How to fight against motion sickness?

How to fight against motion sickness?

Travel sicknessVery common in children from 3 to 12 years old as well as in women, motion sickness often results in headaches, dizziness, nausea, cold sweats and vomiting. Where do these troubles come from and how to put an end to them? 

 

Why do we suffer from motion sickness?

 

To locate themselves in space, human beings use three main sources of information from:

 

eyes: thanks to the vision of the horizon line which indicates the positioning of the skull in space

the inner ear: it perceives the movement of the body through "small balls" (the otoliths) which roll according to the movements of the head

muscles: the receptors that criss-cross them provide a perception of the body in space

These informative flows are transmitted to the brain which uses them to determine the position of the body in relation to space. If they seem contradictory, the body is no longer able to make a clear judgment on reality. It is therefore the supply of incoherent and contradictory information that the brain cannot decipher and use that causes motion sickness, also called motion sickness or cinepathy.

 

Here is an example illustrating the causes of motion sickness: imagine that you are in a moving car and you are reading a book. Your muscles sense that you are still in your seat. Your eyes scan the book, which is also immobile, but they also capture, on the periphery of their field of vision, the landscape that passes around you. In addition, your inner ear detects that you are in motion because of decelerations, accelerations, swings and turns. As a result, this contradictory information reaches the brain which cannot interpret it and which then triggers symptoms (feeling of malaise, headache, pallor, dizziness, nausea) forming motion sickness.

 

Sea sickness

 

Like all motion sickness, seasickness is caused by the discrepancy between the different information perceived by your body, in particular between what your eye sees and what your center of balance transmits to your brain. It affects approximately 25% to 35% of individuals who travel by boat. The symptoms are identical to those of other motion sickness such as a strong urge to vomit, stitches in the ears or head and itchy eyes. This discomfort usually disappears after two or three days.

 

Below are some precautions to combat seasickness:

 

Don't panic and try to stay calm. Indeed, worry is a breeding ground for motion sickness.

Sleep as well as possible the day before your departure and eat lightly, while avoiding tobacco and alcohol. Do not wait to be hungry or thirsty to snack or drink something, because hypoglycemia and dehydration cause dizziness, a gateway to seasickness.

Dress according to the weather so you don't suffer from the heat or the cold. Remember to take an extra woolen coat to ward off the cold offshore wind.

During the trip, sit in a well-ventilated area and in the middle of the boat to enjoy maximum stability. Do not climb to the top of the ship, as the ranges of motion are more felt there. Flee the holds because of the smell of fuel oil and the confinement. Avoid following the ship's wake or movements and all activities that strain your eyes such as reading or playing video games.

If you must eat during the crossing, prefer starchy foods and avoid fat. For the drink, opt for a cola soda. Serve it several minutes before drinking it to let as much gas as possible evaporate.

If you feel the first signs of uneasiness, go up to the deck for some fresh air and fix your attention on the horizon or the coast. Choose a sun lounger and turn in the direction of the boat's travel. With your head propped up in a pillow, your sight will quickly resynchronize with your balance and the feelings of discomfort will gradually disappear.

Airsickness

 

Air sicknessThis motion sickness affects between 0.5% and 10% of individuals on long and medium-haul flights. Half of student pilots are sensitive to it during their training. Cabin pressurization is the main cause. Indeed, the air pressure in the plane is lower than that on the ground and the air is also drier there.

 

Stress is also an important factor in triggering airsickness, the main symptoms of which are bloating, headaches, nausea, feelings of heaviness in the legs, hearing problems and dry eyes.

 

Here are some tips to protect yourself against it:

 

Avoid being tired before the trip by trying to sleep well the night before departure.

Eat light, favoring healthy and simple foods such as cheese and bread while avoiding cabbage, pulses and milk. Banish stimulants such as alcohol, coffee, tobacco or carbonated drinks.

Reserve a seat in the center of the plane. It is near the wings that the turbulence is weakest.

During a long flight, get up frequently and take a few steps to avoid becoming numb.

Provide small eye drops if you are prone to dry eyes.

On takeoff and landing, chew gum or suck on a candy, swallowing helps relieve pressure in the inner ear.

It is recommended to drink 1 liter of water every 4 hours of flight in order to rehydrate your body and optimize your blood circulation.

Being sick in the car or on the train

 

When you travel on earth with the car or train, it is mainly the oscillations due to winding roads, sudden accelerations and decelerations that cause kinopathy. The phenomenon is less amplified during train travel since it only affects 1% to 4% of passengers. This is explained by the fact that it is rolling and transverse movements that affect the body by creating motion sickness.

 

A few tips to avoid it in the car:

 

Do not eat too large a meal before departure and ban alcohol. Drinking a ginger infusion 3 to 4 hours before leaving is ideal.

During the ride, avoid reading or following a moving object. Instead, fix your gaze on the horizon through the window while resting your head against the back of your seat. Also drink plenty of water and open a window slightly for ventilation.

If possible, ask the driver to drive at a constant speed in order to minimize accelerations, decelerations and sudden movements of the car. You can also drive if you have a driving license. Concentrating on driving will quickly dissipate feelings of discomfort. Failing that, sit up front next to the driver so you can watch the road through the windshield. Try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Schedule frequent breaks to get some fresh air, exercise and stretch your legs. Do not eat in the car, because the smell of food may cause nausea.

If you take the train:

 

Sit in the direction of the walk. Choose a location in the center of the train and away from windows to avoid being tempted to watch the passing landscape.

Ban any visual simulation like reading or playing video games and try to keep your eyes closed as much as possible.

Avoid smoking areas and do not smoke during the ride.

Do not leave on an empty stomach and drink sugary drinks during the trip, especially fruit juice or soft drinks opened in advance to allow the majority of the gas to dissipate.

Managing children's motion sickness

 

children car sicknessChildren are the main victims of motion sickness, especially between 3 and 12 years old. To fight motion sickness, which can weaken your child, you can take a few precautions:

 

Give him a good night's sleep by asking him to go to bed early and waking him up only after all the preparations are done, to limit his stress and excitement.

Give him a fairly hearty meal like English breakfast, with fruit and yogurt. Coffee with milk is to be avoided because it is difficult to digest.

If you know he is prone to motion sickness, give him an antihistamine an hour before departure.

Organize activities to capture his attention during the journey. Songs, games, riddles or exploration of historical places during the stops are good diversions.

When traveling by car

 

Video games and reading are to be banned throughout the journey.

Put on soft music with a low volume level.

Take regular breaks, normally every 2 hours. This will allow him to get some fresh air and stretch his legs at the same time.

Choose the highway where you can drive at almost constant speed. Drive calmly to avoid sudden accelerations and decelerations.

Cool the cabin by opening the windows slightly to renew the air.

Put your child in a position that avoids movement as much as possible. If you are bringing a baby, lay him in a carrycot to help him fall asleep more easily.

If, despite these precautions, the child feels unwell, ask him to look out the window and breathe deeply. Stop at the nearest parking area to allow him some fresh air.

Always keep a disposable bag in the car in case your child vomits. There are models on the market that feature an absorbent pad capable of turning smelly regurgitation into an odorless gel. Don't forget baking soda, which makes cleaning easier and eliminates odors.

Among grandmother's recipes that can work, you can try the piece of plaster stuck on the navel, the lemon to sniff or the branch of parsley tied around the neck, your child's magical thinking will do the rest...

Motion sickness is a gene that it is better to anticipate by adopting the right attitudes. Many techniques can prevent the onset of signs of discomfort and thus make the trip much more pleasant. And you, do you have any other tips that you think are effective in combating motion sickness?