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晕车 Motion Sickness

Introduction:

Motion sickness is a normal response to real, perceived, or even anticipated movement. People tend to get motion sickness on a moving boat, train, airplane, car, or amusement park rides. Although this condition is fairly common and often only a minor nuisance, it may be incapacitating for people who travel frequently -- although the more you travel, the more you get used to the motion.

Signs and Symptoms:

The most common signs and symptoms of motion sickness include:

Nausea

Paleness of the skin

Cold sweats

Vomiting

Dizziness

Headache

Increased salivation

Fatigue

Causes:

Motion sickness occurs when the body, the inner ear, and the eyes send conflicting signals to the brain. This most often happens when a person is in a moving vehicle such as a car, boat, or airplane, but it may also happen on flight simulators or amusement park rides. From inside a ship's cabin, the inner ear may sense rolling motions that the eyes cannot see, and, conversely, the eyes may see movement on a "virtual reality" simulation ride that the body does not feel. Interestingly, once a person gets used to the movement and the motion stops, symptoms may return (although usually only briefly). Sometimes just anticipating movement can cause anxiety and symptoms of motion sickness. For example, a person who had previously had motion sickness might become nauseous on an airplane before take-off.

Risk Factors:

The following are the most common risk factors for motion sickness:

Riding in a car, boat, airplane, or space shuttle

Young age -- children ages 2 - 12 are most likely to get motion sickness.

Susceptibility to nausea or vomiting

Heightened level of fear or anxiety

Poor ventilation in the vehicle

Sitting in the back seat or where you cannot see out the window

Preventive Care:

There are several ways you can try to prevent motion sickness:

Sit in the front seat in a car.

Keep your eyes on the horizon. Don't read.

Rest your head against the seat back, to keep it still.

Turn the air vents toward your face.

Don't smoke.

If you have motion sickness on a plane, try these tips:

Avoid big, greasy meals and alcohol the night before air travel.

Eat light meals or snacks that are low in calories in the 24 hours before air travel.

Avoid salty foods and dairy products before air travel.

Sit toward the front of the aircraft or in a seat by the wing.

Turn the air vent flow toward your face.

If you have motion sickness on a boat, try these preventive measures:

Ask for a cabin on the upper deck or toward the front of the ship.

When on deck, keep your eyes fixed on the horizon or visible land.