Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
How does motion sickness affect our sense of balance?
The symptoms of motion sickness appear when the central nervous
system receives conflicting messages from the other four systems --
the inner ear, eyes, skin pressure receptors, and the muscle and
joint sensory receptors.
For example, imagine you are riding in an airplane during a storm,
and the plane is being tossed about by air turbulence. But your eyes
do not detect all this motion because all you see is the inside of
the airplane. Consequently, your brain receives messages that do not
coordinate with each other. You might become "air sick."
Or suppose you are sitting in the back seat of a moving car reading a
book. Your inner ears and skin receptors detect the motion of your
travel, but your eyes see only the pages of your book. You could
become "car sick."
Another example illustrates an actual medical condition. Suppose you
suffer inner ear damage on only one side from either a head injury or
an infection. The damaged inner ear does not send the same signals to
the brain as the healthy ear. These conflicting signals about the
sensation of rotation can result in a sense of spinning or vertigo,
as well as nausea.
Is motion sickness a serious condition?
Not usually. For most people, motion sickness is just a minor
annoyance (although it may not feel so minor at the time).
Some travelers, however, can be incapacitated by motion sickness.
When do the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness stop?
The distressing symptoms of motion sickness usually stop when the
motion that causes it ceases.
But this is not always true. There are people who suffer symptoms for
even a few days after the trip is over. This is called the "mal
d'embarquement" syndrome or, more properly, the "mal de debarquement"
syndrome. ("Mal d'embarquement" is embarkment or departure sickness
while "mal de debarquement" is disembarkment or arrival sickness.)
Dizziness is a symptom that is often applies to a variety of sensations including lightheadedness and vertigo. Causes of dizziness include low blood pressure, heart problems, anemia, dehydration, and more. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
Vertigo is a feeling of spinning movement, and at times accompanied by nausea and vomiting occur. Vertigo is most often associated with an inner ear problem. The treatment for vertigo can be lifestyle changes and medication if necessary.
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that may be caused by many conditions. Antiemetics are drugs that treat nausea and vomiting. Though some antiemetics for motion sickness and mild nausea are available over the counter (OTC), most require a medical evaluation and prescription.
Balance is a state of body equilibrium or stability. We often take for granted how dependent we are on a healthy balance system. When the system breaks down, however, patients will describe symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, or motion sickness.
Travelers should prepare for their trip by visiting their physician to get the proper vaccinations and obtain the necessary medication if they have a medical condition or chronic disease. Diseases that travelers may pick up from contaminated water or food, insect or animal bites, or from other people include malaria, meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, and cholera.
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