Motion Sickness (Kinetosis)

Motion sickness is also called kinetosis, it is a condition in which there is a disagreement exists between visual perception and the vestibular system’s sense of movement. Depending on the cause it can also be referred to as carsickness, seasickness, simulation sickness, airsickness, or space sickness.

Kinds

Airsickness: due to air travels like riding a plane
Seasickness: on a boat, due to rocking motion of the boat
Simulation sickness: caused by playing computer/simulation/video games.
Space sickness: for astronauts in space flights

Causes

Brain senses movement by getting signals from your inner ears, eyes, muscles and joints. When it gets signals that do not match, you can get motion sickness.

Motion sickness is a common problem in people who travels by train, car, airplanes and most especially those who rides a boat. Motion sickness can start suddenly, with a uneasy feeling and cold sweats. It can then lead to nausea, dizziness and vomiting.

Your location on where you sit can make a difference. The car’s front seat, first cabins of a train, boats’ upper deck and wing seats of a plane may give you a smooth and pleasant ride. Looking out into the distance while traveling rather than read or look at something inside the vehicle can be a big help to combat motion sickness.

Symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of motion sickness include:

•    Nausea
•    Paleness of the skin
•    Cold sweats
•    Vomiting
•    Dizziness
•    Headache
•    Increased salivation
•    Fatigue

Sopite syndrome is also a side effect of motion sickness; usually dizziness, fatigue, and nausea are the most common symptoms. When the motion causing nausea is not addressed immediately, the person who is experiencing motion sickness will vomit. But, unlike those ordinary sickness, vomiting due to motion sickness helps to relieve the nausea. People and animals who possesses abnormality in their vestibular system are immune to motion sickness.

Treatment

Common suggestion is simply look out of the window of the moving vehicle and to gaze unto the horizon in the travel direction. It helps to reorientation the inner sense of balance by providing a visual reconfirmation of motion.

If traveling by sea at night, just simply take a nap and the motion sickness will dissipate.

Cool, Fresh air can also help to relieve motion sickness although by little significance, foul odors can which can worsen nausea due to motion sickness

Ginger root:
a mild anti-emetic and sucking on crystallized ginger or sipping ginger tea can help to relieve the nausea due to motion sickness

Flower essence:
apply topically, on the temples and inside the belly button

Peppermint:
In tea form, relieved nausea due to motion sickness

Prevention

The following general measures can to avoid or lessen discomfort due to motion sickness:

Don’t read while traveling
If applicable, use head rests to minimize head movements.
Maintain proper ventilation to decrease foul odors that may cause nausea.
Stay occupied to distract the mind from thinking about motion sickness.
Eat light meals that are low in calories in the 24 hours before air travel.
Avoid salty foods and dairy products before air travel.
Eat foods high in carbohydrates before air travel.