Symptoms, Causes, And Cures: What Is Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness affects some people a great deal more than others, depending mostly upon individual physiology and experience. Early experience with moving vehicles seems to desensitize some individuals more than others to the effects of motion sickness. In more common cases, an individual may find it difficult to travel in a car, train, or airplane without becoming ill. More extreme cases may result in sickness even when looking through binoculars or a microscope, or when using a flight simulator or other artificial system of movement. Symptoms range from mild nausea to vomiting and profuse sweating, and may vary based upon the individual and the circumstances.

When one is exposed to the symptoms of motion sickness for an extended period, such as on a cruise or long boat trip, symptoms may fade or disappear completely as the body becomes accustomed to the conditions of movement. Often, when one returns from having become accustomed to circumstances that may cause motion sickness (such as an extended cruise), it is normal to briefly experience the effects of motion sickness briefly once again on solid land. The symptoms of extended motion sickness will usually fade as the motion ceases, but may persist for a few short days--contact a medical professional if symptoms do not disappear within two or three days, as this may indicate that the cause is another condition or a malfunction of the inner ear.

Certain medications may be purchased or prescribed to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness. Some aim to reduce the symptoms of nausea or vomiting, while others work by reducing the perceived effect of the motion itself. Dramamine is a common over-the-counter antihistamine that is suggested for the relief of motion sickness symptoms, and, as with many such treatments, it is suggested that it be taken before the travel that may bring on symptoms of motion sickness. Minimizing the motion that causes the sickness may also help, and it is suggested that if one is on a ship or cruise liner, that looking at the horizon and not the deck of the ship may help resolve the contention between the inner ear and eye, as the horizon will rock along with the boat, reducing the perceived discrepancy. On planes, ticketing a seat near the wing may help to reduce the effects of rocking and perceived turbulence, also helping to eliminate motion sickness.