What is motion sickness? How is it treated?


Do you experience nausea or sickness while travelling? Or you know anyone who feel the same? Well, the condition is called motion sickness which you experience while riding on a boat or ship and travelling by bus or car. This happens because, motion is sensed by the brain through different pathways of the nervous system including the inner ear, the eyes, and the tissues of the body surface, which doesn’t occur when the body is moved intentionally, like walking.

In this article, 3MEDS, the best healthcare service provider in India, explains the causes of motion causes along with some remedial methods.

Causes of Motion Sickness

Basically, motion is sensed by the brain through different pathways of the nervous system including inner ear, the eyes and the tissues of the body surface. Conflicts among the senses, causes motion sickness. For instance, when an individual is on a ride at the fair, and it’s spinning around and upside down. The eyes see one thing, the muscles feel another, and the inner ears sense something else. The brain can’t take in all those mixed signals and result in the feeling of dizziness and sickness.

Symptoms of Motion Sickness

Very primary and common symptom of motion sickness are mild nausea and headache. Some of the serious symptoms are vomiting, pallor, sweating, drooling, short breath, dizziness and drowsiness. Few other symptoms include, sweating, general feeling of discomfort and not feeling well or malaise. While, mild uneasiness and yawning are mild signs.

Diagnosis of Motion Sickness

In most of the cases, motion sickness is self- diagnosable. In case of serious complications, visit a physician specialised in diseases of the ear, balance and nervous system. Doctor may enquire about the symptoms and figure out the cause of the same. No laboratory tests are needed to diagnose the condition of motion sickness.

Treating Motion Sickness


Medications

1.      Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)- This over-the-counter antihistamine, used to ease allergies, helps with balance, too. The first dose should be taken about an hour before traveling. More doses are taken every 4 to 6 hours.

2.      Scopolamine (Maldemar)- This is a prescription medication. Your wear a patch behind the ear. You apply it 4 hours before needed. A dose lasts 3 days.

3.      Some of the other drugs include,

4.      Cyclizine including Marezine, Marzine and Emoquil

5.      Meclizine such as Antivert and Bonine

6.      Promethazine like Phenadoz, Phenergan and Promethegan

These medications can be bought at any online chemist shop.

Home care

1.      Gazing at the horizon- helps to re- orient the inner sense of balance by providing a visual confirmation of motion. So, look out of the window and look toward the horizon in the direction travel.

2.      Take a nap with eyes closed- cancels the input conflict between the eyes and the inner ear

3.      Chew on something- has an uncanny effectiveness for easing travel sickness especially while travelling by car

4.      Let in some fresh air- to relieve the feeling of travel sickness

5.      Gingery effect- Some of the ginger products like tablet form or fresh stem of ginger, can be taken to reduce motion sickness.

6.      Go for acupressure- can ease the symptoms of motion sickness, by stimulating the healing sites with finger pressure.

Preventing Motion Sickness

1.      Always sit is a position where there is least motion

2.      Don’t consume alcohol, dairy products, large meals or food, high in salt, protein or calories while travelling

3.      Distant yourself from unpleasant odours that might trigger nausea.

4.      Avoid smoking

5.      Don’t look or stare out of the window, s the moving objects or scenery will worsen the sickness.

Ending note

Many research suggests that children aged between 3 to 12 years, are susceptible to motion sickness than adults and is often experienced while travelling by road. Since, motion sickness is one of the symptom related to many health complications, it might get you worried with a state of mind of assuming things. Kindly avoid yourself from placing in a dilemma, visit a physician or doctor at the nearest and clarify your doubts. The condition is self– treatable in many of the cases. 

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