Motion Sickness: What It Is and How to Handle It

Ever felt queasy or dizzy while riding in a car, boat, or even on a plane? That’s motion sickness kicking in. It happens when your brain gets mixed signals from your inner ears, eyes, and body about movement. Your balance system gets confused, which triggers nausea, sweating, or dizziness. Motion sickness can hit anyone, but some people are more sensitive than others.

If you’ve experienced it, you know how useless it feels trying to ignore the nausea. But here’s the good news: there are smart ways to reduce or even stop those symptoms.

Common Causes and Signs of Motion Sickness

Motion sickness pops up mostly during travel—driving in a winding car, cruising on a choppy boat, or flying through turbulent skies. Your eyes see a different picture (like the inside of a vehicle) while your inner ears feel motion, and this mismatch puzzles your brain.

Typical signs include nausea, sweating, headaches, dizziness, and feeling tired or sleepy. Some folks also experience vomiting. It usually starts soon after movement begins and goes away once you stop, but it can spoil a trip if you’re not prepared.

Practical Tips to Beat Motion Sickness

First, where you sit can make a huge difference. In a car, sit in the front seat looking straight ahead. On a boat, head for the midsection—where it’s most stable. On planes, seats over the wings help reduce the feeling of bumpiness.

Keep your eyes on the horizon or on stable objects in the distance, and avoid staring at screens or reading, as those make the mismatch worse. Fresh air helps too, so open a window or use air vents.

Eat light before traveling. Heavy, greasy, or spicy foods can worsen nausea. Ginger is a natural remedy for some people—think ginger candies or tea. Over-the-counter medications like dimenhydrinate or meclizine can work wonders but try them before your trip to check how you react.

Lastly, stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. Sometimes, distraction helps: listen to music or chat with fellow travelers to take your mind off the motion.

Motion sickness can be annoying, but understanding why it happens and using simple tricks can keep you comfortable and ready to enjoy your journey, no matter how bumpy it gets.