Why does an adult get sick in the car?

Motion sickness in the car: why and what to do?

Motion sickness in vehicles is a fairly common problem that affects people of any age. Nausea and dizziness can ruin the experience of any trip, even the shortest one. Why do these symptoms occur, and what to do if you get carsick?

Why do you get motion sickness in the car?

Regular motion sickness in the car can indicate a variety of problems in the body. However, most often the pathology is caused by a malfunction of the vestibular apparatus. Thus, the most common causes of motion sickness are:

• discrepancy between the information the brain receives from sensory and visual organs. In simple words, a person sees movement outside the window and is aware of the fact of moving in space, but the muscle tissue is at rest, which causes a mismatch in the general data in the brain. The nervous system begins to “panic”, sending impulses to the body. As a result, a person experiences breathing problems, his heart rate increases, sweat appears and a feeling of nausea appears;
• hereditary factors. Often the cause of motion sickness lies in a hereditary predisposition. If the child’s parents suffered from this pathology in childhood, then there is a high probability that the baby will experience similar problems. Usually in this case, motion sickness goes away on its own by the age of 12-13, but sometimes a problem with the vestibular system bothers a person throughout his life.

In addition, motion sickness in transport is observed in people with a poor sense of balance. In this case, you can cope with the problem through special training. In addition, there are a number of predisposing factors. These include:

• sudden vibrations while the car is moving - this includes sudden braking and acceleration, as well as driving on an uneven surface;
• eating disorders - fatty foods, alcohol or soda drunk shortly before the trip can cause the problem;
• chronic diseases - pathologies such as gastritis, stomach ulcers or cholelithiasis cause an increase in receptor sensitivity. People with such diagnoses may experience symptoms of motion sickness even with minor changes in the movement of the car;
• disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system - in this case, the situation can be stabilized by taking certain medications;
• optical disturbances - a rapid change of picture outside the window leads to overexcitation of the nervous system, as a result, the perception of information in the brain is impaired and the person experiences characteristic symptoms;
• pregnancy - in this case, symptoms of motion sickness can appear both throughout pregnancy and at its individual stages. Usually, after childbirth, a woman’s condition quickly stabilizes.

In addition to the above, very often people with psycho-emotional disorders suffer from motion sickness. In any case, if you have this pathology, you need to see a doctor who will prescribe adequate treatment to eliminate the pathology.

What to do if you get motion sickness in the car

To cope with embarrassment and prevent motion sickness in vehicles, you can use the following tips:

• if you are a passenger, try to take a seat next to the driver. Looking at the road through the windshield will reduce the likelihood of motion sickness;
• if you feel nauseous, try to distract yourself, for example, you can sing a song or start a conversation with other passengers;
• Drink as much clean drinking water as possible. Under no circumstances take food or alcohol with you on your trip;
• try to fix your head in one position. Special horseshoe-shaped pillows are very suitable for this purpose;
• Try not to look out the side window. If you cannot control yourself, hang curtains on the windows;
• Make sure that the car is not stuffy. If necessary, turn on the air conditioner or open the windows slightly;
• try to sleep. This is one of the most effective ways, of course, if you are not a driver. During sleep, your vestibular system will “rest” with you;
• stop reading and watching movies or videos on your phone or tablet. Constantly flashing a picture before your eyes will speed up the process of motion sickness;
• bring candy with you. In addition to candies and caramel, pickled cucumbers or a slice of lemon are a great way to cope with motion sickness. They need to be sucked during the trip.

To avoid motion sickness, listen to your body. In addition to the methods listed above, you can use medications. For example, tablets that are taken 30-40 minutes before the expected trip will relieve you of nausea and dizziness for several hours.

What to do if you get sick in the car and feel sick

In order to neutralize the feeling of nausea and dizziness, it is necessary to coordinate the work of all nodes of the vestibular apparatus. For example, to neutralize the constant flickering of a picture before your eyes, you can use a special mask or curtains on the windows. It is very important to understand what exactly causes an attack of motion sickness. If the provoking factor lies in a strong or unpleasant odor, you can ask the driver to open the window slightly.

If the feeling of nausea takes you by surprise, you can try the following tips:

• Take ascorbic acid. If you know you are prone to motion sickness, carry it with you at all times. If there is none, then you can replace it with lemon, green tea or apples;
• Eat gingerbread cookies. Ginger is an excellent remedy for motion sickness. You can take it not only in the form of cookies, but also as tea, as well as in the form of marshmallows. However, this remedy is not suitable for people with individual intolerance;
• Move your feet. Since the main cause of motion sickness lies in the inconsistency of the information received by the brain, at the first urge to feel sick, you can try to depict movement. To do this, start moving your legs and moving your body back and forth.

If none of the listed methods helps and the symptoms intensify, then you need to stop the car and get out onto solid ground. This is the only thing that will help in a difficult situation.

Why did you get motion sickness in the car and what to do about it?

Good day, dear readers. Probably each of you has experienced motion sickness at least once in transport. Finding yourself in such a situation, the question arose of what to do when you get motion sickness on the road. In this article we will talk about the reasons why a person begins to get motion sickness, how it manifests itself, how it should be dealt with, and how to prevent it.

Classification

In medicine, motion sickness syndrome is called kinetosis. According to statistical data, the population of the entire planet is familiar with this condition. In most cases, it causes seasickness for small passengers.

There are four forms of this condition in total.

1. If nervous kinetosis occurs, then the presence of general weakness, constant drowsiness, pain and heaviness in the head, and dizziness are noted.
2. In the gastrointestinal form, the following may be present: nausea, possible vomiting, a taste of soap in the mouth, increased sensitivity to various odors.
3. In the presence of a cardiovascular form, the following is noted: an increase in heart rate, an erratic rhythm of the heart muscle, an increase in blood pressure.
4. Mixed form. Combines two or all three of the above forms of kinetosis.

Possible reasons

Let's figure out why you get motion sickness in the car, and what may precede it.

1. Failure in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus with the presence of abnormalities in one of the parts of the brain.
2. The result of slight movements of the human body while driving in a car. These movements are noted by the cochlea, while visually the individual does not observe any special changes. The opposite situation may also occur, when the individual practically does not stagger, while he observes how objects move outside the window. Based on these data, we can come to a conclusion regarding the cause that influences the occurrence of motion sickness, namely: the inconsistency of information entering the brain (visual and sensory). Roughly speaking, panic begins in the brain, unconscious functioning of the autonomic system is observed, resulting in rapid heartbeat, fears, and nausea.
3. The presence of a hereditary predisposition.
4. An underdeveloped or untrained balance organ.
5. The following factors may also be at play:

• the appearance of sounds that excite the ear;
• presence of various fears;
• increased air temperature;
• drinking alcohol the day before;
• the presence of odors that repel, for example, tobacco smoke;
• lack of good ventilation in the car;
• the appearance of apathy as a result of emotional stress or fatigue;
• pregnancy.

Characteristic manifestations

The presence of symptoms such as:

• increase in pressure;
• dizziness that becomes more intense;
• severe weakness;
• attacks of nausea followed by vomiting, as a result of a severe headache;
• At the same time, paleness of the skin may be observed;
• loss of appetite;
• the appearance of apathy or the opposite effect - excitement.

What to do if you get seasick

If an adult gets motion sickness, then it is possible to find out what exactly provoked these sensations. We'll talk about how to deal with them later.

1. If you feel nauseous, try to distract yourself, for example, sing a song or start talking to someone.
2. Try to fix your head. It is best to use special pillows.
3. Take lollipops or chewing gum with you to freshen your breath. A slice of lemon, which needs to be sucked during the trip, also helps prevent motion sickness.
4. Take ascorbic acid. If you are aware that you have a predisposition to motion sickness, then you should always carry ascorbic acid next to you. Due to its absence, you can use green tea, lemon or apples.
5. Eat ginger cookies or drink ginger tea if you don't have an individual intolerance.
6. Try to move your legs, as one of the problems may be that the picture seen by your eyes does not match the position of your body, which is motionless.
7. If the nausea still does not go away and it is possible to stop the car, then do so. Sometimes you need to feel the solid ground under your feet and feel the fresh air.
8. You can also resort to the use of medications:

• Vertihogel is a drug that helps resist nausea, vomiting, and saves from dizziness;
• Dramamine – fights dizziness and nausea;
• Avia-sea is a remedy that helps to weaken the effects of the vestibular apparatus, effective in the presence of nausea or vomiting;
• Ginger is a dietary supplement that prevents the development of motion sickness;
• Meclozine is an antihistamine that prevents vomiting.

What to do if you constantly get motion sickness on the road

1. Train your vestibular system. It is necessary to resort to balance and coordination exercises. For example, you can go dancing, ride a carousel, or aerobics.
2. Eye training. Learn to make circular movements with your eyeballs down, up, left, right, in a circle. Do this exercise several times a day.
3. Head rotation can be done both sitting and standing. Looking forward, you need to raise your head up, then move it to your right shoulder, to your left, and lift it up again. Repeat these steps in a circle several times . After this, move on to exercises directed in the other direction. Then start moving your head in a circular motion.
4. Turns in place. You need to stand in one place and then turn around yourself. In the initial stages, this can be literally two turns. It is worth gradually increasing their number.
5. It is also very important to lead a healthy lifestyle.

How to prevent kinetosis

1. If you are sitting in the passenger seat, try to be as close to the driver as possible. It is believed that if you look out the windshield, the likelihood of developing motion sickness will decrease.
2. It is not recommended to sit with your back to the traffic.
3. If possible, open the window and listen to rhythmic music.
4. It is not recommended to eat heavily or drink alcohol before going on a trip, or drink a lot, especially soda.
5. If you are sitting near a side window, try not to watch what is happening behind it.
6. If you are not a driver, you can try to sleep.
7. It is important to ensure that there is no stuffiness in transport.
8. You should not watch movies or play on a tablet or phone while driving, as flashing pictures can cause motion sickness even faster.

Now you know, if you start getting motion sickness, what could have preceded it. When choosing the appropriate way to get rid of this condition, it is worth considering what exactly triggered its development. Remember what to do if you already feel seasick, and what can be done to prevent the occurrence of kinetosis.

Gets sick in the car. Reasons and what to do?

Dear readers! For most of us, traveling by car in anticipation of meeting loved ones, the sea, nature, and other countries is a holiday that brings many positive emotions. Meanwhile, there are people for whom the trip becomes torture; they get carsick. This is most common in children between the ages of 2 and 12, but adults are often affected as well.

Why do you get motion sickness in the car?

Motion sickness when traveling in a car is akin to seasickness; both phenomena in medicine are called kinetosis. For the first time, doctors studied “motion sickness” that occurs during sea voyages. What happens in the body, and what are the causes of illness in adults and children?

Problems appear due to disruptions in the body when exposed to constant fluctuations. There is a mismatch in the data received by the brain from the vestibular apparatus, muscles and organs of vision. The brain is in “panic”; this is similar to a state when a powerful dose of adrenaline is released into the blood; the brain signals danger with dizziness and nausea.

Symptoms of motion sickness can overtake you not only while traveling in a car, but also on a train or plane, swaying on the waves, when you spin on carousels or ride attractions. During monotonous loads, your brain receives contradictory information - the vestibular apparatus signals that the body is at rest, and the picture is constantly changing before your eyes.

This disorder, as a rule, causes dizziness, nausea and even vomiting, although vegetative-vascular dystonia can also contribute to the deterioration of the condition, when the cause of dizziness and even fainting can be stuffiness or overwork.

If you're preparing to travel and aren't sure how your body will react to a long drive, there's a simple test to help determine if you're susceptible to motion sickness. On the monitor screen there are monotonous, sequential changes in moving white and black stripes of the same width; just analyze your feelings after watching the video.

Are you feeling okay? Everything is fine! If you feel discomfort, be prepared for troubles, take medications with you on the road and use our tips on treatment and prevention. In any case, he is aware, which means he is armed.

A child gets sick in the car - reasons

Traveling in a car over long distances is perceived by children as an adventure and is always looked forward to. Scientists, analyzing statistical data, discovered an interesting phenomenon: children under 2 years of age and children over 12 practically do not get motion sickness, and girls are more susceptible to the disease than boys. One cannot discount such an important factor as heredity.

How can we explain the occurrence of problems in this age category? The fact is that the vestibular apparatus, which is responsible for maintaining balance, is located in the inner ear, and the child’s hearing organs are finally formed by the age of 12. For most children, with age, problems associated with motion sickness become less pronounced and subsequently go away completely.

Car sickness - symptoms

Motion sickness in the car can manifest itself in one of the symptoms or several at the same time. You begin to feel discomfort, shortness of breath and dizziness. How can I help you? If measures are taken immediately, the attack will not develop further and will gradually fade away. Miss the moment, you will feel sick, weakness and vomiting will not keep you waiting. Access to fresh air and cessation of movement will quickly normalize the situation. Folk remedies and medications significantly alleviate the condition.

What to do if you get motion sickness in the car?

To reduce symptoms of motion sickness, do not eat before traveling. Have a snack 2-3 hours before you plan to hit the road.

• It is not recommended to have your back to the direction of movement.
• Attempts to deceive the vestibular apparatus give excellent results: move your legs, move your body from side to side, wave your arms intensively, this will reduce the discrepancy in the signals sending commands to the brain.
• One of the causes of motion sickness is reading while moving.
• Tension of the vocal muscles gives good results; their vibration helps to normalize the condition. Sing songs, recite poems, or just talk with fellow travelers. Have you forgotten all your poems out of fear? Mumble the multiplication table.

Pharmacy chains offer a range of drugs that can effectively cope with motion sickness, relieving its symptoms. Please consult your doctor before purchasing them. The main task of medications is to prevent signals from the vestibular apparatus from entering the brain. During pregnancy, you should use folk remedies.

Sour drinks suppress nausea; take still water with lemon with you on the road; your child will happily drink tea with mint or ginger. Ginger capsules also give good results.

Treatment and folk remedies

Despite the fact that in medicine there is a special term - kinetosis, motion sickness is not a disease; its symptoms appear only under certain circumstances and disappear without a trace after you leave the vehicle. If there is no disease, there is no treatment provided. It is only possible to alleviate the condition by taking antihistamines and antiemetics. During pregnancy, only homeopathic remedies are indicated.

• You can suck a piece of lemon, mint or ginger candy, or drink acidified water. A strong pickled cucumber will also work.
• According to Chinese doctors, the points of influence for nausea are on the wrists; they recommend bandaging them tightly before the trip. This advice is widely used by sailors. If nausea still sets in, focus on the point under your earlobe and press it rhythmically.
• Many adults who get carsick in the passenger seat quickly return to normal when they get behind the wheel. The driver must be as focused as possible; attention is diverted from the trees flashing outside the window; ahead is only the road stretching into the distance.
• It is not recommended to drink alcohol or eat heavily before the trip, drink a lot of water, carbonated drinks and sweets are completely unacceptable.
• Traveling at night is easier to endure than traveling during daylight hours.

And one more piece of advice that makes you smile, and yet, in the hope of getting rid of the manifestations of motion sickness, all methods are good. The folk remedy is as follows: cover the navel with a white adhesive plaster crosswise. How effective this technique is is not for us to judge.

Prevention

Our tactic is prevention. If you get motion sickness in the car during a half-hour trip, it's time to train your vestibular system. With regular training, the organ stops responding with excessive stimulation.

The simplest exercise equipment can be a country hammock or a children's swing. In severe cases, patients, under the supervision of doctors, work on specially designed simulators. We often hear that such training does not make sense. We beg to differ, a classic example of their effectiveness is the cosmonaut training program, when they are rotated at breakneck speed on a centrifuge simulator; an ordinary person cannot bear such loads, but trained people can cope successfully.

Dear readers, today you learned how to help yourself and your children if you get carsick. I hope that these useful tips will be useful to you and that any trip in the car will bring a lot of pleasure to you and your children.

What to do if you get motion sickness in the car

An article about what to do if you get motion sickness in the car. Causes of seasickness, methods of overcoming it. At the end of the article there is a video about what to do if you get motion sickness.

The content of the article:

• “Seasickness” - causes and symptoms
• Medicines against kinetosis
• What to do if you get motion sickness in a car
• How to reduce the risk of seasickness when driving in a car
• If the child is rocking
• Hidden syndrome
• Video about what to do if you get motion sickness

All people are susceptible to motion sickness in transport, land, water or air, to a greater or lesser extent. Some people struggle with this disease all their lives, suffering even from traveling on a city bus, while others are completely unaware of it until they change one type of transportation to another. Secondary reasons may be different, but the main one is the concern of the vestibular apparatus about the position of our body in space.

“Seasickness” - causes and symptoms

For the first time, a person encountered motion sickness syndrome while on board a ship, hence the name. However, in our time, “seasickness” most often occurs not at sea, but on roads.

Motion sickness syndrome, or kinetosis in medical terminology, is the body’s reaction to rhythmic, continuous movements that the body senses.

The vestibular apparatus located in the inner ear is responsible for this disease. Its functions are to analyze information coming from outside and, based on the data received, control the position of the body in space.

But when a person gets into a car or on a ship, a conflict between sensations and reality occurs. The position of the body indicates that the person is sitting/standing, but other sensations convince the vestibular system that it is moving. Such a discrepancy provokes a malfunction of the organ, causing symptoms of motion sickness.

There are 4 forms of kinetosis:

1. Nervous kinetosis. The symptoms are:
   • dizziness;
   • headache, heaviness;
   • state of drowsiness;
   • general weakness.

2. Gastrointestinal form. Symptoms:
   • soapy taste in the mouth;
   • nausea;
   • vomit;
   • increased sensitivity to odors.

3. Cardiovascular form. Symptoms of the initial stage:
   • lost heart rhythm;
   • high blood pressure;
   • cardiopalmus.

4. Mixed form. This type of motion sickness is the most common and represents a combination of two or all forms of kinetosis.

Symptoms of long-term motion sickness:

• decreased blood pressure;
• shallow breathing;
• the pulse becomes slow.

For people with heart disease, traveling long distances while experiencing symptoms can be dangerous.

Science has not fully studied the action of the vestibular apparatus; only the general principles of its functioning and the main ways to combat the consequences of this functioning are known. Medicine has not even come to a definite conclusion whether the manifestation of kinetosis is a deviation from the norm or a natural reaction of the body.

Medicines against motion sickness

Medications are quite effective in combating the disease. Many of them are made on the basis of natural ingredients, for example, with mint extract. But almost all drugs have side effects - they cause lethargy and drowsiness. This allows you to lull the vigilance of the vestibular apparatus.

Medicines are suitable for one-time trips and trips, but you won’t take them every day. And the rhythm of life in our time involves the daily use, if not of a personal car, then at least of city minibuses. Therefore, whether you want it or not, you will have to look for other ways to combat this disease.

What to do if you get motion sickness in the car

The first thing you should do is find out the reason. There can be two of them: some specific ailments or the general condition of the body.

If the symptoms of kinetosis are too intense and clearly manifest themselves even during short trips, then you should undergo a medical examination. Some diseases (for example, gastrointestinal) can cause severe motion sickness even in elevators, not to mention while traveling in a car.

The second reason is more prosaic - the general physical condition. Sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, overeating, etc. - all this leads not only to a general depressed state, but also to malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus.

How to get rid of motion sickness syndrome? Here are some important ways:

Healthy lifestyle

Yes, a hackneyed rule that has already set everyone’s teeth on edge. However, this did not reduce its effectiveness. If comfort while traveling in transport is more valuable to you than bad habits, you should start denying yourself them.

Motion sickness syndrome provokes:

• smoking and alcohol;
• fatty, sweet, heavy foods;
• passive lifestyle;
• constant presence in a stuffy room (poorly ventilated office, workshop).

It doesn’t have to be fanatical, but 10 minutes of morning exercise, regular walking and replacing a few extra bottles of beer with fruit juice have never caused serious “damage” to any lifestyle.

Vestibular apparatus training

The vestibular apparatus can and should be trained. Numerous observations have confirmed that people who initially suffered from motion sickness, with constant travel or flights, got used to the new condition and the symptoms disappeared.

To “pump up” the vestibular apparatus, you should pay special attention to coordination and balance exercises. Dancing (especially the waltz), aerobics, carousel rides and other active activities where you need to spin or make sudden movements have a good effect on the state of the body. This is why you should take your children to attractions - such entertainment will help reduce the risk of motion sickness in the future.

If you don’t have the time or desire for such entertainment, you can do simple exercises at home:

Eye training

The simplest thing you can do is make circular movements with your eyes. Up and down, left and right, in a circle. This exercise can be done several times a day and anywhere.

Head rotation

You can perform it standing or sitting on a chair. Looking forward, raise your head up, then move it to your right shoulder, then to your left and up again. Repeat several times, then do the same in the other direction. You can also perform circular movements with your head.

Turns in place

The most effective exercise for balance and coordination. All you need to do is stand in one place and make a few revolutions around your axis. You can start with one or two turns and increase their number as you get used to it.

All of the above will help, if not completely get rid of seasickness, then reduce the intensity of symptoms and turn car trips into a less painful process.

How to reduce the risk of motion sickness in a car while traveling

In addition to the long-term preparation of your body described above, you can also resort to short-term methods.

Have a good rest

A good 8-hour sleep has a beneficial effect on the body and improves well-being. It is especially important to get a good night's sleep before long trips.

Avoid drinking alcohol, limit smoking

If you do not want to lead a completely healthy lifestyle, then at least on the eve of a long trip, give up alcohol and excessive smoking. And of course you shouldn’t drink alcohol while traveling.

Don't overeat

It is best to get into the car 30-60 minutes after eating - the food should be light and in no case greasy. You should also avoid sweets and carbonated drinks.

But breakfast/lunch should be nutritious enough so as not to feel weak.

Eliminate odors during your trip

Avoid wearing perfumes or heavily scented creams or deodorants. And ask other fellow travelers not to do this. Even the faintest smell of cream in the car can cause a headache or nausea. Not to mention harsh or overly sweet perfumes, which even make people resistant to motion sickness feel ill.

This also applies to car fragrances.

Open the window

After smells, the enemy in the car becomes stuffiness and stale air. Be sure to open the window slightly, even if it is cool inside.

Sit in the front seat

And look ahead, concentrating on the road, closer to the horizon or just in the distance. If you can't sit next to the driver, still try to look ahead through the windshield or concentrate on something in the cabin.

Find something to do

Something exciting and active, if not for the body, then for the brain. For example, a game, an interesting conversation, or, in extreme cases, exercises for the wrists - at least something that will help distract the sensory organs from the “non-standard” situation and make it possible to concentrate on something specific.

But under no circumstances should you do relaxing things, such as reading or playing calm music. This will only make the situation worse.

Listen to rhythmic music

One that will take over not only the mind, but also the body. Aggressive rock or fast dance tunes are ideal.

Drink enough (just enough, not too much) fluids

Take plain water on the road, you can add mint infusion or drops to it. Mint has the property of eliminating nausea and the urge to vomit. You can also stock up on mints.

Choose the right clothes

Any discomfort to the body aggravates the symptoms of motion sickness. Therefore, make sure that you are not cold, much less hot. Bring a jacket or cardigan in reserve that you can put on or take off if necessary.

Carry an acupressure bracelet with you

If you are prone to seasickness, then it would be a good idea to buy a special bracelet. It creates pressure on a specific point on the wrist (the so-called pericardial point-6), thereby reducing the intensity of headaches and nausea during movement.

If the child is rocking

The vestibular apparatus and its functioning are fully formed by the age of 13-15. Therefore, children, especially small ones, are very often susceptible to motion sickness.

The methods of dealing with symptoms in children are the same as in adults - fresh air, light food, nothing sweet or carbonated, no odors. Find something to do for your child or try to get him to sleep if possible. In a dream, a person is not susceptible to motion sickness (this is also true for adults).

Instead of pure water, your child can be given diluted apple juice. If he doesn't mind, add a little mint or ginger to the drink. It's also a good idea to stock up on mint candies. In addition to the mint effect, the lollipops will force the child to swallow regularly, which also eliminates nausea and the urge to vomit.

Hidden motion sickness syndrome

It often happens that a person finds out about his tendency to seasickness by switching to another type of transport or even changing his car. This often happens even among experienced sailors who, for example, spent their entire lives on a fishing boat, and then, once on the liner, suffered more than land passengers. This fact only confirms that the vestibular apparatus needs to be trained.

In the auto world, this happens if you change cars or roads. For example, in a car with poor shock absorption, where the passenger constantly shakes, or when driving on city streets, a person feels fine. But a high-speed highway and a new car, in which movement is not felt, instantly put people into a state of kinetosis, seemingly not susceptible to this illness.

Drivers often suffer from hidden seasickness. While a person is driving, he is completely focused on the process of driving, the commands to the receptors of the vestibular apparatus are received “correctly” and correspond to his actions. But as soon as the driver moves into the passenger seat, a classic conflict of sensations and reality occurs - I see and feel something completely different from what I do.

In most cases, you can get rid of this disease, or at least reduce its intensity. But a certain number of people are endowed with, so to speak, chronic motion sickness syndrome. And nothing can be done about it. The problem most likely lies in a violation of the development of the vestibular apparatus, but medicine does not yet have accurate information on this issue.

Video about what to do if you get motion sickness:

Why do you get motion sickness in the car?

Motion sickness in a car is a fairly common and very unpleasant symptom, which, however, worries a large number of people.

More children than adults suffer from motion sickness, but it is worth noting that some people suffer from the unpleasant symptom throughout their lives. And medicine has long given an answer to the question of why this happens.

Motion sickness is a physiological reaction

Nausea and vomiting when driving in a car, and sometimes when using other types of transport, is a phenomenon that is associated primarily with the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. This is called “sea sickness”, and on the water, during sea and river travel, the symptom manifests itself much more clearly, and in a much larger number of people.

This is due to pitching - when traveling at sea during waves or storms, the manifestation of seasickness is observed in two thirds of people. And in the car, nausea, vomiting and other similar problems are also associated with shaking and pitching - which is why those passengers who are in the rear seats are hit the hardest. Sometimes it is enough to move to the seat next to the driver to stop the troubles .

An interesting trend: many children suffer greatly from motion sickness on land, but easily tolerate motion sickness on water or in the air. With adults, everything is observed exactly the opposite.

How does this happen?

If a person is driving in a car and begins to feel motion sick, it means that the vestibular apparatus of his body has begun to malfunction. Or it may indicate problems in one of the parts of the nervous system. The vestibular apparatus must maintain the body in a strictly certain position, and a variety of organs are involved in controlling its position in space. The state of affairs is controlled by the eyes, receptors of the musculoskeletal system, and the cochlea of ​​the middle ear. Signals from all organs must match.

However, when driving in a car, it happens that landscapes fly by and change through the windows, while no special sensations of movement are received by other senses, and the body does not know how to react to such a situation. A failure occurs. At the same time, it also happens differently - a person sees in front of him an unchanged interior environment, while other senses indicate shaking, which indicates movement. And again, problems arise in receiving contradictory information; the body does not know how to react to it.

In this case, a person may experience not only nausea or vomiting, but also panic attacks and other unpleasant symptoms, indicating that the brain cannot understand the situation and make a decision regarding what is happening.

What can cause motion sickness?

Among the phenomena that can provoke an attack of motion sickness, it is worth noting not only shaking in transport, but also others:

• Apathy or emotional overstrain that occurred the day before;
• The smell of gasoline, other unpleasant odors in the cabin;
• Heat;
• Alcohol;

Motion sickness is not as harmless as it may seem. In fact, these symptoms may hide more serious problems. If these symptoms are experienced by an elderly person or a patient with hypertension, it is necessary to consult a doctor . After all, before a stroke and in the initial stages of other diseases, the same symptoms may occur.

How to avoid motion sickness?

There are a number of techniques that can reduce the symptoms of motion sickness, or even completely eliminate it. The methods are individual, it is worth trying them - each one helps. You can take mints on a trip and suck on them, do not drink alcohol or eat fatty foods before the trip. You can also gradually accustom yourself to motion sickness, train the vestibular apparatus - it can really get used to this and stop reacting sharply. You can regulate your breathing, give up books, a phone or a tablet while traveling.