Motion sickness: what to do

Motion sickness is a response to conflicting information from the eyes, inner ear and body. Early signs include uneasiness, yawning, extra saliva, warmth or a cold sweat. Nausea, dizziness and vomiting can follow. The pattern often appears during car, boat, aircraft or ride travel and improves once movement stops. Symptoms between journeys may point to another problem and merit assessment.

If you are a passenger, ask the driver to stop when safe and sit upright with your head supported. Face forward and look through the windscreen at a distant, stable object. Open a vent or move to fresh air, loosen tight clothing and breathe slowly. Avoid reading, scrolling and strong smells. Take small sips of water after nausea settles. For future trips, consider a seat with less sway and ask a pharmacist about preventive treatment.

Get medical advice if symptoms keep returning, are unusually severe, or do not settle after travel. Seek urgent care for repeated vomiting with dehydration, fainting, confusion, severe headache, chest pain, weakness, trouble speaking or a new hearing change. Do not continue driving while dizzy, nauseated or affected by medicine.

Ask how to plan your next journey, whether medicine is suitable for you, and how to manage it around driving. Tell the clinician about balance symptoms, migraines, pregnancy and all medicines or supplements you use.