Yes, you can absolutely get motion sick on a plane; this condition is specifically known as airsickness. Airsickness occurs when your body’s sensory systems, which regulate balance, become confused by the aircraft’s motion. This experience can range from a general feeling of unease to pronounced symptoms like cold sweats, dizziness, and nausea. Nearly all people are susceptible to motion sickness if the motion stimulus is intense or prolonged.
Understanding Sensory Conflict in the Air
The underlying cause of airsickness is a neurological phenomenon known as sensory conflict or mismatch theory. This occurs when the brain receives contradictory signals from the primary organs responsible for spatial orientation. In flight, your inner ear’s vestibular system, which senses balance and motion, detects the actual movement of the aircraft, such as subtle shifts, turns, and turbulence.
However, your eyes, fixed on the stationary interior of the cabin, report back to the brain that you are not moving at all. This creates a conflict between the signals of movement from your inner ear and the signals of stillness from your visual system. The brain interprets this jumbled information as a potential toxin or poison, triggering a defensive response that manifests as nausea and vomiting.
This sensory mismatch is often exacerbated by flight conditions. Periods of turbulence, rapid changes in altitude, or circling patterns before landing can intensify the motion signals detected by the inner ear. The effect is also more pronounced when a passenger is unable to see the external environment, such as in a windowless middle seat or at night. The severity of the motion stimulus, combined with the lack of visual confirmation, contributes directly to the onset of airsickness symptoms.
Non-Medical Prevention Techniques
Selecting the right seat is a primary non-medical strategy for minimizing airsickness. The best location in an airplane for reduced motion is typically over the wings because this area is closest to the plane’s center of gravity. Choosing a window seat also allows you to focus your gaze on a fixed point on the distant horizon, which helps realign the conflicting sensory inputs.
Controlling your immediate environment can also help to prevent symptoms from developing. Directing the overhead air vent to blow fresh air across your face can reduce feelings of nausea and help to dissipate any strong odors that might trigger symptoms. Furthermore, keeping your head as still as possible, perhaps resting it against a headrest, minimizes the stimulation of the fluid in your inner ear.
Travelers prone to airsickness should avoid activities that intensify the sensory conflict. Reading a book or staring at a small screen, like a phone or tablet, forces the eyes to focus on a fixed point inside the cabin while the body senses motion. Instead, close your eyes or focus on the external view, keeping movements minimal. Eating lightly before and during the flight is also advisable, avoiding heavy, greasy, or spicy foods, along with alcohol and caffeine, which can irritate the stomach.
Treatment Options for Immediate Relief
Pharmacological options are effective for treating airsickness and are often taken prophylactically before symptoms begin. Over-the-counter antihistamines like dimenhydrinate or meclizine work by blocking signals to the brain’s vomiting center. Dimenhydrinate causes drowsiness, while meclizine is often marketed as a less-drowsy option, making it preferable for travelers who need to remain alert.
A more potent option is the scopolamine transdermal patch, which requires a prescription and is applied behind the ear several hours before travel. This patch delivers medication slowly through the skin for up to 72 hours and is useful for long-haul flights or for individuals with severe susceptibility. Always discuss potential side effects and interactions with a healthcare provider before using any medication.
Natural remedies can also provide relief once symptoms manifest. Ginger, consumed as capsules, ginger snaps, or tea, is a natural anti-nausea agent that can help settle an upset stomach. Peppermint is another common alternative; some people find relief by chewing peppermint gum or inhaling the scent of peppermint essential oil.
For comfort when symptoms strike, recline your seat and close your eyes to eliminate disorienting visual input. Sipping on cold water or a clear, non-caffeinated carbonated beverage can help calm the stomach. Some travelers also find relief from acupressure wristbands, which apply pressure to the P6 point on the inner wrist.