Discover the surprising reasons behind car sickness and learn how to reduce its effects on your travels.
Understanding Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is a generic term that encompasses all sorts of travel sickness, including sea sickness, air sickness, and car sickness. It’s not a sign of weak character, but rather a result of sensory conflict between the body’s visual stimuli, proprioception, and vestibular system.
Motion sickness is a common condition that occurs when the body receives conflicting signals from the senses, causing dizziness and nausea.
It can be triggered by various factors such as traveling in a car, boat, or plane, reading or watching screens while moving, or even virtual reality experiences.
According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), approximately 33% of people experience motion sickness at some point in their lives.
Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, and stomach discomfort.
What Causes Motion Sickness?
The most widely agreed-upon explanation is the ‘sensory conflict theory‘. When one of these mechanisms isn’t in sync – for example, reading a static page in a car while the vestibular system senses movement – it confuses the brain. This neurological tension triggers common symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
Sensory conflict theory proposes that conflicting sensory inputs can cause cognitive dissonance, leading to discomfort and anxiety.
This theory suggests that the brain struggles to reconcile disparate sensory information, resulting in a sense of unease.
Research has shown that sensory conflicts can occur in various situations, such as when visual or auditory cues contradict each other.
For example, watching a movie with poor sound quality can create a sensory conflict between what is seen and heard.
Understanding sensory conflict theory can help individuals better navigate complex environments and reduce feelings of discomfort.
Factors Influencing Motion Sickness
Several factors influence a person’s proneness to motion sickness. Age is one factor: motion sickness tends to peak in children between 8-12 years old. Research also suggests that people assigned female at birth are more likely to experience motion sickness than those assigned male at birth, although the reason for this isn’t clear.
Why Some People Are More Susceptible
Some individuals may be better at adapting to strange new motions than others. Those who are ‘naturally coordinated‘ and can learn new motor skills quickly are less at risk of motion sickness. Others, however, take longer to adapt and are more prone to experiencing it.
Can Motion Sickness Be Reduced?
There are two approaches to dealing with motion sickness: behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral measures include sitting in the front seat, keeping eyes on the horizon, avoiding reading and screens, and trying ginger. Pharmacological options like over-the-counter medication and transdermal patches can also be effective, but timing is crucial.
Ginger has been shown to alleviate motion sickness symptoms.
Consuming ginger tea, candies, or supplements can help reduce nausea and vomiting.
Peppermint oil is another natural remedy that can be inhaled to ease discomfort.
Acupressure bands, which apply pressure to the P6 or Nei-Kuan point on the wrist, have also been found effective in reducing motion sickness symptoms.
A Word of Caution
It’s essential to note that motion sickness is not a sign of weak character or delicate nature. Some people are simply more sensitive to motion. By understanding the causes and factors influencing motion sickness, individuals can take steps to reduce its effects and enjoy their travels without discomfort.
- theguardian.com | Why do I get car sick and my boyfriend doesn’t? I asked experts
