Understanding Motion Sickness: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention Strategies

Feeling nauseous or vomiting while traveling by vehicle is a very common problem. In medical terms, this is called 'motion sickness'.

Why does this happen during travel? What is its relationship with the balance of the brain, eyes, and body? Can it be prevented? Today, we will learn about this.

• What is motion sickness?

Motion sickness is a condition in which a person experiences dizziness, nausea (vomiting), headache, or restlessness during travel.

This problem mostly occurs during travel by car, bus, train, ship, or airplane. For some people, this problem is even worse on winding hilly roads. This discomfort in a vehicle is similar to the problems faced during sea or air travel.

Dr. Mohsin Wali, a senior consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, says, 'When we travel, our brain receives different signals from the eyes and ears.'

According to Dr. Wali, 'If you are sitting in a car or bus and looking down or reading a book, your eyes tell the brain that you are not moving (stationary). But the balance system inside the ear tells the brain that the body is moving (in motion). Because of these conflicting signals, the body thinks that some toxic substance has reached your stomach, and the body knows only one way to remove that poison—which is vomiting.'

One way to avoid this is to look far away out of the window. By doing this, the signals coming from the eyes and ears become consistent, and this problem is reduced.

According to a report by BBC correspondent Katia Moskvitch published in 2015, motion sickness is a problem that affects one in every three people. She also found that it is unpredictable who will be bothered by this problem and when, and there is no permanent cure for it.

Regarding this, Dr. Manjari Tripathi of the Neurology Department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) says, 'When our body's balancing system cannot coordinate properly, motion sickness occurs. This system is mainly connected to the balance organ (vestibular system) inside the ear.'

According to her, when we travel by bus, car, train, or ship, the information received by the brain from the eyes, ears, and other parts of the body does not match. As a result, the receptors connected to balance become hypersensitive. This is why certain parts of the brain, such as the brainstem and hypothalamus, are stimulated, and we have to face the problem of dizziness and vomiting.

In simple terms, motion sickness is caused by a malfunction in the balance system inside the ear and the receptors that sense body movement. Dr. Tripathi says, 'Our body has special types of sensors, which we call receptors. They sense external and internal changes and send that information to the brain.'

• Why does vomiting occur during travel?

The problem of vomiting during travel is not the same for everyone. Some people start feeling restless as soon as the journey begins, while for others, this problem appears only after a long journey.

Bumpy roads, hilly roads, constant jerks of the vehicle, and bad odors inside the vehicle can also increase this problem.

According to Dr. Mohsin Wali, there is a fluid in our brain. When this fluid moves, the vibration produced in it reaches the throat. Along with the movement of the throat, this vibration goes to the skull. This process disrupts the balance in the brain, which can lead to problems like nausea, dizziness, and restlessness. When this becomes unbearable, vomiting can also occur.

Dr. Mohsin says, 'All these symptoms combined are called motion sickness.' He also mentioned that the condition of the stomach during travel is important.

• Those traveling on an empty stomach: The 'vagus nerve' of the stomach, which is connected to the nerves of the heart and throat, becomes more active. Its effect is felt on the brain and body, and one feels dizzy.

• Those traveling after eating a heavy meal: Such people may have to face the problem of vomiting. That is why doctors advise eating only light food before traveling.

According to Dr. Wali, motion sickness is not always a problem related only to travel. Sometimes it can be a sign of a brain disease or a side effect of medication. In some cases, motion sickness can be a sign of a brain tumor.

Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor if you vomit repeatedly while traveling.

What to do and what not to do to stop nausea during travel?

If you want to avoid the problem of vomiting during travel, you can follow these things:

• Do not eat heavy meals: Do not eat too much food just before traveling.

• Do not travel on an empty stomach: Definitely eat light food or snacks.

• Use medication on a doctor's advice: If necessary, anti-nausea tablets can be taken.

• Do not sleep in a moving vehicle: Sleeping disrupts balance and increases the chances of vomiting.

• Stop immediately if you feel nauseous: Stop the vehicle on the side, vomit, and only then start the journey again.

• Do not ignore if you vomit a lot: If you are vomiting repeatedly, contact a doctor.

• Do not focus on books or mobile phones: According to a research paper from the National Library of Medicine, reading in a moving vehicle can increase motion sickness.

• Keep the body stable: Minimize the movement of the head, shoulders, waist, and knees. Sit in a forward-facing seat. If possible, drive the vehicle yourself.

• Avoid nicotine: People who smoke are more likely to vomit.

• Listen to soft music: Research has shown that listening to calm and soft music makes one feel less nauseous and makes the journey comfortable.

Is this problem more common in women?

According to Dr. Manjari Tripathi, the problem of motion sickness is seen more in women compared to men. There are many physical and hormonal reasons behind this.

According to experts, the lifestyle of women and men is different. This is the reason why this problem is relatively more common in women.

Regarding this, Dr. Mohsin Wali says, 'The first reason is blood pressure. Generally, the average blood pressure of women is lower than that of men. In cases of low blood pressure, symptoms of motion sickness appear quickly.'

The second reason is postural hypotension. Most women stand for long periods while doing household chores, especially in the kitchen. Standing continuously can lower blood pressure, which is called postural hypotension. This can increase problems like dizziness, nausea, and motion sickness.

Regular hormonal changes in women's bodies are also a major reason. During menstruation, the balance of salt, water, and electrolytes in the body is constantly changing. Excessive bleeding can further lower blood pressure, which increases the risk of motion sickness.

Additionally, according to Dr. Wali, the volume of women's brains is on average about 150 milliliters less than that of men. Because of this, the effect of external influences on the brain can be relatively greater in women.

Low blood pressure, postural hypotension, hormonal changes, and physical structure—all these reasons combined make the problem of motion sickness more common in women.

(Published by Collective Newsroom for BBC)