Motion sickness, also known as kinetosis, is a common disorder that occurs when the brain receives conflicting information about movement. It is often associated with traveling by car, plane, train, or boat, but can also occur in other situations, such as amusement park rides or motion simulators.
- One in three people suffer from motion sickness at least once in their life.
- There are several strategies to prevent or alleviate motion sickness: fixing your gaze on a fixed point on the horizon, ventilating the vehicle, avoiding heavy meals before the trip, choosing a seat near the front of a vehicle or at wing level in an airplane.
- The train is the mode of transport that causes the fewest sick people, then the car with 3 to 5%, the plane with 5 to 10% and the boat with 25 to 30%.
Motion sickness is caused by a sensory conflict between the information the brain receives from different parts of the body. For example, when you are in a moving car, your eyes perceive the passing landscapes, but your inner ears (responsible for balance) detect constant movement. This sensory conflict can cause unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, headaches and a feeling of general malaise.
The Nauseous Journey: An Adventure of Compassion and Overcoming Motion Sickness
Once upon a time there was a family, consisting of two parents, Lisa and David, and their two children, Charlotte and Lucas. They were excited to go on vacation together and enjoy a car adventure to a faraway destination.
On the day of departure, the family prepared with enthusiasm. Lisa had prepared delicious snacks for the trip, while David checked the tires and engine of the car to make sure everything was in order. The children, excited to begin their adventure, climbed aboard with their favorite toys and books.
The journey began with enthusiasm. The family sang songs, played games, and admired the scenery along the way. However, after a while, Charlotte began to feel unwell. Nausea overcame her and she began to complain of dizziness and headaches. The joy of the journey quickly turned into a trying experience for her.
Lisa, seeing Charlotte’s condition, immediately understood that she was suffering from motion sickness. She herself had been prone to this problem as a child. She knew that the movements of the car could disturb the balance of the inner ear, causing nausea and dizziness.
Concerned for their daughter, Lisa and David looked for ways to ease Charlotte’s symptoms. They stopped regularly to get some fresh air, stretch their legs, and give Charlotte a little rest. Lisa encouraged Charlotte to look at the horizon rather than staring at objects inside the car, which could make her symptoms worse. She also suggested she chew mint gum, which could help calm the nausea.
Despite their best efforts, Charlotte continued to suffer from motion sickness during the trip. She was discouraged and felt guilty about ruining the family’s fun. Lisa and David assured her that they understood and were there to support her.
Finally, after long hours on the road, the family arrived at their destination. Charlotte was relieved to get out of the car and find solid ground under her feet. The nausea and dizziness gradually faded, allowing Charlotte to fully enjoy her vacation.
Lisa and David learned from this experience. They decided to take extra precautions for future car trips, including avoiding large meals before departure and ensuring good ventilation in the car.
Over time, with the guidance and careful care of her parents, Charlotte learned to manage and alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness. Every car trip became a little easier for her, allowing her to fully enjoy family adventures.
The Doctor’s Debrief
Motion sickness… one in three French people
Don’t be surprised by car sickness. One in three people suffer from it at least once in their life. The journeys of three million French people are ruined by car sickness, but there are solutions.
Some people are more likely to experience motion sickness than others. Children between the ages of 2 and 12, pregnant women, people who are prone to migraines, and those with a family history of motion sickness are more likely to be affected.
Only newborns and very old people are almost never affected. But if you are young, fat, or a woman… the risk is high.
Additionally, factors such as winding roads, sudden movements, hot and confined environments, and reading or using electronic devices while traveling can worsen symptoms.
Motion sickness comes from the inner ear where small limestone crystals analyze the balance of our body in three dimensions. Loss of horizon or sudden changes of direction disrupt these measurements. This is erroneous information that then reaches the brain, which panics.
Children are the first victims because they are often made to travel “blindly” and in the past in conditions of heat, space and tobacco smoke that were difficult to bear. Cars have improved considerably, especially with ventilation and space available in the back … And then parents have theoretically stopped smoking … However, screens and game consoles have brought back the risk of being sick. Just like for adults, the fact of traveling in the back or no longer seeing the horizon, when reading for example.
Preventing motion sickness
There are several strategies to prevent or alleviate motion sickness. Common measures include focusing your gaze on a fixed point on the horizon, ventilating the vehicle, avoiding heavy meals before travel, and choosing a seat near the front of a vehicle or at wing level on an airplane.
Although motion sickness can be uncomfortable, it is usually temporary and goes away once the motion stops. With proper precautions and mitigation measures, it is possible to fully enjoy traveling without being burdened by this sensory disturbance.
You need to eat before the trip so as not to have an empty stomach, but be reasonable all the same. Then, do not wait too late to suggest a stop and a little air. By lying down, you reduce as much as possible the movements that will trigger motion sickness. And drink, sweet, from time to time during the trip. Finally, try to control your breathing by inhaling and exhaling deeply.
There is no real miracle drug… There was a time when a product was quite effective but the side effects of which determined survival. Homeopathy is said to be effective. In this area, however, there is no risk in trying it and if it works, it is all profit…
The transport hit parade
The best means of transport is the train with less than 1% of sick people. The car is 3 to 5% of sick people, against 5 to 10% for the plane, 25 to 30% for the boat and the height of discomfort, more than 50% of nausea in space. Which, at millions of dollars per ticket sold to a few billionaires, makes nausea expensive.
But the proof that the shrink is not the main explanation, Man is not the only one to suffer from motion sickness. Cat, dog, horse, cow, but also, what is more comical, the fish, which in an aquarium, on a boat, suffers from seasickness.
