Motion sickness explained: Why cars, planes, boats can make you sick and what you can do to prevent it
Motion sickness used to be something people mainly associated with rough seas and sailors clutching the rail. These days it shows up in far more ordinary places. A winding road, a bumpy train ride, a flight with a bit of turbulence, or even the simulated movement of a virtual reality headset can leave someone feeling awful.
The symptoms often start within minutes of the motion and can hang around for hours after everything has stopped. For many people it is an occasional nuisance. For others it quietly rules out whole categories of travel and activity, sometimes even changing the direction of a career.
How the body signals distressThe early signs are often subtle. A person may suddenly feel warm, a bit sweaty, and oddly dizzy. A headache or wave of tiredness can follow. If the motion continues, nausea usually arrives and can progress to vomiting. The whole episode can leave someone drained long after the car has parked or the plane has landed.
Scientists still do not have a complete explanation for why this happens. One long-standing idea is that motion sickness is the result of conflicting information arriving at the brain. When someone reads a book in a moving car, the eyes report a still page while the inner ear detects acceleration and turns. That mismatch creates confusion as explained by Paul DiZio, a cognitive neuroscientist at Brandeis University as reported by the New York Times.
He also stressed on a more recent theory that focuses on prediction. The brain builds a quiet internal model of how a particular movement should feel. When the actual sensory signals do not match that model, the brain treats the situation as potentially dangerous, almost as if a toxin has entered the system, and triggers the protective response of nausea and vomiting.
Who feels it most stronglyNearly everyone can become motion sick under extreme conditions, but sensitivity varies widely. Children tend to be more affected than adults, possibly because they have had less time to get used to certain kinds of movement. Research consistently shows that women experience motion sickness more often than men. Genetics appear to play a sizable role, with one study suggesting that between 57 and 70 percent of a person’s susceptibility can be traced to inherited factors.
Kristen Steenerson, a vestibular neurologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, noted, people who already deal with migraines, especially vestibular migraines that bring dizziness or vertigo, often find themselves more vulnerable.
For some of them, ordinary activities can be enough to set symptoms off: watching a fast-paced action film, unloading the dishwasher, or simply reading while sitting still. The same person who feels wretched in a car may happily ride roller coasters. Individual triggers can be surprisingly specific.
Practical steps that often helpMedication remains one of the most reliable options for prevention, provided it is taken before the motion begins. Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Dramamine and Bonine work for many people, though drowsiness is a common side effect as Dr Steenerson informed.
Scopolamine, available as a patch placed behind the ear, helps some travelers but can cause dry mouth and is generally not recommended for children or older adults.
Behavioral strategies can also make a difference. Drivers often feel better than passengers because they control the vehicle and can anticipate the road.
Passengers who sit toward the center of a car and keep their eyes on the horizon tend to do better than those who look down or to the side. On planes the seats nearer the wings usually move less; on boats the best spots are often above deck where the horizon is visible. Simple measures such as controlled breathing, fresh air, calm music, or mild scents like rose or lemon sometimes ease symptoms.
Evidence for ginger and most other supplements is mixed, and studies of acupressure wristbands and special motion-sickness glasses generally show results no better than a placebo.
Building longer-term toleranceWhen everyday strategies fall short, some people turn to specialized physical therapy. A therapist trained in vestibular rehabilitation can help identify the exact motions that trigger symptoms and then guide the person through carefully controlled exposure. The process is gradual and often uncomfortable, yet Dr. Steenerson said that it can be highly effective if someone sticks with it. “It takes time and it’s unpleasant,” she noted, “but if you put the time in, it can work really, really well.”
Paying attention to personal patterns also helps. Knowing which situations are manageable and which are not allows people to plan around their limits rather than be surprised by them.
The symptoms often start within minutes of the motion and can hang around for hours after everything has stopped. For many people it is an occasional nuisance. For others it quietly rules out whole categories of travel and activity, sometimes even changing the direction of a career.
How the body signals distressThe early signs are often subtle. A person may suddenly feel warm, a bit sweaty, and oddly dizzy. A headache or wave of tiredness can follow. If the motion continues, nausea usually arrives and can progress to vomiting. The whole episode can leave someone drained long after the car has parked or the plane has landed.
Scientists still do not have a complete explanation for why this happens. One long-standing idea is that motion sickness is the result of conflicting information arriving at the brain. When someone reads a book in a moving car, the eyes report a still page while the inner ear detects acceleration and turns. That mismatch creates confusion as explained by Paul DiZio, a cognitive neuroscientist at Brandeis University as reported by the New York Times.
He also stressed on a more recent theory that focuses on prediction. The brain builds a quiet internal model of how a particular movement should feel. When the actual sensory signals do not match that model, the brain treats the situation as potentially dangerous, almost as if a toxin has entered the system, and triggers the protective response of nausea and vomiting.
Who feels it most stronglyNearly everyone can become motion sick under extreme conditions, but sensitivity varies widely. Children tend to be more affected than adults, possibly because they have had less time to get used to certain kinds of movement. Research consistently shows that women experience motion sickness more often than men. Genetics appear to play a sizable role, with one study suggesting that between 57 and 70 percent of a person’s susceptibility can be traced to inherited factors.
Kristen Steenerson, a vestibular neurologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, noted, people who already deal with migraines, especially vestibular migraines that bring dizziness or vertigo, often find themselves more vulnerable.
For some of them, ordinary activities can be enough to set symptoms off: watching a fast-paced action film, unloading the dishwasher, or simply reading while sitting still. The same person who feels wretched in a car may happily ride roller coasters. Individual triggers can be surprisingly specific.
Practical steps that often helpMedication remains one of the most reliable options for prevention, provided it is taken before the motion begins. Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Dramamine and Bonine work for many people, though drowsiness is a common side effect as Dr Steenerson informed.
Scopolamine, available as a patch placed behind the ear, helps some travelers but can cause dry mouth and is generally not recommended for children or older adults.
Behavioral strategies can also make a difference. Drivers often feel better than passengers because they control the vehicle and can anticipate the road.
Passengers who sit toward the center of a car and keep their eyes on the horizon tend to do better than those who look down or to the side. On planes the seats nearer the wings usually move less; on boats the best spots are often above deck where the horizon is visible. Simple measures such as controlled breathing, fresh air, calm music, or mild scents like rose or lemon sometimes ease symptoms.
Evidence for ginger and most other supplements is mixed, and studies of acupressure wristbands and special motion-sickness glasses generally show results no better than a placebo.
Building longer-term toleranceWhen everyday strategies fall short, some people turn to specialized physical therapy. A therapist trained in vestibular rehabilitation can help identify the exact motions that trigger symptoms and then guide the person through carefully controlled exposure. The process is gradual and often uncomfortable, yet Dr. Steenerson said that it can be highly effective if someone sticks with it. “It takes time and it’s unpleasant,” she noted, “but if you put the time in, it can work really, really well.”
Paying attention to personal patterns also helps. Knowing which situations are manageable and which are not allows people to plan around their limits rather than be surprised by them.
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