Motion sickness that occurs when we travel by car, train, plane or ship – kinetosis or movement disorder , according to scientific terminology – is caused by a mismatch between the visual and vestibular systems , the latter related to balance and control space. In essence, the central nervous system receives mixed messages from receptors related to body balance: the inner ear, the eyes, and the muscles and joints in the back and legs.
The main symptoms are vomiting, nausea and lack of balance caused by acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. In a car, the inner ear detects that we are moving, but if we do not receive visual information that we are moving – for example, when we travel in the back seat and only see the interior of the vehicle or if we are looking at a screen or reading – , the chances of feeling awful are great. And the risk increases if there is poor ventilation, fumes, emotional factors such as fear or anxiety, or even if you inherit genes that predispose to dizziness from your parents, as the team of geneticist Bethann Hromatka, of the University of California, discovered in San Francisco.
Sitting more upright to keep the axis of vision at a 45 degree angle above the horizon reduces the chances of dizziness . On a boat, for example, some people find it helpful to avoid staring at waves or other moving objects. It is important that the cabin is well ventilated and that you go out on deck from time to time to breathe fresh air . Too much alcohol or having eaten a lot before or during the trip increases the probability of suffering motion sickness or motion sickness. It is preferable to drink small amounts of liquids and light meals frequently during a long trip, although if it is a short plane trip it is better to avoid liquids and solids and especially alcoholic beverages and those that contain gases. By car, the possibility of reducing symptoms if you fix your gaze on an object that is not moving also works. It works for other people to close their eyes while traveling and try to relax or fall asleep.
