If you get queasy or nauseous while flying, you’re far from alone. About one in three people are "highly susceptible" to motion sickness and its symptoms – dizziness, sweating, pale skin, nausea, burping, hyperventilation, and vomiting. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can try to prevent or reduce motion sickness while flying to help you feel more comfortable and in control until you get back on the ground.
What Causes Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness can be triggered when your brain gets conflicting signals or information from the inner ear, eyes, and body. People prone to motion sickness may experience it in cars, boats, planes, or amusement park rides. Sudden turbulence or changes in altitude can also trigger motion sickness if the body’s central nervous system gets overwhelmed by an unexpected shift in motion.
Are Some People More Susceptible?
Motion sickness is more common in children ages 2 to 12 and women, according to The Cleveland Clinic. Studies suggest that genetics makes some people more susceptible to motion sickness. If your mother, dad, sister, or brother gets motion sick, you are more likely to experience symptoms.
Avoiding Motion Sickness Starts When You Book Your Flight
If you have a history of motion sickness, here are a few tips to remember if you plan to travel by plane.
Choose Your Seat Carefully. Select a seat over the wing to reduce the feeling of turbulence or by a window so you can focus on the horizon to help eliminate those conflicting signals to your brain. If those seats are already booked, look for seats at the front of the plane, where you won't feel as much turbulence.
Watch What You Eat and Drink. The night before your flight, avoid foods that might upset your stomach, including anything spicy, fatty, or greasy. Also, skip alcoholic drinks. If you are a smoker, take a break before flying.
At the Airport
Stock a carry-on bag with some of the most reliable medicines, gums, and acupressure devices that can help prevent or relieve the symptoms of motion sickness. Here are a few suggestions of things to try:
Take diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Liqui-Gel capsules. This is a favorite motion sickness prevention tip from Dr. Eugene Delaune, the medical director of SentinelMED. As Delaune told Travel + Leisure, this medicine helps with nausea and can cause drowsiness. "On longer flights, taking 50 milligrams of Benadryl will help with nausea and getting sleep,” Delaune told the magazine.
He cautioned that people who haven't taken Benadryl before should try it at home before flying "as some people will have a paradoxical reaction to the medicine."
For children, try dimenhydrinate (Dramamine). Look for a children’s version that is labeled for children ages 2 to 12. Dimenhydrinate should not be given to children under 2 without first consulting a doctor.
Wear acupressure wristbands. Order these online or stop by a drugstore before your trip. Worn correctly, these bands will put pressure on the P6 point to stimulate the median nerve and interrupt the “I’m sick” message from getting to your brain.
Try ginger. Ginger is an effective and low-cost treatment for nausea. It is available in gums, chews, lozenges, and tea. Some people also find that peppermint can help prevent motion sickness.
Talk to your doctor about prescription patches. These are often used by cruise ship passengers who suffer from sea sickness. If you experience severe motion sickness, talk to your doctor to see if such patches might help.
Read More from Dr. Eugene Delaune
As the medical director of SentinelMED, Dr. Eugene Delaune is frequently interviewed by the media for his insight on current health topics. He is also a senior medical consultant for Allianz Medical Insurance, a SentinelMED partner. To learn more about Delaune or to read his travel tips, click here.
About SentinelMED
SentinelMED provides medical escort and transport services for patients who need assistance with long-distance travel. In many cases, our medical escorts travel with patients on commercial flights, a cost-effective alternative to air ambulance services.
Other services offered by SentinelMED include medical evacuation and repatriation for people who become ill or injured while traveling and need assistance to return home.
At SentinelMED, we understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to domestic medical travelers. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our services and staff.
