Airsickness
Airsickness is a sensation which is induced by air travel. It is a specific form of motion sickness, and is considered a normal response in healthy individuals. Airsickness occurs when the central nervous system receives conflicting messages from the body (including the inner ear, eyes and muscles) affecting balance and equilibrium.
The inner ear is particularly important in the maintenance of balance and equilibrium because it contains sensors for both angular (rotational) and linear motion. Airsickness is usually a combination of spatial disorientation, nausea and vomiting. Experimentally, airsickness can be eliminated in monkeys by removing part of the cerebellum, namely the nodulus of the vermis.
Signs & Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of airsickness include:
Nausea, vomiting, vertigo, loss of appetite, cold sweating, skin pallor, difficulty concentrating, confusion, drowsiness, headache, and increased fatigue. Severe airsickness may cause a person to become completely incapacitated.
Treatment of Airsickness
Medication
Medications that may alleviate the symptoms of airsickness include:
- Meclizine (Antivert, Bonine)
- Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Scopolamine (available in both patch and oral form).
- Ginger capsules
NonPharmacologic Remedies
Recently, several devices have been introduced that are intended to reduce motion sickness through stimulation of various body parts (usually the wrist). These products are marketed under the names “Sea Bands" and "Relief Band", among others.
Another method to increase pilot resistance to airsickness consists of repetitive exposure to the flying conditions that initially resulted in airsickness. In other words, repeated exposure to the flight environment decreases an individual’s susceptibility to subsequent airsickness.
Natural Remedies
There are numerous alternative remedies for motion sickness. The most popular are ginger derivatives, such as ginger tea or powdered ginger capsules. When the hosts of the popular American television program Mythbusters tested motion sickness remedies, they found that ginger was one of the most effective non-prescription remedies.
Avoiding Airsickness
Travelers who are susceptible to motion sickness can minimize symptoms by:
- Choosing seats with the smoothest ride (the seats over the wings in an airplane).
- Sitting facing forward while focusing on distant objects rather than trying to read or look at something inside the airplane.
- Eating dry crackers, olives or suck on a lemon, to dry out the mouth, lessening nausea.
- Drinking a carbonated beverage.
Credit: National Institute of Health.