So, what causes motion sickness when even highly trained spacemen and women aren’t exempt from it? And more importantly, how do you prevent and treat motion sickness so that your upcoming driving holiday isn’t memorable for the wrong things?
“On the other hand, if you look out of the window and see the moving scenery, the signals from your ears and eyes are congruent, and so no symptoms of motion sickness are felt,” he added.Why are you more prone to motion sickness than your fellow travellers when you’re all in the same vehicle? You’ve only got yourself – or rather, your genes – to blame, according to Dr Chng. “Some genetic variants have been associated with increased susceptibility to motion sickness,” he said.
For parents travelling with children and aren’t sure how the little ones will handle the long ride, Dr Chng said that kids who are less than two years old are typically resistant to motion sickness. “The incidence peaks at approximately nine years of age and then decreases throughout adulthood,” he added.If you have some time to go before the holiday, try adaptation exercises to prep yourself.
If it’s too late and the nausea is taking a hold of you, Dr Chng said that the symptoms typically subside after 36 to 72 hours of continuous exposure. In the meantime, here’s what you can do to make the motion sickness better:If possible, open the window to let in fresh air.