Summer on the move: how to deal with motion sickness

Summer, vacation time and for many even departure time.

Cars, ships, trains, airplanes… in some subjects, journeys on means of transport are a serious problem due to the “motion sickness”. What does it depend on? What are its symptoms? How can it be treated? We talked about it with Dr. Roberto Teggi, specialist in Otoneurology and consultant at Ospedale San Raffaele.

Motion sickness is a common disorder, which affects a percentage between 13% and 28% of the population; 7% of people taking a boat cruise have been reported to suffer from seasickness with nausea and vomiting. Women suffer from this disorder in a higher percentage, while children under 2 years seem to be immune.

There is an individual susceptibility to the disorder, more common in migraine sufferers; motion sickness in pediatric age is considered one of the precursors of migraine in adulthood.

According to many, the symptomatology that characterizes motion sickness depends on the intensity of the acceleration stimulus to which we are subjected: a sufficiently violent acceleration can cause the symptomatology in most individuals. It is probably what the pilots of military jets experience, who despite the training they are subjected to, on the first flights report nausea and/or vomiting.

Pharmacological treatments exist to reduce the disorder, with symptomatic drugs such as calcium antagonists or dimenhydrinate (an antihistamine drug used in the form of tablets, suppositories or chewing gum). Often the sole rules of behavior can reduce annoyance; among these it is suggested to sit in the front seat and look ahead, eat limited solid foods such as crackers or bananas before or during the journey.