8 questions about motion sickness

1. Arriving at the destination nauseous is very annoying. Therefore, answer eight questions about what to do about motion sickness.

2. Arriving at your destination nauseous is very annoying. So answer eight questions about what to do about motion sickness.

What is motion sickness?

1. Feeling sick during an artificial movement, such as traveling in a bus or car (motion sickness), airplane (air sickness) or boat (seasickness). The first omens are listlessness, sweating, yawning and fading. Then you get nauseous and sometimes you vomit.

When will it happen?

1. Motion sickness occurs during a movement that you do not cause and over which you have no control. In a bus or car, it mainly happens when the vehicle accelerates quickly, brakes frequently or makes a lot of turns.

What is the cause?

1. The brain knows from information from the eyes, the vestibular organ, muscles and joints what the position of the body is in relation to the horizon. Moreover, they constantly predict what this position will be a few moments later. If the predicted position does not match the observed position, there is a conflict. The brain senses that something abnormal is happening and sends a 'vomiting' signal to the stomach as a warning. The body knows more of these warning signs. For example, immediately pull your finger off a hot object after the signal 'pain'. So in those situations, pain is very helpful. But the usefulness of nausea in a boat, bus or plane is unknown to scientists.

2. The brain knows from information from the eyes, the vestibular organ, muscles and joints what the position of the body is in relation to the horizon. Moreover, they constantly predict what this position will be a few moments later. If the predicted position does not match the observed position, there is a conflict. The brain senses that something abnormal is happening and gives a 'vomiting' signal to the stomach as a warning. The body knows more of these warning signs. For example, immediately pull your finger off a hot object after the signal 'pain'. So in those situations, pain is very helpful. But the usefulness of nausea in a boat, bus or plane is unknown to scientists.

Who is affected?

1. If the movement is strong enough, such as during a storm at sea, almost everyone gets sick. But hardly any child under the age of two suffers from it. Motion sickness is common between the ages of two and twenty. With age, the complaints decrease again. This may be because the brain is learning to adapt more and more quickly to an abnormal situation.

2. If the movement is strong enough, such as during a storm at sea, almost everyone will get sick. But hardly any child under the age of two suffers from it. Motion sickness is common between the ages of two and twenty. With age, the complaints decrease again. This may be because the brain is learning to adapt more and more quickly to an abnormal situation.

What can you do to prevent it?

1. The most important thing is to minimize the conflict between the predicted and observed position. This can be done by taking measures. Take the wheel or rudder yourself, because drivers almost never get motion sick. On a ship, standing or walking and actively balancing can help. Try to sleep, because then you don't have to keep your balance and the conflict is suppressed. Sit where the vehicle moves the least, such as in the middle of a ship or in the front of the bus. Choose a seat in which you drive forward. Consciously look ahead where the vehicle is going. Keep your head still. Don't read. Place children so high that they can see out.

2. The most important thing is to minimize the conflict between the predicted and observed position. This can be done by taking measures. Take the wheel or rudder yourself, because drivers almost never get motion sick. On a ship it can help to stand or walk and actively maintain your balance. Try to sleep, because then you don't have to keep your balance and the conflict is suppressed. Sit where the vehicle moves the least, such as in the middle of a ship or at the front of the bus. Choose a seat in which you drive forward. Consciously look ahead where the vehicle is going. Keep your head still. Don't read. Place children so high that they can see out.

And if that doesn't help?

1. Reduce stomach sensitivity. That is very personal. A light meal beforehand works well for many people. Ginger has been shown to help with nausea in a number of studies. Certain smells seem to evoke motion sickness. For example, you can associate diesel odor with a previous time you became motion sick. Open the window and sniff fresh air can help. Tension intensifies motion sickness. Try to relax, for example by looking for distraction in a conversation or games. Remedies such as cotton wool in the ear, wristband, and homeopathic remedies have not been proven to help. And practical: have a plastic bag handy for vomiting.

2. Reduce stomach sensitivity. That is very personal. A light meal beforehand works well for many people. Ginger has been shown to help with nausea in a number of studies. Certain smells seem to evoke motion sickness. For example, you can associate diesel odor with a previous time you got motion sick. Open the window and sniff fresh air can help. Tension intensifies motion sickness. Try to relax, for example by looking for distraction in a conversation or games. There is no evidence that remedies such as cotton wool in the ear, wristband and homeopathic remedies are helpful. And practical: have a plastic bag handy for vomiting.

Are there any medications?

1. Yes, tablets containing cyclizine, cinnarizine or meclozine can be purchased from a chemist or pharmacist without a prescription. There is also a travel tablet with a combination of a short-acting (chlorcyclizine) and a long-acting (cinnarizine) antihistamine. This makes the product suitable for both short and long journeys. Tablets with cinnarizine are short-acting and suitable from 6 years, tablets with chlorcyclizine are long-acting and suitable from 18 years. This combination pill is the only medicine for motion sickness suitable for children from 2 years. You must take all of these pills one to two hours before you leave. Your doctor can prescribe patches that release scopolamine slowly. Almost all medicines for motion sickness make you a bit drowsy, so it is not recommended to drive when using them.

2. Yes, tablets containing cyclizine, cinnarizine or meclozine can be purchased from a chemist or pharmacist without a prescription. There is also a travel tablet with a combination of a short-acting (chlorcyclizine) and a long-acting (cinnarizine) antihistamine. This makes the product suitable for both short and long journeys. Tablets with cinnarizine are short-acting and suitable from 6 years, tablets with chlorcyclizine are long-acting and suitable from 18 years. This combination pill is the only medicine for motion sickness suitable for children from 2 years. You should take all of these pills one to two hours before you leave. Your doctor can prescribe patches that release scopolamine slowly. Almost all medicines for motion sickness make you a bit drowsy, so it is not recommended to drive when using them.

What if you do get motion sickness?

1. A doctor can prescribe heavier medicines for the next trip. During a boat trip, the seasickness usually disappears after a few days. If you nevertheless continue to vomit for several days, prevent dehydration, for example by drinking water with some salt and sugar in time (as ORS for sale at a drugstore or pharmacy).