your eyes don't see
any movement. This leads to a conflict between the senses and results in motion
sickness.
What is the treatment for motion sickness?
It's
best to try to prevent motion sickness, because symptoms are hard to stop after
they start. After motion sickness has started, relief comes only after the
motion has stopped. If you can't stop the motion, you may be able to reduce the
feeling of queasiness by sitting or lying down in an area that appears to move
the least. In an airplane, sit near the wings. On a boat or ship, stay on the
deck, looking at the horizon. Or try to sit or lie down in a cabin near the
center of the ship.
You also can take prescription and
nonprescription medicine to prevent or reduce symptoms
of nausea and vomiting. Most medicines work best if you take them before you
travel. The medicines work in different ways. Some are sedatives that minimize
the effect of motion. Others reduce nausea and vomiting.
Many
people try other methods of preventing motion sickness, such as taking powdered
ginger capsules or wearing acupressure wristbands. It is safe to try these
methods, and they might offer some relief. But there is little evidence that
they prevent motion sickness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about motion sickness: | |
Being diagnosed: | |
Getting treatment: | |
Symptoms
Motion sickness may cause:
- A general feeling of being unwell
(malaise).
- Nausea or vomiting, or
both.
- Headache.
- Cold sweating, which means you sweat
even though you're not overheated.
- A pale appearance.
Symptoms usually go away soon after the motion stops.
Sometimes it can take a few days for symptoms to go away. You may become used
to motion during extended trips, such as on a cruise. If that happens, your
symptoms may subside. But when you are back on land, the lack of motion can
cause symptoms to return for a short time.
Usually, symptoms go
away within 3 days of the end of a trip. If they do not, see your doctor. You
may have another condition that causes nausea and vomiting, such as stomach flu
or an inner ear problem.
Treatment Overview
The best way to treat
motion sickness is to stop the motion. If you can't
stop the motion, sit or lie down in an area with the least motion. In an
airplane, try to sit near the wings. On a ship, stay on the deck and look at
the horizon. Or, if you are inside, move to the center of the ship.
You also can take prescription and
nonprescription medicine to prevent or reduce symptoms
of nausea and vomiting. Most medicines work best if taken before travel. The
medicines work in different ways. Some are sedatives that minimize the effect
of motion. Others reduce nausea and vomiting.
The following
medicines may help prevent symptoms of motion sickness:
- Scopolamine (Transderm
Scop)
- Promethazine (Promethegan)
- Antihistamines, including dimenhydrinate (such as
Dramamine). Do not give your child antihistamines unless your child’s doctor has
told you to. If the doctor tells you to give your child medicine, be sure to
follow the doctor’s advice on how to give it.
People often try alternative methods of preventing motion
sickness such as taking
ginger or wearing
acupressure bands. There is little scientific evidence
that these methods work. But there is no harm in trying them.
Physical therapy may help people who have significant problems with
motion sickness. Your physical therapist will guide you through repeated
motions in a controlled situation to help your balance-sensing system adapt to
motion. No large studies have been done to test this treatment.
Home Treatment
The following tips may help you avoid
motion sickness when you travel:
- When you fly, request a seat near the wings.
When you travel on a ship, try to book a cabin near the middle of the vessel
and near the waterline.
- Move your head as little as possible. Try
to keep your head still by resting it on a headrest. Head movement can increase
motion sickness.
- When you're on a boat, try to get fresh air. When
you're on the deck, look at a fixed point on the horizon.
- When you
travel by car, avoid reading or watching TV or videos.
- Avoid
drinking alcohol or eating a heavy meal before travel.
- Do not eat
or drink during short trips.
- During an extended flight, eat small
meals of foods that are easy to digest before and during a flight to help
reduce nausea and vomiting.
- Try to avoid strong odors and spicy
foods.
If you do have symptoms of motion sickness, the following
may help:
- Eat a few dry soda crackers.
- Sip on
clear, carbonated drinks such as ginger ale.
- Get some fresh
air.
- Lie down or at least keep your head still.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
|
HealthyChildren.org |
| 141 Northwest Point Boulevard |
| Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 |
| Phone: |
(847) 434-4000 |
| Web Address: | www.healthychildren.org |
| |
This American Academy of Pediatrics website has information for parents about childhood issues, from before the child is born to young adulthood. You'll find information on child growth and development, immunizations, safety, health issues, behavior, and much more. |
|
| American Academy of Otolaryngology |
| 1650 Diagonal Road |
| Alexandria, VA 22314-2857 |
| Phone: | (703) 836-4444 |
| Web Address: | www.entnet.org |
| |
The American Academy of Otolaryngology is a society of doctors who
treat ear, nose, and throat conditions. The organization provides information
on a variety of ailments, including dizziness and motion sickness, allergies,
and sinus problems. |
|
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travelers'
Health |
| 1600 Clifton Road |
| Atlanta, GA 30333 |
| Phone: | 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) |
| TDD: | 1-888-232-6348 |
| Email: | cdcinfo@cdc.gov |
| Web Address: | wwwn.cdc.gov/travel |
| |
The CDC's Travelers' Health Web site provides health
information for the traveler. The Web site provides information on
immunizations that are needed for travel to various areas of the world. It also
provides information for safe travel, including traveling with children and
with people who have special needs. Information about current outbreaks of
disease in the world is also provided. The CDC is the leading federal agency
for protecting U.S. citizens' health and safety by providing credible health
information and health promotion. |
|
References
Other Works Consulted
- Jacobs ME, Hawley CG (2007). Seasickness section of
Safety and survival at sea. In PS Auerbach, ed., Wilderness Medicine, 5th ed., pp. 1780–1782. Philadelphia: Mosby
Elsevier.
- Krilov LR (2011). Travel medicine. In ET Bope et al., eds., Conn's Current Therapy 2011, pp. 158–163. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Last Revised | March 24, 2011 |
|---|