Are you planning to take an exotic cruise or long road trip this summer? Make sure you have a plan if you are prone to motion sickness.

What is motion sickness?

“Motion sickness is a feeling of imbalance or disequilibrium that occurs when there is a disruption of the inner ear,” says Vikash Modi, M.D., a family medicine physician at Piedmont. “We all have otoliths -- or ear stones-- in our inner ear, which helps set our balance. If one of those otoliths falls out of place due to motion or if you have an increased amount of pressure in your ears or sinuses, it can throw off that equilibrium, causing motion sickness.”

Motion sickness also has a lot to do with your eyesight.

“There's a connection between visual input and the inner ear,” explains Dr. Modi. “Think about when you're feeling out of balance or you've been on a merry-go-round. That kind of visual disturbance along with the physical disturbance is what creates a dizzy episode.”

What are the symptoms of motion sickness?

Symptoms of motion sickness include:

• A dizzy sensation, like the room spinning
• Cold sweats
• Disequilibrium or balance issues
• Headaches and fatigue
• Increased saliva production

This can trigger secondary issues like nausea, vomiting or ringing in the ears.  

Are certain people more susceptible to motion sickness?

“People are on different ends of the spectrum, and it has a lot to do with your overall inner ear and sinus health,” says Dr. Modi. “People who have a really low threshold for vertigo will be more susceptible to getting motion sickness. People who have never had vertigo may be able to be on a boat for extended periods of time or a merry-go-round and not really feel that dizzy when they're done.”

Motion sickness can also occur in people who have had a stroke or had a head injury.

How do you treat motion sickness?

If you have mild motion sickness, fixate on a point in the horizon to help you get your balance and motion sickness under control.

You can also request medication from your doctor.

“The one I've been prescribing a lot this past summer has been Meclizine, which is an antihistamine used to treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness,” says Dr. Modi. “Some people prefer to use Scopolamine patches, which are worn behind the ear.  This medication can chemically help you reestablish your balance or at least reduce your sensitivity to imbalance.”

For prolonged motion sickness, see an urgent care or a primary care physician who can treat secondary issues like nausea or vomiting.

How can you prevent motion sickness?

Don’t forgo the boat ride or car trip this summer. If you are prone to motion sickness, consider the following tips:

• Stay hydrated.
• Treat any kind of sinus irritation before you travel or while you're traveling. Increased sinus inflammation can make you predisposed to motion sickness.
• Vomiting can exacerbate motion sickness. Make sure you treat the secondary symptoms.

Check out other ways you can prevent illnesses. 

Dr. Modi practices at Piedmont Physicians Brookhaven, located at 3925 Peachtree Road Northeast, Suite 300, Brookhaven, GA 30319. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Modi or one of our other primary care providers. Save time, book online.