Motion sickness

For other uses, see Motion Sickness (disambiguation).
Motion sickness
Other namesKinetosis, travel sickness, seasickness, airsickness, carsickness, simulation sickness, space motion sickness, space adaptation syndrome
A drawing of people with seasickness from 1841
SpecialtyNeurology
SymptomsNausea, vomiting, cold sweat, increased salivation[1][2]
ComplicationsDehydration, electrolyte problems, lower esophageal tear[2]
CausesReal or perceived motion[1][2]
Risk factorsPregnancy, migraines, Ménière's disease[2]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms[2]
Differential diagnosisBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, stroke[2]
PreventionAvoidance of triggers[2]
TreatmentBehavioral measures, medications[3]
MedicationScopolamine, dimenhydrinate, dexamphetamine[3]
PrognosisGenerally resolve within a day[2]
FrequencyNearly all people with sufficient motion; roughly one-third highly susceptible[3]

Motion sickness occurs due to a difference between actual and expected motion.[1][2][4] Symptoms commonly include nausea, vomiting, cold sweat, headache, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, and increased salivation.[1][5] Complications may rarely include dehydration, electrolyte problems, or a lower esophageal tear.[2]

The cause of motion sickness is either real or perceived motion.[2] This may include car travel, air travel, sea travel, space travel, or reality simulation.[2] Risk factors include pregnancy, migraines, and Ménière's disease.[2] The diagnosis is based on symptoms.[2]

Treatment may include behavioral measures or medications.[3] Behavioral measures include keeping the head still and focusing on the horizon.[6][7] Three types of medications are useful: antimuscarinics such as scopolamine, H1 antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate, and amphetamines such as dexamphetamine.[3] Side effects, however, may limit the use of medications.[3] A number of medications used for nausea such as ondansetron are not effective for motion sickness.[3]

Many people are affected with sufficient motion[2] and some people will experience motion sickness at least once in their lifetime.[8] Susceptibility, however, is variable, with about one-third of the population being susceptible while the other people are affected only under very extreme conditions.[2] Women are more easily affected than men.[9] Motion sickness has been described since at least the time of Homer (c. eighth century BC).[10]

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference HaleStanney2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Cite error: The named reference Stat2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Golding, J. F. (2016). "Motion sickness". Neuro-Otology. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 137. pp. 371–390. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63437-5.00027-3. ISBN 9780444634375. ISSN 0072-9752. PMID 27638085.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ReasonBrand1975 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Hromatka, Bethann S.; Tung, Joyce Y.; Kiefer, Amy K.; Do, Chuong B.; Hinds, David A.; Eriksson, Nicholas (1 May 2015). "Genetic variants associated with motion sickness point to roles for inner ear development, neurological processes and glucose homeostasis". Human Molecular Genetics. 24 (9): 2700–2708. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddv028. PMC 4383869. PMID 25628336.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hemmerich2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Munafo2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Herron2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hemmerich2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Huppert2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).