Have you ever been sick to your gut on a rocking boat or on a bumpy road trip? If you do, you obviously know what we’re talking about. Yes of course, we’re talking and about to tackle on the discomfort you get on motion sickness.
Motion sickness isn’t a prolonged experience nor a long-term problem, however, it could make your life miserable. But, what is motion sickness anyway? What causes this sickening condition? And how can we treat or prevent it from occurring?
First and foremost folks, motion sickness (also known as travel sickness, seasickness, car sickness or air sickness), is a term that describes an unpleasant combination of motion sickness symptoms, such as; uneasiness or sweating, dizziness, nausea and vomiting that may occur when you’re travelling.
This makes you feel really sick that you’d like to throw up everything you take in! GOSH!
We get this gruesome feeling when one part of our balance-sensing system (inner ear, eyes, and sensory nerves) senses that your body is moving whilst the other parts don’t. For instance, if you are in a cabin of a moving ship, your inner ear may sense the motion of waves, but your eyes don’t see any movement. Our brain holds details about where you are and how you’re moving. It constantly updates information from our eyes and those network of sensory nerves. These nerves channel the fluids in our inner ear, which gives our brain a sense of motion and balance.
Therefore, when there’s conflict between our senses, that leads to motion sickness.
- As much as possible, sit on the front seat of the car. You may use a pillow or headrest to help keep your head as still as possible.
- Do not read.
- Always keep your eyes fix on the horizon or land.
- Rest your head to keep it still.
- Keep away from smoke.
- Turn the AC or air vents towards you face, or keep the windows open.
- Don’t drink alcohol or eat a heavy meal prior to traveling. You should be well hydrated throughout your journey by drinking water.
- Don’t eat or drink during short trips.
- Try to avoid strong odors and spicy foods, they believe to be gastric irritant which provokes vomiting.
- When on the plane, avoid sitting towards the front of the aircraft or in a seat over the wing.
But if we felt like getting motion sickness already, how can we treat it?
Motion sickness symptoms are mild and self-treatable, they can usually be relieved by using these techniques such as:
- Fixing your eyes on the horizon and KEEPING STILL.
- Distracting yourself by listening to music.
- Trying to relax and keeping calm about the journey.
However, in severe cases and those that become progressively worse deserve medical attention of a physician with special skill in diseases of the ear, balance (equilibrium), and the nervous system.
Image Credits: medicalnewstoday, wisdomtimes, barringtonreview
