Many
people have feelings of nausea, headache and dizziness whilst
travelling. Sometimes they actually vomit and there is increased
tendency to salivate. Until the 20th century, the most commonly
experienced travel sickness was seasickness. It is still the
circumstance in which motion sickness is most likely to occur,
but it has now been joined by car sickness and air sickness.
Children are particularly prone, older adults rather than young
adults and women more than men. The sickness is due to the over
stimulation of the organ of balance found in the inner ear,
by frequent small movements – as in car sickness – or in large surging movements - as in sea sickness. Another factor that induces sickness is sudden alteration in the perception of the horizon, as experienced by those going up, for the first time, in a light aeroplane. Motion sickness in its most acute form is experienced at theme parks and fairgrounds when rapid changes of movement are experienced on the roller-coaster, roundabouts, etc. The particular problem of motion sickness in everyday life, that usually applies to car and bus travel, is the reluctance of people to travel even short distances lest they feel ill. Children might not want to go to the next town, even for a treat, such is the discomfort.
Over the counter anti-histamine type medications can be bought, without prescription, and some, such as cyclizine and cinnarizine can be very helpful, as can scopolamine (hyoscine) products, available, in some countries, without prescription. During car journeys with children, distraction is important, such as music and games, though reading might make the situation worse. The driver of the vehicle is invariably distracted enough not to get car sick. Sitting in the front of the car or the bus can be helpful. Travelling on a full stomach usually makes thing worse but in a few the opposite seems to apply. Wrist straps, with studs that stimulate the appropriate acupuncture points, are found, by some, to help substantially. |
