Motion Sickness Prevention and Remedies
No matter what the mode of movement? in the air, on the ground, or on the water the result can be motion sickness. While many experts believe there may be a genetic tendency involved, they aren’t exactly sure why some people get sick from riding in a car, boat, plane, or train. If you do, you’re not alone. Motion sickness caused some pilots to drop out of training during World War II. And to this day, NASA astronauts are constantly combating this side effect brought on by weightlessness and space.
Motion sickness is believed to occur when the balancing system gets overloaded by the messages it’s receiving from the eyes and inner ears. The brain responds to the conflicting messages by creating some of its own. “The first signs are usually sweating, hyperventilation, and light- headedness,” says Michael S. Morris, M.D., an otolaryngologist and assistant professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.
For some people, these reactions and the others associated with motion sickness, such as nausea, can be brought on merely by walking down the aisles in a supermarket or watching telephone poles whipping by a car window, says John Youngblood, M.D., associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and president of the Austin Ear Clinic. And some people can get “motion” sickness from the sounds they hear, says Herbert Silverstein, M.D., president of the Ear Research Foundation and Florida Otologic Center in Sarasota.
No matter what the cause, once the symptoms set in, it’s virtually impossible to stop motion sickness from running its course, says Silverstein. That’s why it’s important to try to prevent the symptoms before they have a chance to take hold. Here are some techniques you can try to keep motion sickness from setting in:
Look off into the distance. Not to daydream, but to focus on a steady point away from the rocky boat, plane, or car, to help you get your bearings. “Look as far to the horizon as you?can,” says Silverstein. This helps counteract the conflicting messages the brain is receiving from the topsy-turvy surroundings.
Stay on deck. If you’re on a boat, going inside or below deck will only intensify the symptoms. Instead, stay on deck so you can look at the horizon to help your body cope.
Sit over the wing of the airplane. “The wing is the most stable part of the plane, since the plane’s body pivots on it,” says Youngblood. And if you can get a window seat in this midsection, all the better. Then you can look out and set your sights far from the plane if you should get queasy.
Face forward on the bus or train. This is so you can see the road ahead of you instead of concentrating on the busy movement taking place to the sides. And if you can, take a seat, because standing can also bring on motion sickness.
Volunteer to drive. Drivers are so busy watching the road that they’re less apt to get carsick. If you haven’t got a license, your next best bet is to “sit in the front seat so you can also anticipate the upcoming bumps and turns and, as a result, be less likely to get sick,” says John W. House, M.D., associate clinical professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles.
Eat a little or don’t eat at all. About an hour before you leave, eat some plain crackers or a piece of bread or toast, some experts suggest. Others, such as Silverstein, recommend not eating at all before a trip to help keep your stomach calm and empty, in case you should start to get nauseated.
Avoid “heavy” foods and odors. For some unknown reason, the smell of spicy or greasy foods and strong odors can prompt motion sickness before or during a trip, reports the American Academy of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery in Alexandria, Virginia.
Say no to alcohol. Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during a trip. “Alcohol goes through the bloodstream and into the inner ear, stimulating it and making a case of motion sickness even worse,” explains Silverstein.
Take it easy. After the first signs of illness, close your eyes and stay still until the queasy sensations pass, says Silverstein.
Stay calm, cool, and collected. “For anyone who’s had motion sickness, just the thought of being in the same situation again can cause fear and anxiety, which can bring on a bout of motion sickness,” says Silverstein. The same goes for those who are anxious about what they’re about to do, like flying in a plane or riding in a boat. Try to stay as calm and relaxed as possible. Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and tell yourself that you will not get sick.
Leave your reading at home. Reading causes your eyes to move back and forth, so they are not fixed on a single point. At the same time, your body is sensing, and reacting to, the movement from your ride. The result: sensation overload and motion sickness. For the same reason, an action-packed movie on a plane may cause you to feel ill. On the other hand, “if the movie is not too visually demanding, it just may do the trick to help you relax, forget your fear, and prevent you from becoming sick,” says Silverstein.
Try over-the-counter remedies. Antihistamines,?such as Dramamine, Bonine, and Marezine, should be taken at least an hour before the trip for maximum effectiveness. “This gives the medication enough time to be absorbed into the bloodstream,” says Youngblood. Always check the label for possible side effects, such as drowsiness or blurred vision, and take necessary precautions, such as not driving a car.
Stay away from others who are sick. The power of suggestion is very strong, especially if you have a tendency to get a bit “green” yourself. As callous as it may sound, let someone with a sturdier stomach tend to the sick; you should be looking at the horizon or at another steady point in the distance.