Motion Sickness and Digestive Health 

If you’ve ever felt nauseous while riding in a car, flying on a plane, or scrolling your phone on a bumpy bus ride, you’re not alone. Motion sickness is extremely common, affecting as many as 1 in 3 people regularly. It happens when the brain receives conflicting signals from your body about motion, and can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort. 

While it may seem like just a minor annoyance, motion sickness can have a significant impact on daily life and overall well-being. In this article, we’ll explore what causes motion sickness, who might be at a higher risk of experiencing it, and most importantly, what you can do to effectively prevent and manage it.

What Causes Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness typically occurs when your body senses movement (like when you’re on a plane, boat, or car), or during virtual experiences like video games or simulators. It occurs due to an experience known as sensory conflict.

Sensory conflict is a term used to describe when your brain gets conflicting signals from your eyes, inner ears (which help with balance), and body. For example, your eyes may see that you’re not moving (like when you’re reading on a bus), but your inner ears feel motion. These conflicting signals can confuse your brain and trigger symptoms like:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bloating
• Stomach discomfort
• Cold sweats
• Pale skin
• Loss of appetite
• Increased saliva production

While anyone can experience motion sickness, certain groups of people are more likely to experience it, including:

• Women (especially during menstruation or pregnancy)
• Children
• People with migraine headaches
• People in certain ethnic groups (some studies indicate that people with Asian heritage are more susceptible to motion sickness than people with European heritage). 

However, it’s important to note that most people will become motion sick if the motion they’re exposed to is intense enough.

The Emotional Burden of Motion Sickness

While motion sickness is a common condition, that doesn’t diminish the very real effects it can have on a person’s quality of life. And although the physical effects are uncomfortable, it can also take an emotional toll.

Many people prone to motion sickness experience stress, anxiety, or even embarrassment when symptoms occur. Plus, the anticipation of nausea or vomiting may lead a person to avoid travel, social outings, or new experiences altogether. 

Over time, this can negatively affect relationships, career opportunities, and overall well-being. Motion sickness is more than just a minor inconvenience, and it should be taken seriously.

Prevention Tips

Fortunately, many strategies can help minimize motion sickness. Here are some of the most commonly used methods:

• Don’t read in moving vehicles: Reading in moving vehicles can confuse the signals sent to your brain from your eyes and inner ears. Your eyes focus on the still page of the book, but your inner ears detect movement that may contribute to sensory conflict that can trigger nausea and vomiting. If you’re prone to motion sickness, try an audiobook or look out the window at the horizon.
• Sit in a forward-facing or front seat: If you’re sitting in a rear-facing position, you may notice worse motion sickness because your visual cues don’t match the direction the motion of your body feels. Sitting in the front seat of a car or a forward-facing seat on planes, trains, and buses can help minimize this mismatch.
• Choose low-motion seats: While it may seem like a small detail, where you sit matters. On a plane, try to book a seat over the wings where there’s less turbulence. Mid-ship cabins near the waterline are often the most stable on a boat. In cars, the front seat is generally best. These areas tend to move less and align your body with the vehicle’s movement.
• Avoid heavy meals before travel: Eating large or greasy meals immediately before travelling can slow digestion and increase the likelihood of feeling sick. Instead, eat a lighter meal with protein, carbohydrates, and fibre at least an hour before you leave.
• Use pressure bands on your wrists: Some small, older studies indicate that putting pressure on acupressure points, such as the insides of your wrists, may help prevent motion sickness for some people.
• Natural health products: Ginger has been used as an anti-nausea remedy for centuries. Ginger tea, capsules, or even ginger chews or candies may help settle your stomach and keep motion sickness symptoms at bay.
• Over-the-counter medications: Some over-the-counter medications, such as dimenhydrinate, may effectively prevent motion sickness. They work best when taken 30-60 minutes before travel. However, they can cause drowsiness, so use with caution.

By planning ahead and using the strategies listed above, you may be able to reduce or avoid motion sickness altogether. 

Treatment Options

Many people may experience motion sickness despite using prevention strategies. Luckily, behavioural interventions can be effective at treating it. Here are some strategies you may find helpful for easing your symptoms once they start:

• Changes to your posture: Avoid unnecessary movement, especially of your head. Keep your head, shoulders, hips, and knees stable and aligned with the direction of travel. This can help reduce the conflicting signals that trigger nausea. Some people find that using a headrest or neck pillow effectively keeps their head steady.
• Stay cool: Getting too hot can worsen symptoms of motion sickness. If you’re feeling nauseous, open a window, turn up the air conditioning, or use a portable fan to help keep your body temperature down. A cool compress on the back of your neck can also offer relief.
• Focus on the horizon: Looking at a fixed point in the distance can help reorient your body’s senses. Try to limit focusing on nearby objects or screens, which can worsen symptoms.
• Practice deep breathing: Deep diaphragmatic breathing may help reduce the symptoms of motion sickness.
• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can worsen nausea. Sip water regularly and avoid sugary or carbonated drinks, which may worsen bloating and abdominal discomfort.
• Use anti-nausea supports: If behavioural strategies aren’t enough to get your motion sickness under control, there are a variety of options available to help manage nausea, including both natural and medicinal remedies. Ginger is a popular natural choice, and ginger chews or capsules may help settle your stomach. Medicinal anti-nausea options like dimenhydrinate (which has been on the market since 1949) can also be effective, especially for severe symptoms. Whether you choose natural or medicinal options, follow the dosage instructions on the label and check in with a healthcare provider before using them for children or if you have other underlying health conditions.

If you’re still struggling with motion sickness despite trying these strategies, consider speaking with your doctor about prescription treatments or additional management strategies.

Final Thoughts

Motion sickness can often be managed through behavioural strategies and anti-nausea supports like dimenhydrinate and ginger. It’s great to keep on hand while traveling—but also at home for prevention when you need it most. However, if your symptoms are frequent, severe, or don’t improve with the strategies outlined in this article, it’s worth checking in with a healthcare provider to rule out other causes or explore prescription options. 

References

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