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VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: lek. med. Grzegorz Prasałek, pediatrician

Motion sickness (kinetosis) affects mainly children, but every tenth adult does not "grow out" of it. When he rides a car, takes a boat or flies a plane for a long time, he feels terrible, he has dizziness, and is tired to nausea and vomiting. Motion sickness cannot always be fully prevented, but it is always a good idea to relieve your symptoms.

How is it formedmotion sickness( kinetosis ) Each of us - collecting and comparing various information - creates a "map" of our own body and the image of what is happening to it. His sense organs provide him with this information. The most important of these is the labyrinth, the tiny organ of balance in the inner ear. It allows us to determine where is up and down and in what direction we are moving (even with our eyes closed).

Of course, the impressions registered by the labyrinth are verified by eyesight. The information delivered to the brain via the so-called receptors of deep sensation (they are found in muscles, joints, skin and tell us the position of individual parts of the body) and the sense of touch (it determines the position of the body in relation to the ground).

Motion sickness: irritated labyrinth and vomiting

It happens that signals reaching the brain through different senses contradict each other. Such situations include, among others trip. On a ship, for example, the labyrinth feels rocking and the eyes look at the calm horizon; in a comfortable car, we see that we are moving at high speed (landscapes flit outside the window), and we are sitting comfortably in the armchair. This is where trouble starts.

In hypersensitive people, prolonged, monotonous movements of the head during travel shocks irritate the labyrinth and disrupt its function. The labyrinth then wrongly determines the position of the body and the data necessary to maintain balance. This makes you feel dizzy. We have the impression that everything is spinning around. When we look at the flashing landscapes outside the window, these ailments intensify. They are often accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. Nystagmus may also appear - involuntary eye movements continue for a while after stopping the car (they are almost imperceptible).

Motion sickness: unpleasant symptoms

Disruptions in the labyrinth work also disturb our balance. Happensthat we have trouble getting out of the vehicle, and even have a hard time standing. Hypersensitive people who have an irritated spiral organ (cochlea) in their inner ear may experience unpleasant tinnitus and hear muffled sounds. In kinetosis, the pulse frequency is also disturbed, the skin turns pale and it is difficult for us to breathe. If such a malaise has accompanied us on a trip before, then we feel badly mentally bad for the next trip. Then we start to react almost hysterically to the trip. If, by the way, the journey is really not comfortable (tight, stuffy, exhaust fumes) - the ailments usually worsen.

  • Meniere's disease. Sudden dizziness may be a symptom of Meniere's disease
  • Labyrinthitis: causes and symptoms

Ways to alleviate motion sickness)

  • If you suffer frommotion sickness,try to travel by rail (it rocks least on the train).
  • If you have a choice, decide to drive a larger car, with a "stiffer" suspension (you will have a feeling of space), with air conditioning.
  • When driving a car, always sit with the window slightly open.
  • When taking a seat in a large vehicle, sit facing the direction of travel, in the place where it sways least: on the ship it is amidships, on the plane - around the wings, on the bus and train - away from the axis of the wheels.
  • While traveling, do not look in one direction and at the objects moving outside the window for a long time; look far, over the horizon.
  • Don't read; engage in social chatting or listening to quiet music.
  • If possible, lie down or recline with your head supported during your journey.
  • Before leaving, do not overeat, but also do not go on an empty stomach. Eat a light meal one hour before the trip. Don't drink too much, especially sugary and fizzy drinks. Avoid s alt before a long journey - it increases the amount of fluid in the labyrinth tubules and aggravates the ailments.
  • If you feel nauseous while driving, stop for a moment and take a dozen or so deep breaths in the fresh air.
  • When discomfort occurs, apply cool compresses to the forehead and neck.

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Neurology