Reading on a plane can certainly make you feel sick. This discomfort is a form of motion sickness, which is triggered when the brain receives contradictory information about the body’s movement. While the plane’s movement is the root cause, the act of reading creates an internal storm that amplifies symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and general malaise.
Understanding Sensory Mismatch
The root cause of airsickness is sensory mismatch, a conflict between the visual system and the vestibular system. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, acts as the body’s internal accelerometer, constantly sensing acceleration, deceleration, and the tilt of the head.
When you are reading a book or a device, your eyes are fixed on a stationary object inches from your face, and the visual system signals to your brain that you are not moving. Simultaneously, the fluid-filled canals and otolith organs of your inner ear detect the subtle movements of the aircraft, such as turns, climbs, and any unexpected bumps. The brain struggles to reconcile the “we are stationary” message from the eyes with the “we are moving” message from the inner ear.
This disconnect confuses the central nervous system, which may interpret the conflicting signals as a sign of poisoning, triggering a protective response. The body’s defensive mechanism is to induce nausea and vomiting to expel the perceived poison. Because reading intensely focuses the visual field on a static point, it blocks the brain from receiving the external visual cues it needs to verify the inner ear’s motion data, maximizing the sensory conflict.
Amplifying Effects of the Aircraft Environment
Air travel involves low-frequency, unpredictable motions that are highly effective at inducing motion sickness. The subtle, persistent vibrations from the engines and airframe introduce a constant, low-level stimulation to the inner ear, contributing to the overall sensory load.
Turbulence, characterized by sudden and erratic changes in vertical and lateral motion, causes abrupt shifts in the forces detected by the vestibular system. These unpredictable movements heighten the conflict between the static visual input from the reading material and the dynamic movement felt by the body. Factors like poor ventilation or strong odors within the cabin can also exacerbate feelings of nausea, lowering the threshold for motion sickness symptoms to appear.
Practical Strategies to Prevent Nausea
Choosing the right seat can make a noticeable difference, as the ride is most stable in seats located over the wing. If possible, select a window seat to occasionally glance at the horizon, as this provides a fixed visual reference that helps the brain reconcile the motion.
Take frequent breaks to look up and around the cabin to re-orient your visual field. Keep your head as still as possible, resting it against the headrest to limit unnecessary movement of the inner ear fluid. Directing the overhead air vent to blow cool air onto your face can help alleviate the feeling of clamminess and nausea.
Over-the-counter antihistamines like dimenhydrinate or meclizine should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before the flight to be effective. Ginger in the form of supplements or chews is a natural remedy known to have anti-nausea effects without causing drowsiness. Avoid large, greasy, or spicy meals before and during the flight, as a heavy stomach is more prone to distress when combined with motion.