Vacation travel is a long-awaited highlight for many people this time of year. If car, airplane or boat travel is part of the plan, though, there can be a fair amount of dread as the departure date looms for some. The source of that sentiment is usually a good case of motion sickness, which, as its sufferers well know, can ruin an otherwise perfect vacation.

There is a connection in our brains between what we experience through sight and what we experience through our sense of balance mechanisms in the inner ear. When we are moving in a car, airplane or boat, our bodies experience the rolling or swaying motion, but our eyes see relative stillness. The opposite case, as in a movie with sweeping views taken from an airplane can also bring on these troubling symptoms. The body is still, but the eyes are sending messages to the brain that the body is in motion. This brain confusion is the cause of the symptoms of motion sickness.

Motion sickness strikes women more than men, and the incidence is also higher in those who suffer from migraine headaches. Youngsters between the ages of two and twelve seem to be more susceptible to motion sickness than other age groups. There are some medications (certain antidepressants, pain meds, antibiotics and heart meds) that increase the nausea associated with motion sickness.

Typically, someone who is afflicted with motion sickness will experience nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, paleness and sometimes, to add to the misery, an impending sense of doom. These symptoms will usually pass when the motion stops, although for some, it can last for several hours post-motion.

The good news is that there are several actions that can be taken to thwart the symptoms of motion sickness. First and foremost, if you are traveling by car, drive if you can. If not, then take the front passenger seat. Avoid the farthest back seats, and never read. Focus your eyes on the horizon, and use the headrest to further reduce the motion in the inner ears. Airplane travel may be smoother if you secure seats either right in front of or over the wings, and direct the airflow in your face. On a boat, avoid the lower decks, instead choosing the highest possible with the most fresh air. If you are cruising, do whatever you can to stay in rooms midship, as this is likely to be the more stable area of the boat.

Sometimes strategic positioning just isn’t enough. Many people swear by ginger, either in tea or taken in capsule form. Ginger has been shown to decrease nausea associated with pregnancy, but according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, no conclusive studies have been done regarding this herb and its effectiveness in treating motion sickness.

There are some effective pharmaceuticals available to treat motion sickness. Many of them have side effects, including significant drowsiness, so may not be appropriate for all motion sickness sufferers. If your symptoms are such that you feel medication is needed, discuss with your health care practitioner which one(s) would be most helpful for you. What alleviates your friend’s or neighbor’s motion sickness may not be the right fit for you, so your health care provider is the best source for advice.

Hopefully, if you experience motion sickness, some of this information will be helpful. After our long, cold winters and hectic schedules, a well-deserved vacation shouldn’t be hampered by a condition as unpleasant as this one.

Pam Maxson is a health educator at Noyes Hospital in Dansville. If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, she can be reached at pmaxson@noyes-hospital.org or 335-4327.