Nowadays, most people travel by car. But what should you do if you suffer from motion sickness? Some people never get car sick—what causes it? When experiencing motion sickness, some take anti-motion sickness medication. What are the side effects of these drugs? Many friends face this problem in daily life. Today, we'll provide a detailed explanation—don't miss it!
How to Deal with Motion Sickness
Avoid eating too much before traveling, but don't ride on an empty stomach either.
Before boarding, don't eat a heavy meal or greasy foods, as they burden your digestive system and accelerate stomach contractions. If the vehicle shakes violently, this can cause severe discomfort.However, avoid traveling on an empty stomach either. Hunger weakens the body, reducing tolerance to external forces and increasing susceptibility to motion sickness.
Adjust Your Seating Position
Tilt your seat back as much as possible. Lean your body diagonally against the seat, keeping your head firmly against the headrest. Avoid swaying side to side. Close your eyes to rest; falling asleep is ideal.Avoid using your phone, reading newspapers, or magazines during the ride, as these activities can easily cause dizziness and blurred vision. Choose a Front Window Seat If prone to motion sickness, try to sit as far forward as possible. The front section experiences less swaying, and the open view helps prevent eye strain. Opt for a window seat so you can open it if discomfort arises, which may also alleviate symptoms.However, avoid staring out the window, as this can intensify dizziness.
Press pressure points
Hegu Point (LI4): This point directly influences the gastrointestinal tract. Pressing it effectively relieves dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Hegu is located on the back of the hand at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone, where the line connecting the end of the first metacarpal bone to the base of the second metacarpal bone intersects—commonly known as the "web space" between thumb and index finger.
Neiguan Point (PC6): Connecting to the heart, this point regulates the central nervous system. Pressing Neiguan enhances tolerance to stimuli, making it highly effective for treating motion sickness. It is located on the inner side of the forearm, approximately 1.5 cm below the wrist crease, at the point where the tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus and flexor digitorum superficialis muscles meet.
Neiguan Point: Connecting to the "heart," this point regulates the central nervous system. Pressing it enhances tolerance to stimuli, making it highly effective for motion sickness. Neiguan is located approximately 2 cun above the center of the transverse crease on the inner wrist.
Waist Support and Abdominal Hug Reduce Shaking
Wearing garments with waist support while traveling can minimize internal organ shaking, thereby alleviating motion sickness. If no supportive clothing is available, remove an outer garment and tie it around the waist, or gently hug the abdomen with both hands while reclining in the seat—both methods help reduce shaking.
Use orange peel or lemon to combat odors
Many cases of so-called "motion sickness" are actually triggered by gastric discomfort from odors (primarily gasoline fumes). For this type, prevent or alleviate symptoms using citrus peels like orange, lemon, or grapefruit, which emit refreshing scents.
What causes motion sickness?
1. It may be due to innate physical constitution. Some individuals experience motion sickness because their balance system has a lower stimulation threshold. Even slight misalignment between visual and vestibular senses can easily trigger dizziness. Of course, specific triggers may also depend on environmental factors.
2. Individuals with colds are more prone to motion sickness. With the recent prevalence of influenza, respiratory infections during travel can affect the inner ear's vestibular system, making one significantly more susceptible to motion sickness than usual.Additionally, headaches, poor digestion, and lack of sleep can all increase susceptibility to motion sickness.
3. Genetic predisposition. Motion sickness can be hereditary. Individuals with family members who experience severe motion sickness have a higher likelihood of developing it themselves.
4. Self-suggestion. This tendency is more common among individuals with prior motion sickness experiences. Such people may unconsciously fall into a self-suggestion loop of "I will get motion sick" while traveling, triggering symptoms.
5. Smooth road conditions often reduce susceptibility to motion sickness. However, rough terrain, unstable vehicles, or turbulence in boats and planes can easily disorient children and induce dizziness.
6. Unpleasant odors in the cabin. Some individuals may experience motion sickness triggered by the smell of gasoline or other strong odors.
7. Seating in the rear or persistent smartphone use can also induce motion sickness. Many people notice that staring at a phone while traveling causes eye discomfort, as it creates a mismatch between visual and vestibular input.Similarly, frequently gazing out the window can also trigger motion sickness. Those prone to motion sickness should avoid these factors while traveling.
Side Effects of Motion Sickness Medication
Severe Drowsiness
Most people experience drowsiness after taking motion sickness medication. Some may even miss their stop due to the medication's soporific effect.
If taken in excessive doses, it can cause extreme drowsiness, even unconsciousness, palpitations, muscle tremors, and blurred vision.
Shortness of Breath and Chest Tightness
Most motion sickness medications belong to the class of sedative antiemetics.Overdosing can cause severe drowsiness, even coma, palpitations, muscle tremors, blurred vision, and other reactions.
Shortness of breath and chest tightness
Most motion sickness medications are sedative antiemetics containing nerve-stimulating ingredients. Common adverse reactions include shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and dystonia. Taking excessive amounts may exacerbate these side effects.
Dizziness and Headache
Overdosing on motion sickness medication can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal discomfort. Elderly individuals are particularly prone to prolonged lethargy or dizziness after large doses. More severe reactions may include confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, convulsions, rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulties, or even coma.
Drug Dependence
Excessive use of motion sickness medication can lead to dependence, addiction, and the development of drug tolerance.
Drug Toxicity
Some individuals may take excessive doses to enhance anti-motion sickness effects, potentially causing acute poisoning and mental disorders.
Nervous System Damage
Motion sickness medications typically contain sedative-antiemetic ingredients that stimulate nerves. Overuse can adversely affect the nervous system, especially in developing children. Long-term use may cause neurological damage to the brain, impacting development.
What to Do About Motion Sickness? Do you also struggle with this issue in daily life? After reading the above explanations, do you now understand how to address it? We've outlined methods to manage motion sickness and its causes. Frequent sufferers often find long-distance travel inconvenient. While certain techniques can help prevent motion sickness during travel, we strongly advise against relying on motion sickness medication, as regular use can cause significant harm to your health.