Surveys have found that about one-third of the population has problems with motion sickness [1]. And I happen to be the unlucky egg in 1/3, the tenth level player who is motion sickness and seasick.
Especially when I encounter traffic jams, I have to sweat, nauseous, and vomit, which often make me worry about whether I have to answer in the car.
(Source: giphy)
Motion sickness is really, really hard!
Let's start with some theoretical knowledge.
Motion sickness, seasickness, and airsickness are all a type of motion sickness. As for the etiology, the most widely accepted hypothesis is the "sensory conflict" hypothesis (specific etiology and precise neurobiological mechanisms are not yet clear).
Simply put, the sensation of motion sickness is due to a mismatch between sensation and input, particularly between the visual and vestibular systems [2].
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
The vestibular system is an organ in the body that senses the movement of the body and keeps the body in balance.
(Position of the vestibule in the structure of the ear)
Imagine that when you are in a confined space that is clearly not suitable for sports (such as sitting on a narrow bus seat), the visual perception is relatively static relative to the people around you and the seats.
However, the vestibular system feels various motor stimuli such as acceleration, deceleration, and turning, and the signals received by the brain will be confused, and the contradictory information will begin to fight.
And then...... People faint.
(Source: giphy)
The recent popularity of "big-screen 3D/VR" games can also test the "conflict of feelings" hypothesis.
There must be friends like me, this kind of game play for ten minutes, will be dizzy, want to vomit, but contrary to motion sickness, the game here is the body feels that you are not moving, the realistic visual experience makes the eyes feel that you are moving [3].
(Source: giphy)
The same reasoning can also explain why people who are motion sick do not get motion sickness when they drive themselves.
The main reason is that when the passenger has not yet reacted to turn, the driver has already judged to hit the steering wheel, and the brain has a prejudgment of the state of movement, that is to say, the driver will not have a "sensory conflict", so the driver will rarely have a mismatch between the sensory inputs.
At the same time, the brain is in a highly concentrated state when driving, and the higher centers of the cerebral cortex are highly excited, which also has an inhibitory effect on the vestibular system.
(Source: giphy)
smell
Many people have just gotten on the bus and have begun to feel bad as soon as they smell gasoline.
Although there is no direct correlation between good ventilation in the car and motion sickness, poor ventilation in the car may lead to a large amount of carbon dioxide and other undesirable gases in the environment.
Therefore, it may affect the autonomic nervous system through the respiratory system, causing the body to have a variety of uncomfortable reactions and reducing the body's tolerance to car vibrations [4].
The translation is that the various gases in a closed environment will make people more susceptible to motion sickness.
Driver's driving habits
In the same section of the road, different drivers drive a lot of differences, if you are unfortunate enough to meet a "left, right, up and down BABA" one foot brake, one foot throttle driver, can not handle the brain naturally more dizzy.
(Source: giphy)
Personal sensitivity
There are great individual differences in different people for motion sickness, and it was also said at the beginning that two-thirds of the chosen sons can be indifferent when others vomit to death, which is determined by the joint action of genes and the environment.
(Source: giphy)
In addition, certain people with health problems are at higher risk of motion sickness, such as those with vestibular disease and vertigo, who are particularly sensitive to motion sickness.
The state of the ride
Too tired, not in good shape, will be more prone to motion sickness.
Too full, increased irritation to the smooth muscles of the stomach, and it will be easier to vomit.
Too hungry, low blood sugar, if it causes a chain reaction, it will aggravate the discomfort of motion sickness.
The main symptoms of motion sickness involve the gastrointestinal tract, the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
So in addition to nausea and vomiting, people with motion sickness may also have symptoms such as pallor, cold sweat, excessive saliva production, stomach discomfort, and drowsiness and persistent fatigue [5].
As for the solution to these symptoms, the fastest and most effective is, of course, to get out of the car immediately.
However, this approach does not really solve the problem, after all, you can't live a lifetime without taking a car, right?
Therefore, if you want to really solve the problem of motion sickness, there are mainly the following methods [3].
1. Establish tolerance. Many people have this experience, for a while often take the car, after getting used to it, motion sickness will also weaken. The conductors on the bus, most of the day on the bus do not see them motion sickness, this is the truth.
2. Look out the window or close your eyes when you are riding. When looking out the window, the eyes will also be like the body, aware of their movements, which can appropriately reduce the contradictions in feelings. Squinting and resting is a direct blocking of information input from the vision.
In addition, lying on your back can alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, so if you have the conditions, it is recommended to choose a sleeper to travel.
(Source: giphy)
3. Prepare some motion sickness drugs (specific what drugs are said in detail).
4. Avoid riding when you are too full or hungry.
5, carry some orange peel, wind oil essence, or timely window ventilation, increase air mobility can also effectively reduce symptoms.
6. Appropriately participate in some aerobic exercises that exercise balance ability, improve cerebellar balance and muscle reflex ability, in fact, improve physical fitness is the best means to avoid motion sickness.
It should be added here that some traditional therapies, such as ginger tablets or shiatsu massage, are still to be confirmed in clinical practice.
Oral drugs:
Common examples include diphenidol tablets and diphenhydramine tablets.
These drugs can reduce the afferent frequency of nerve impulses, and can inhibit the release of acetylcholine and reduce the movement of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing nausea and vomiting, generally after taking 30 minutes to take effect.
How to use: Half an hour to 1 hour before boarding.
Recommended scenario: Short- and medium-distance travel
Transdermal patch:
Common on the market such as scopolamine patch.
How to use: 4 to 5 hours in advance, the effect can be maintained for 2 to 3 days, generally pasted behind one ear, no hair on dry skin.
Recommended scenario: Long-distance travel.
Precautions: It should be removed in time after the end of the ride, otherwise adverse reactions may occur. Contact dermatitis occurs in 10% of people [6] and should be observed when used, and scopolamine can enter breast milk, and should be used with caution in lactating women.
It should also be noted that although motion sickness drugs are more effective, if taken too much may bring life risks, it must be used with caution and contraindications [7].
Most motion sickness drugs suppress the central system and have a certain impact on the development of the nervous system in children, especially in children under 8 years of age, and the use of motion sickness drugs and long-acting motion sickness patches should be contraindicated
When taking, you should pay attention to the interval between medication and the dosage of medication, do not use the drug frequently and in large doses because the feeling of vertigo persists, so as to avoid adverse reactions of the drug and aggravate the discomfort of the body.
Review expert: Chen Jingguo | Ph.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
bibliography
[1] Sherman Craig R,Motion sickness: review of causes and preventive strategies. [J] . J Travel Med, 2002, 9: 251-6.
Hu Zhen,Wang Jianhong,Long Ying,Luo Jian,Luo Xiaozou,Peng Jingru. Analysis of vestibular function results in patients with motion sickness[J].Chinese Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery,2020,27(12):687-690.)
[3] Koch Andreas,Cascorbi Ingolf,Westhofen Martin et al. The Neurophysiology and Treatment of Motion Sickness. [J] . Dtsch Arztebl Int, 2018, 115: 687-696.
[4] Golding John F, Motion sickness susceptibility. [J] . Auton Neurosci, 2006, 129: 67-76.
[5] Leung Alexander Kc,Hon Kam Lun,Motion sickness: an overview. [J] . Drugs Context, 2019, 8: undefined.
[6] Romita P, Foti C, Calogiuri G, Cantore S, Ballini A, Dipalma G, Inchingolo F. Contact dermatitis due to transdermal therapeutic systems: a clinical update. Acta Biomed. 2018 Oct 26;90(1):5-10. doi: 10.23750/abm.v90i1.6563. PMID: 30889148; PMCID: PMC6502158.
[7] Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP. The Neurophysiology and Treatment of Motion Sickness. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018 Oct 12;115(41):687-696. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687. PMID: 30406755; PMCID: PMC6241144.
*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.
*The copyright of this article belongs to Tencent Medical Code, unauthorized media reprinting is prohibited, and illegal reprinting will be investigated for legal responsibility according to law. Individuals are welcome to forward to the circle of friends.