Is motion sickness safe in travellers?

Motion sickness happens when signals from the eyes, inner ear and body do not agree about movement. It may cause nausea, dizziness, sweating, headache, increased saliva or vomiting. Cars, boats, aircraft and amusement rides can all trigger it, especially when you read or look down while moving.

For many travellers, symptoms settle when the movement stops. Safety depends on how severe the symptoms are and whether another illness, medicine effect or heat exposure could be contributing.

Choose a seat with a steady view of the horizon: near the front of a vehicle, over the wings of an aircraft or on the middle of a boat. Face forward, keep your head still and use fresh air when possible. Avoid reading, heavy meals and alcohol during the journey.

Take small sips of fluid and plan breaks on long trips. A pharmacist or doctor can advise whether a motion-sickness medicine is appropriate; some cause drowsiness and can affect driving, alcohol use or other medicines.

Get medical help if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, feel faint, become confused or develop severe weakness. Seek urgent care for chest pain, trouble breathing, a severe headache, new one-sided weakness, blood in vomit or symptoms that continue after travel has ended.

Ask which preventive option fits your trip, when to take it, whether it causes drowsiness, and how to manage vomiting if you have diabetes, pregnancy or another long-term condition.