Why do I get car sickness?

Motion sickness, also known as car sickness, can make travelling unpleasant. If this is something you deal with every time you're in the car, you may be wondering why you experience motion sickness in the first place. To learn more about why you may experience motion sickness and how you can prevent it, stick around!

The science behind motion sickness

Motion sickness happens when your body, inner ear, and eyes send conflicting signals to the brain. Motion sickness occurs when you're moving forward in a vehicle, boat, plane, train, or even when you're on amusement park rides. When you have motion sickness, you'll typically feel sick and experience other symptoms. Typically, once the motion stops or you adjust to the motion in general, your symptoms of motion sickness will stop.

The vestibular system, which is located in our inner ear, senses motion and plays a role in maintaining balance. This inner ear contains fluid-filled canals and tiny hair cells, which detect movement and relay this information to the brain. When the inner ears sense movement, but our eyes view stillness (looking at your phone or reading a book while the car is moving), the conflicting sensory information confuses the brain. As a result, you'll begin to experience nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms.

Some research suggests that neurotransmitters like histamine can contribute to your motion sickness symptoms by triggering nausea responses in the brainstem, which makes sense because taking an antihistamine medication can treat motion sickness. Once the medication is taken, the brain will begin to adapt to these miscommunications, later acclimating to the motion.

Why do I experience car motion sickness?

Studies suggest that risk factors make some individuals more susceptible to motion sickness than others. Here are the most common factors:

If you're taking certain medications or are already feeling sick, there's a higher likelihood you'll experience motion sickness while in motion. Common risk factors include:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
• Migraine headaches.
• Pregnancy.
• Being in the back seat.
• Having an ear infection.
• Children between the ages of 2 and 12.
• Pregnant women and women in general tend to have motion sickness at higher rates than men.
• Medications like antibiotics, birth control, anti-depressants, and ibuprofen.

Common motion sickness symptoms

While motion sickness symptoms can differ, most people tend to experience the following common symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Cold sweat
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Increased salivation
• Drowsiness
• Irritability

Can you permanently prevent motion sickness?

No, you can't permanently prevent motion sickness symptoms. That said, there are certain motion sickness treatment options available to you that can help you when you feel nauseated or sick in general.

How to treat motion sickness

To prevent motion sickness and treat symptoms of motion sickness, consider doing the following:

Sit in the front passenger seat

Rather than sit in the back seat, move to the front and sit in the passenger seat, upper deck, or by the plane window seat. This will help your inner ear, eyes, and brain rebalance and prevent further conflicting signals from firing.

Do not read

Reading or looking at your phone can lead to symptoms of motion sickness. To prevent and relieve nausea and vomiting, keep your eyes on the horizon and look straight ahead.

Deep breaths

If symptoms start, try and control your breathing. Motion sickness can put stress on your body and cause anxiety, leading to more severe symptoms. By taking deep breaths, you can lower your heart rate and calm yourself down.

Turn the air conditioning on

Sometimes, all you need is a little fresh air. Turn on the air conditioning in your vehicle, and make sure the vents are pointed toward you as you continue to face forward.

Take medications

Another way of preventing motion sickness is with over-the-counter motion sickness medicines, which you can take before you begin travelling. Additionally, when you're in movement, make sure to drink plenty of water and consider ginger ale if you feel nauseated. During your pregnancy, if you experience motion sickness when travelling, ensure that your doctor approves any treatment methods or medications beforehand.

Motion sickness glasses

Motion sickness glasses work by creating an artificial horizon that moves as your car, train, plane, or boat travels. By moving with the body, the signals balance out and adjust to the movement to prevent sickness.

Natural remedies for motion sickness

If taking medications is not something you're comfortable with, there are natural remedies you can try to ease your motion sickness, including:

• Ginger: Ginger has long been used as a remedy to reduce nausea and vomiting. Taking a ginger chew or drinking ginger ale or ginger tea before travelling is a great way to prevent motion sickness symptoms.
• Acupressure (traditional Chinese medicine): Acupressure bands apply a gentle pressure to the Nei-Kuan pressure point on the inner part of your wrist. This pressure point has specifically been shown to reduce dizziness.
• Peppermint and chamomile tea: Peppermint and chamomile tea are widely known for their soothing abilities. Specifically, peppermint can help relax your digestive tract, while chamomile aids in reducing nausea and calming the nervous system.
• Avoid certain foods before travelling: Before travelling, avoid eating heavy, greasy foods to prevent discomfort. It will also reduce your chances of nausea and vomiting.

How to prevent motion sickness in kids

Motion sickness is common in children, but there are ways you can prevent them from experiencing discomfort by:

• Keeping your children hydrated: Throughout your travels, ensure your children are hydrated. Avoid feeding them heavy, greasy meals beforehand.
• Look at the horizon: Encourage your kids to look outside and focus on the horizon ahead. Doing so will help their brain align with the visual and motion signals, preventing symptoms.
• Keeping your car cool: Ensure that your car is cool and well-ventilated by turning on the air conditioning or rolling down your windows. This will help keep everyone comfortable and reduce the chances of your children getting motion sick.

Should I see my doctor about motion sickness?

If you have motion sickness when travelling, it may be worth speaking with your doctor to discuss your sickness, especially if you are pregnant. Sometimes, the symptoms can be caused by morning sickness. Other times, it may be another issue with your inner ear that needs to be diagnosed by a doctor. For other people, if you have motion sickness when you are not in motion, speaking with a healthcare professional is also recommended.

When to seek medical help for motion sickness

While occasionally being motion sick can make travelling unpleasant, in some cases, you should seek medical attention. For example:

• If you experience chronic motion sickness and find that it interferes with your daily activities, you could have an underlying condition that needs treatment.
• Severe symptoms like vertigo, hearing loss, and other neurological issues such as severe confusion and the inability to walk require immediate medical assistance.
• Ménière’s disease and other vestibular disorders can cause ongoing nausea and imbalances throughout the body. This requires a professional medical diagnosis and treatment like vestibular therapy or medications that provide relief.

What deficiency causes motion sickness?

Some studies suggest that motion sickness could be linked to zinc and B12 deficiencies. However, Most research indicates that sickness usually stems from the inner ears and the signals that are sent to the brain when you are in motion.

Fun facts and history of motion sickness

Motion sickness didn't just occur to someone one day on an amusement park ride. It's been around for centuries. There's some pretty fascinating history and theories behind this biological response:

• The Ancient Egyptians used herbs like myrrh, which is a sap that derives from trees, to combat feelings of nausea and vomiting as they believed it had protective properties.
• Even NASA astronauts experience motion sickness, or "space adaptive syndrome", when adjusting to their new weightlessness conditions in orbit.
• Some evolutionary scientists believe that motion sickness developed as a biological defence mechanism against ingesting poison, triggering the body to vomit and expel what was ingested.

Protect yourself and your passengers while driving with customized car insurance

To ensure you and your loved ones are protected while you're travelling to your next destination, having the right car insurance in place is essential. While some types of auto insurance are mandatory, others are optional and intended to supplement standard coverage options. Here's a closer look at the different car insurance policies in Canada:

• Third-party liability car insurance (mandatory)
• Uninsured automobile insurance (mandatory)
• Accident benefits coverage (mandatory)
• Collision car coverage (optional)
• Comprehensive car coverage (optional)
• Accident forgiveness (optional)

Contact BrokerLink for car insurance today

At BrokerLink, we help Canadians find affordable car insurance customized to their driving habits and budget. With access to some of Canada's top insurance providers, our team of experienced brokers can help you compare quotes, find discounts, and ensure you feel confident in the coverage you choose.

To work with BrokerLink, come visit us at one of our many locations across the country! If you're not close by, contact a broker over the phone at any time. Alternatively, if you're still weighing your options, take advantage of our free online quote tool to get a competitive insurance quote within minutes!

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