General Information About Motion Sickness
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is an autonomic nervous system response that occurs due to conflicting signals sent to the brain by the body's various sensory systems (eyes, inner ear, and muscles) while in a moving vehicle.
For example, while sitting in the cabin of a ship, your eyes see that the walls around you are stationary. However, the fluid in your inner ear perceives that you are rocking with the waves. The brain interprets this conflict as 'poisoning' and initiates a vomiting reflex.
It progresses as a feeling of discomfort in the stomach, severe nausea, cold sweating, paleness of the skin, excessive yawning, dizziness, and ultimately, vomiting.
The predisposition to motion sickness is much higher especially in children between the ages of 2-12, pregnant women, and individuals with a history of migraines.
Sitting in the front seat of the vehicle, looking at a distant, fixed point (the horizon), avoiding reading or looking at a phone during the journey, and opening the window to get fresh air alleviate the symptoms.
Antihistamine or anticholinergic drugs (e.g., dimenhydrinate) taken 30-60 minutes before the journey to prevent nausea suppress the sensitivity of the inner ear. Additionally, scopolamine patches applied behind the ear are also highly effective.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
