Don’t ever tell the parents of a child who vomits within fifteen minutes of the start of a car trip that motion sickness is all in the mind. This malady is very real and about 50% of children under the age of twelve experience the symptoms. However the good news is, a number of youngsters out-grow the problem. But, motion sickness isn’t just a problem for kids since many adults are also prone to this problem. Cold sweats, pallor, dizziness and vomiting are all symptoms of motion sickness.
The illness is explained by doctors as a mismatch between the message reaching the brain from the eyes and the contradictory information arriving from the ears-which register balance.
When the inner ear is jostled, say while sailing on rough waters or flying through turbulent skies, it sends signals to the brain letting it know the body is off balance. This in turn triggers dizziness and nausea. Even if you’re in a ships cabin, for example, not even looking at the waves, the body can still easily detect motion.
Watching a fast-moving movie that mimics a roller-coaster ride or small plane can also make some people sick. The eyes tell the brain that they’re being tossed around, even though they are sitting perfectly still in their chair.
The way to deal with motion sickness is to reconcile the two messages, as much as possible. Generally, the greater the motion, the worse the nausea. Sitting between the wings of a plane can help. The middle section of any size boat is usually the best place to stay.
Eating heavily is to be avoided as large quantities of food or drink sloshing around in your stomach tends to increase the feeling of motion. Several studies have shown the type of meal you consume before you fly or sail may influence whether or not you’ll get motion sick. In one study the dietary intake of professional pilots, both men and women were compared to the incidence of air sickness.
The results found eating high-sodium foods such as luncheon meat, or potato chips and that eating high protein food such as meat and cheese, correlated highly with motion sickness. Pilots who ate fewer calories and included carbohydrate-rich foods like bread and cereals in their meals had an overall lower rate of sickness.
There are several varieties of over-the-counter medications for motion sickness, though many have side effects. Dry mouth, drowsiness and blurred vision are three common side effects. Drugs like Dramamine work by blocking nerve signals between the inner ear and the part of the brain that triggers vomiting. Those who dislike the idea of drugs can try elastic wristbands, which claim to exert pressure on acupuncture points.
Many physicians believe the best cure is scopolamine. Available in prescription only, this is a patch you wear behind the year. The medication is absorbed directly into the skin and blocks the nerve signals from the inner ear. The patch has been refined over the years and the newest version reportedly causes fewer side effects. Step aboard any cruise ship and scan the passengers, you’re sure to see the little skin-colored patches.
For those who put faith in herbal cures, ginger is a popular choice. Ginger in the form of ginger ale, ginger pills, or hard candy, has long been regarded as an antidote for nausea and vomiting, resulting from motion sickness. Historically, ginger has been considered good for indigestion.
Back in the science lab, however, researchers have yet to show unequivocally that ginger works as a remedy for people who turn green when the going gets bumpy.
Finding the right type of drug can be an individualized process of trial and error. What works well or one person, may not work for another.
Some additional suggestions to combat motion sickness are:
-If riding in a car, stick to the front seat
-Focus your eyes on the horizon at all times
-Relax, take deep breaths and get fresh air
-Don’t drink alcohol before or during a trip
-Don’t try to read while in motion
-Avoid cigarette smoke or other strong smells
