Does your travel plan get hampered due to the dread of motion sickness when riding on a plane, boat, or car? If you feel the mobility making you nauseated, dizzy, or vomiting, read our tips to beat motion sickness.
What is motion sickness and why it happens?
People are established to process motion, but there are individuals who aren’t as grasping as others. Most experts see that motion sickness is caused by the battle of senses, a condition where there’s a conflict among the five senses.
Sensory conflict happens when there’s disagreement in your sense outputs. Balance is another body function you need to understand due to its nature of info gathering
For instance, reading inside the car sets off your balance, because your eyes tell you everything’s still, but in fact, your other emotions can detect motion. The same is true when you’re on a plane, boat, or elevator.
Overall, motion sickness is thought of as a conflict in the ears, eyes, and sensory receptors.
Symptoms of motion sickness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Drooling
- Short breath
- Headache
Who gets motion sickness?
Everyone experiences some kind of motion sickness when they’re traveling. Age is never a factor in sensory conflict, so kids shouldn’t be too worried about it unless they’re susceptible to the condition.
Not everyone gets sick when they travel. There are certain factors that may cause it. However, these do not guarantee tolerance to sensory conflict.
Possible causes of motion sickness
- Location. For example, people below deck and in closed quarters may be susceptible to motion sickness. The cabin or room they find themselves in may look still, but, in truth, their balance sensors can tell they’re moving.
- Prone to headaches or migraines. People known to have headaches and migraines more often find motion sickness common also. Any movement which can trigger their dizziness will make them more at risk of the condition.
- Activity in location. Are you reading a book or playing with your smartphone inside the car, boat, or train? What you do in a moving transportation or area can increase the chance of getting motion sickness.
- Poor cognizance. People with slow cognizance or are prone to confusion get poor updates from the brain sensors. This may cause unbalance as your mind is telling you one thing and another. If you’re already stressed with the situation, it can increase the likelihood of motion sickness.
- People with brain injury or trauma. A brain injury is a reason for damaged sensory receptors, thus, leading to unbalance and confusion among your senses.
These are possible reasons for one to have motion sickness; however, it’s no guarantee that all people will be feeling it. This baffles scientists and doctors as to why there are those who are prone to sensory conflicts and impervious to it.
Remedies and tips to beat motion sickness
Motion sickness is distressing to people who travel a lot. And if you think it’ll stop when the motion causing it ends, guess again. Some people may experience the symptoms for a few days after their journey.
Sit in a convenient location or position
Place yourself in a position where your eyes and sensory functions can experience the same movement your body feels. Ideally, sitting by the window on a plane or bus can reduce motion sickness.
Do not read or play games
Limit your reading or playing activity inside a moving vehicle. You can do that later once the motion comes to a halt. If you’re bored, listen to soothing music where it calms your senses and improves cognizance abilities.
Look at distant greens
If you’re in a car, bus or plane, look for distant greens and savor the scenery. It can reduce the sickness as it refreshes the eyes. If you’re on a boat, try going up the deck and watch the horizon.
Sleep if you can
Sleep is usually the resolution to avoid conflict of senses. It eases the balance of the ears, eyes, joints, and muscles. This method, however, is not advisable if you travel to a mode of public transport like buses.
Chew gum or ginger
Chewing is a common method for relieving motion sickness. For one, it can reduce air pressure in the ears which can trigger headaches and conflict in sensory receptors.
Pack medications
Medications are best taken 20 to 30 minutes before you travel. Always pack one during your trip and pop on before you start reeling in pain.
Limit food intake
If vomiting is a regular occurrence, try limiting your food intake and avoid spicy, heavy meals before your journey. It can even worsen the symptoms caused by the condition.
Talk to a doctor
Motion sickness can be caused by excessive migraines or headaches in the past. If you have a history of brain trauma, it can even worsen the effects of the condition. Discuss things with your doctor on how to minimize its effects. He or she may prescribe you with medication or diagnosis.
