Motion sickness...what causes it and how do you protect yourself from it?

Arabia Weather - Have you felt dizzy or dizzy when sitting in a moving vehicle such as a car, plane, or ship? This vertigo is called motion sickness, but what does it mean? What are its symptoms, causes, and how to treat it?

What is motion sickness?

Motion sickness refers to the feeling of nausea and perhaps vomiting and dizziness when we are subject to movement, whether we are traveling on ships or boats, or inside cars or airplanes. Motion sickness may also occur while riding rides in theme parks, and sometimes even while watching 3D movies, and this type is known as digital motion sickness.

What happens inside the body of a person suffering from motion sickness is that some sensory organs begin to send inaccurate nerve signals to the brain related to movement and the body’s location in space. This can lead to a feeling of dizziness or even nausea.

Although motion sickness is not dangerous, it may cause general discomfort to the affected person while traveling or moving from one place to another.

Causes of motion sickness

Vertigo usually occurs when the body is at rest while some objects are moving around it and the body feels that movement as if it were sitting in a moving vehicle. This can cause conflicting neural messages coming from different sensory sources.

There are some things that increase the possibility of motion sickness:

1. Sitting in a moving vehicle such as airplanes, cars, trains, ships, and buses.
2. Sitting in the back seat of a moving vehicle and not being able to see the street clearly.
3. Trying to read a book while sitting in a moving vehicle.
4. Focus on scenes that involve fast movement.
5. Practicing various recreational activities that include real or virtual fast movement, such as some amusement park games and some activities that rely on virtual reality.

It is worth noting that motion sickness in some rare cases may be caused by the following:

1. Having a health problem in the inner ear, such as ear infections or fluid accumulation in the ear.
2. Having Parkinson's disease.

Groups most susceptible to motion sickness

• the elderly
• pregnant women
• Children aged 5 - 12 years
• People with migraine

Symptoms of motion sickness

• General feeling of discomfort
• Exhaustion and fatigue
• Cold sweats
• Increase in saliva secretions
• Dizziness
• Pale skin
• headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• yawn
• Breathing difficulty
• Anorexia

Does motion sickness last long?

Typically, the effects of motion sickness subside once the flight is over, and symptoms often disappear completely within 24 hours. However, a person should see a doctor if motion sickness persists long after the trip ends or if they notice any of the following symptoms:

1. Symptoms persist annoyingly.
2. Hearing is affected or hearing problems occur.
3. Chest pain appears.
4. Significant worsening of symptoms.

These conditions could be indicators of another health problem that requires medical attention.

How is motion sickness diagnosed?

Diagnosis of chronic motion sickness depends on the patient's medical record and questioning him about the symptoms and their relationship to riding transportation or traveling. Next, the doctor performs a physical examination to rule out other diseases that could explain the symptoms. Motion sickness is usually diagnosed based on symptoms and medical history, not special laboratory tests.

Preventing motion sickness

• Sitting in the front seats when riding a car or bus.
• Choose a window seat while on planes or trains.
• Lying down, closing your eyes, or staring at the horizon helps relieve motion sickness during travel.
• Keep the body hydrated by drinking water, and reducing caffeine intake.
• Eat several small meals instead of large meals.
• Avoid smoking.
• Trying to distract yourself with other activities, such as listening to music.
• Use flavored emulsions, such as ginger candy.

Motion sickness treatment

Most cases of motion sickness are mild and their symptoms subside once the triggering agent has passed. But in rare cases, the cause of vertigo can be pathological and needs treatment, such as vertigo caused by problems with the ear or nervous system.

Motion sickness can be treated and its symptoms relieved in several different ways, whether through medical treatment or natural means. For more information on how to deal with motion sickness and relieve its symptoms

Relieve dizziness in natural ways

Alleviating dizziness in natural ways can help reduce the severity of the accompanying symptoms. Here are some tips that you can follow before engaging in the activity that causes dizziness:

1. Eat only a light meal in the time before engaging in the activity that causes dizziness, and it is preferable to avoid traveling on an empty stomach.
2. Avoid drinking alcohol before engaging in the activity that causes motion sickness.
3. Reserve a front seat in transportation such as car, bus or train.

While engaging in the activity that causes dizziness, you can follow the following tips to relieve symptoms:

1. Try to relax as much as possible and breathe deeply and regularly with your eyes closed if you feel symptoms starting.
2. Focus on a stationary target and look at it, such as looking at the horizon while riding a boat.
3. Avoid reading books or focusing on fast moving things.
4. Chewing gum can help in some cases.
5. It is believed that eating some natural nausea-reducing foods such as ginger and mint can help reduce symptoms.

However, people with severe cases of motion sickness or chronic conditions should consult a physician for appropriate evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Reducing dizziness with medical methods

To relieve dizziness with medical means, some options can be discussed with your doctor to help alleviate the symptoms associated with motion sickness. Some medication options include:

1. Some types of antihistamines can be used to reduce symptoms.
2. Possible use of Scopolamine or Hyoscine, which can help reduce dizziness.

In addition to drug treatments, there are some other therapeutic methods that can be effective and do not require a prescription, but their effectiveness can vary from person to person. Among these means:

1. Use: Patches that are placed on the skin and usually contain a medicinal substance that is breathed through the skin to help reduce symptoms.
2. Using Acupressure bands, which are usually placed on the wrist and aim to stimulate specific points in the body to reduce dizziness.

However, you should always consult a doctor before starting any drug treatment or treatment method to ensure that it is suitable for the individual's condition and is safe.

Sources:

• webteb
• altibbi