Understanding and Overcoming Motion Sickness

By Judith Weaver

Kate will never forget that two-hour cruise on a small boat off the coast of Depoe Bay, Oregon. With about 25 other tourist, she was excited about sailing on the pacific ocean, but within half an hour, she felt dizzy, nauseous, and weak. Kate spent the next 90 minutes lying down in misery, counting the time until she could get back on solid ground. Motion sickness ruined the cruise and she has never ventured out on the ocean again.

Motion sickness comes in many forms, not just seasickness. Ninety percent of the human race is susceptible to motion sickness of one kind or another. Some people become sick when they sit in the back-seat of a car; others cannot read or look at map in any kind of moving vehicle. People get motion sickness on airplanes, motorcycles, amusement park rides, and even on camels.

Scientists have learned that motion sickness occurs when the brain is trying to make a sense of situation and there are too many conflicting messages. While the eyes are sending one message, the ears are trying to send a message about balance. The skin and bone joints, sensitive to air pressure, send still another message.

Many people who have experienced violent motion sickness try to avoid travel. But that is not always possible. So travelers should employ some well-known strategies to avoid getting sick. The most useful strategy concern food: eat a light meal before travelling and bring along a packet of plain soda crackers to snack on regularly. Avoid alcoholic and carbonated beverages, high-fat foods, and spices. Care in choosing the location of your seat is another important strategy. In a car, sit in the front seat.on a plane, sit near the wings. On a boat, sit at the front and keep your eyes fixed on the horizon.

People who still get sick after trying these strategies can try medical help. Some rely on over the counter medications, although some of them can make you sleepy. Others use simple ginger capsule to settle their stomach. A large number of travelers use pressure bands on their wrists. It is not clear how these bands work, but they do prevent motion sickness.

Answer these questions. Do not look back at the passage.

1. Where do you think this story originally appeared?
2. Is this passage fiction or nonfiction?
3. What are some ways that people can get motion sickness?
4. What parts of the body are involved in motion sickness?
5. Is there any hope for people who suffer from motion sickness?