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Motion Sickness
(Travel Sickness, Seasickness)-
In this factsheet:
- The Facts on Motion Sickness
- Causes of Motion Sickness
- Symptoms and Complications of Motion Sickness
- Diagnosing Motion Sickness
- Treating and Preventing Motion Sickness
The Facts on Motion Sickness
Some people feel very sick while traveling in an airplane, boat, train, or car. They may feel queasy or nauseous or may vomit, and they may have a headache. This condition is called motion sickness.
Children are more susceptible to motion sickness than adults. Motion sickness is rare in those under 2 years of age, but is most common between ages 3 and 12. Women experience motion sickness more than men. It also occurs more often in women during menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Causes of Motion Sickness
When you are in a vehicle that moves continuously with relatively slow and prolonged motion, the organ of balance in their inner ear may be affected, causing motion sickness. Motion sickness is likely to happen if you are also worried about having an attack, if the air is stuffy or filled with fumes, or if you have just eaten a big meal. Looking at food can make motion sickness worse.
In motion sickness, a discrepancy exists between the motion that is expected to occur and the actual motion sensed by the organ of balance in the inner ear. These unexpected signals translate into a confused message by the brain, leading to the development of symptoms. Generally, symptoms disappear once the brain adapts to the new pattern of motion.
Symptoms and Complications of Motion Sickness
Mild motion sickness may cause a headache and make someone feel a little uncomfortable with mild nausea. In severe cases, you may become very anxious, sweat or salivate a lot, become pale and nauseous, and start to vomit. Symptoms of motion sickness usually go away after the motion has stopped but may take up to three days to completely resolve. There are no serious complications of motion sickness to worry about unless vomiting continues to the point where you become dehydrated.
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