CRGHD: Motion sickness/kinetosis; A common problem with traveling
These body sensory organs send mixed messages to the brain, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea or nausea-induced vomiting. Instance, imagine someone sitting low in the back seat of a car without being able to see out the window or reading a book in the car. The inner ear will sense motion, but the eyes and body will not. Studies however indicate that anyone can get it. However, children, women and or pregnant women and people on certain medications are the most vulnerable group.
What are the risk factors for motion sickness?
1. Any form of travel, on land, in the air, or on the water, can bring on the uneasy feeling of motion sickness.
2. Sometimes, amusement rides and children’s playground equipment can induce motion sickness.
Signs and symptoms
These include dizziness, fatigue, vertigo, depressed appetite, nonspecific malaise, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea (most commonly), and nausea-caused vomiting.
Notably, if the cause of the nausea is not resolved, the victim will usually vomit, but vomiting may not relieve the feeling of weakness and nausea, which means the person might continue to vomit until the underlying cause of the nausea is resolved.
How is motion sickness diagnosed?
Motion sickness resolves itself quickly and does not usually require a medical diagnosis. The feeling is known by most people when it is coming on. This is because the illness is only associated with travelling or some other specific activities.
Preventing motion sickness
The main focus in preventing motion sickness or kinetosis is to reduce the variations in the sensory messages being sent to the brain and avoid anything that affects the brain’s optimum functionality. This seeks to bring an agreement in the information received by the brain from the various sense organs.
This can be achieved
1. by reducing sensory input.
2. Look at things outside the car rather than focusing on books, games or movies or stationary objects.
3. Traveling during nap time might help and or closing your eyes.
4. Avoid alcohol. This depresses the brain activity making it even more difficult to process varying sensory messages to the brain.
5. Avoid reading as the brain receives information from the eyes as being stationary while the ears send varying information as the body being in motion
6. Carefully plan pre-trip meals. Don't eat spicy or greasy foods or a large meal immediately before or during car travel. Eat lightly before travel but don’t fast.
7. Provide air ventilation. Adequate air ventilation might help prevent car sickness. Try to keep the air clear of any strong odours, and don’t smoke.
8. Medications could be used upon prescription by a medical doctor. (However, there might be side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth)
What to do when motion sickness sets in during a travel
If you start to develop motion sickness or kinetosis, stop the car as soon as possible, get out and walk around or rest on your seat for few minutes with closed eyes. Placing a cool cloth on your forehead also might help.
Try ginger candies. Hard ginger candy reportedly provides some relief from nausea associated with motion sickness, although research has not demonstrated a clear benefit.
When to See a Doctor
Motion sickness usually goes away once the journey is over. But if you’re still dizzy, have a headache, continue to vomit, notice hearing loss or chest pain, see your doctor.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/car-sickness-in-children/faq-20057876
https://www.healthline.com/health/motion-sickness#prevention
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/how-to-beat-motion-sickness
By: Titus Atawine Azagisiya
(Nursing Officer)
(titusazagisiya@gmail.com)
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