Part UT Health San Antonio

Motion Sickness

(Air Sickness; Car Sickness; Sea Sickness)

by Rick Alan
Definition
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention

Definition

Motion sickness is characterized by symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting can be caused by motion itself or simply from feeling the sensation of motion, as when watching a movie or playing a video game.

Causes

Balance and equilibrium are maintained by an interaction among the inner ears, the eyes, pressure receptors on the skin, and motion receptors in the muscles and joints.

Motion sickness results when conflicting messages regarding spatial orientation and motion of the body are sent to the central nervous system. For example, reading a book while riding in a car may cause your eyes to send different messages than your inner ears do regarding motion.

Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Risk Factors

Motion sickness is more common in women and children. Other factors that may increase your chance of motion sickness include:

  • Family members who get motion sickness
  • A long or rough car, boat, plane, or train ride
  • Amusement park rides
  • Migraine headaches

Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Upset stomach
  • Nausea or vomiting

Other symptoms include:

  • Tiredness or sleepiness
  • Sweating
  • Cold, clammy feeling
  • Feeling faint
  • Headache
  • Loss of color, especially in the face

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Treatment

Symptoms of motion sickness usually go away soon after the motion stops. But, for some people, the symptoms can last a day or more. The main treatment for motion sickness is rest.

To help control vomiting, medications may be given rectally or through an IV. If motion sickness lasts a long time, fluids may be given in order to prevent dehydration.

Prevention

Strategies to prevent motion sickness include:

Medications

Medication that prevents motion sickness should be taken as directed before you begin a trip or ride. These medications can cause side effects, such as drowsiness, lack of alertness, or trouble concentrating.

Medications include:

  • Over-the-counter antihistamines
  • Prescription scopolamine
  • Prochlorperazine, promethazine, or chlorpromazine

Repeated Exposure

Repeated exposure to the motion that causes the sickness can decrease your symptoms. This treatment can take time and may be unpleasant.

Alternative Remedies

Commonly used alternative remedies include:

  • A pressure patch worn on the wrist to put pressure on certain points
  • Ginger

Lifestyle Changes

There are steps that you can take to be more prepared:

Before you go:

  • Avoid heavy meals or spicy foods
  • Avoid excess alcohol
  • Get plenty of sleep

For cars:

  • Try to sit in the front seat or volunteer to drive.
  • Don't read while in motion.
  • Eat small, frequent meals or snacks.
  • Avoid excess alcohol.
  • Don't look at moving objects.
  • Ask the driver to slow down or stop if you start to feel sick.

For planes, trains, or boats:

  • Get a window seat and look outside.
  • Sit over the wing on a plane.
  • Sit in the middle of a boat and try to get some fresh air.

Try to avoid amusement parks, virtual reality rides, and movies that may lead to motion sickness.

RESOURCES:

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org

Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.healthychildren.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
http://www.cfpc.ca

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

REFERENCES:

Dizziness and motion sickness. American Academy of Otolaryngology website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/content/dizziness-and-motion-sickness. Accessed February 21, 2018.

Motion sickness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/motion-sickness.htm. Updated May 31, 2017. Accessed February 21, 2018.

Murdin L, Golding J, Bronstein A. Managing motion sickness. BMJ. 2011;343:d7430.

Nausea and vomiting in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T900007/Nausea-and-vomiting-in-adults. Updated September 13, 2017. Accessed February 21, 2018.

Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD  Last Updated: 5/6/2014