What should you know about motion sickness when you are not moving?

After a journey, the balance system may take time to readjust to a stationary room. Watching fast-moving scenes, using virtual-reality equipment or seeing traffic pass can also provoke a motion-like response in some people. Nausea, unsteadiness, headache and visual discomfort may remain for a while after travel.

If you never travelled, or if symptoms repeatedly appear while you are still, motion sickness may not be the best explanation. Inner-ear disorders, migraine, medication effects, low blood sugar and other conditions can cause similar sensations. A careful history helps separate spinning vertigo from light-headedness and from stomach upset.

Sit or lie somewhere stable, move your head slowly and focus on a still object. Reduce bright screens and visually busy environments until balance improves. Drink fluids and eat a small snack if you have not eaten. Avoid alcohol, and review any new medicine with a pharmacist rather than stopping a prescribed treatment on your own.

Record when symptoms begin, what you were looking at or doing, how long they last and whether hearing changes, headache or vomiting occurs. This information can help a clinician identify patterns and choose an appropriate examination.

Arrange medical advice for persistent or recurring symptoms without travel, new hearing loss, ringing in one ear or repeated falls. Seek urgent help for sudden weakness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, severe new headache, fainting, chest pain, breathing difficulty or inability to keep fluids down.

Explain whether the sensation is spinning, rocking or faintness, and whether changing position affects it. Ask whether your ears, vision, medicines, migraine history or hydration could be contributing. Discuss whether travel precautions or a different evaluation is appropriate.