Motion sickness is a common physical reaction that occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals about the body’s movement and position. While frequently associated with car or boat travel, air travel presents unique conditions that trigger feelings of nausea, dizziness, and discomfort. The confined environment of an airplane cabin, combined with the unseen movements of the aircraft, creates a scenario where the body’s sensory inputs become confused. Understanding this sensory disconnect is the first step toward effectively managing and preventing airsickness.
The Sensory Conflict Triggered by Air Travel
The underlying cause of motion sickness is the sensory conflict theory, where the brain attempts to interpret mismatched information from the body’s spatial orientation systems. Air travel creates a significant disconnect between the inner ear’s vestibular system and the visual system. The vestibular system, located within the inner ear, uses fluid-filled canals to detect motion, acceleration, and changes in gravity. When an airplane ascends, descends, or banks, these canals register the actual movement of the head and body.
A passenger looking around the cabin sees a stationary environment, such as fixed seats and walls. The eyes tell the brain that the body is still, while the inner ear reports that the body is moving through three-dimensional space. This contradiction between the visual and vestibular inputs is interpreted by the central nervous system as disorientation, leading to symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Turbulence further exaggerates this conflict, as sudden, erratic movements are registered by the inner ear without a corresponding visual cue of movement inside the cabin.
Non-Pharmacological Strategies for Prevention
Choosing the right seat location minimizes the physical movement experienced. The most stable area on an airplane is over the wings, as this section is closest to the aircraft’s center of gravity and experiences the least pitch and roll during flight. Passengers prone to airsickness should secure a window seat in this area, typically in the middle third of the plane.
A window seat allows the passenger to focus on the actual horizon, which helps align the visual input with the vestibular system’s perception of movement. If looking outside is not possible, closing the eyes or resting the head against the seat back to restrict head movement can be helpful. Distraction techniques, such as listening to music or engaging in conversation, can shift the focus away from the unsettling physical sensations.
Dietary choices before and during the flight significantly impact susceptibility to motion sickness. It is advised to avoid heavy, greasy, or spicy foods, as well as alcohol, which can irritate the stomach lining and exacerbate nausea. Instead, consuming light snacks, such as plain crackers, and staying well-hydrated is a gentler approach. Directing the overhead air vent to blow cool air onto the face may also help, as cool air circulation can reduce the feeling of uneasiness.
Navigating Medications and Timing
For those who find behavioral adjustments insufficient, pharmacological options offer another layer of prevention. Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, such as dimenhydrinate and meclizine, are common first-line treatments for motion sickness. These medications work by blocking histamine receptors in the brain that trigger nausea when conflicting sensory signals are received.
The effectiveness of these oral medications relies on proper timing, as they are preventative rather than curative. Dimenhydrinate must be taken 30 minutes to one hour before the anticipated start of travel or motion. Once symptoms of nausea begin, gastric stasis can occur, preventing the pill from being properly absorbed and rendering it ineffective.
Prescription Options
For longer or more intense motion exposure, a prescription transdermal scopolamine patch is often considered. This patch is applied to the hairless skin behind the ear and releases medication over a period of up to 72 hours. To reach the necessary therapeutic concentration, the scopolamine patch must be applied at least four hours before the flight begins. Both OTC antihistamines and scopolamine can cause side effects, most commonly drowsiness and dry mouth.