Tailwind Tuesday: Motion Sickness

How to prevent feeling motion sick

Welcome back to Tailwind Tuesday! Have you ever felt motion sick? I’ve never had an issue in an airplane, but it’s not too uncommon in small planes to feel worse. In my years as a CFI, I’ve had several students feel ill during lessons. Most of them were one-off cases, but heat and dehydration can wreak havoc on a pilot’s and a passenger’s systems. This week, we get to explore ways to mitigate motion sickness and what to do when you experience it.

A few weeks ago, I took a couple of kids on their first flight. Both of the boys were excited and taking pictures before the flight. I gave them a briefing, and then we were off to the runway! Now, think of a small plane like a small fishing boat. Small planes get pushed around by the air more than large airliners do. Some people love it, some people hate it, but you eventually grow accustomed to it.

When we took off, everything seemed to go smoothly, but as the bumps from the afternoon air began pushing the aircraft around, a formerly-excited passenger looked less and less thrilled. I’m not new to motion sickness, but I hoped that he would only have a little discomfort. Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario happened, and I had to break out the sick sacks. The motion sickness got the best of him, and I was glad our flight wasn’t too long. You can try to mitigate motion sickness by finding smoother air, but sometimes there’s nothing you can do for a passenger. So, let’s look at what causes it.

What causes motion sickness?

Without boring you with all the medical and scientific details, motion sickness occurs when the brain and body are out of balance. Your brain uses multiple ways to figure out where it is in space. The three systems it primarily uses are called the somatosensory, vestibular, and visual. Those are all fancy ways of saying, “The body keeps itself oriented using the eyes, organs in the ears, and the nerves in the body.” If, for whatever reason, the brain receives conflicting signals from one or all of those systems, it can lose its balance and succumb to motion sickness or spatial disorientation. The brain will then trigger the same pathways it uses to remove toxins from the body, which can lead to nausea.

Dehydration

You may also become more susceptible to motion sickness in very hot environments and when you’re dehydrated. Dehydration stresses the body and reduces its ability to cope with nausea or motion sickness. Staying properly hydrated will help your body feel more relaxed and comfortable, further reducing the risk of motion sickness.

Concussions

Another secret danger that you may not consider is the aftereffects of a concussion. The concussion can damage the brain’s visual and vestibular systems. This damage impairs a person’s ability to interpret motion signals properly, increasing the risk of motion sickness.

How can you prevent it?

Medication

The simplest remedy is taking a medicine to relieve or prevent the feelings of motion sickness. It may not always work, but if you have a history of motion sickness, they are worth a try. You can get many over-the-counter remedies, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine (Bonine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), promethazine, and scopolamine. If you’re a pilot or an aspiring pilot, you may not be allowed to take these medications as the FAA heavily scrutinizes medication use. If you do, always consult an aviation medical examiner who can guide you down the right path.

Looking forward

Looking forward helps keep your eyes engaged and aligned with the aircraft’s motion. Remember, your brain registers motion sickness when the vestibular system is out of sync with your other senses. Looking forward helps your brain predict where the aircraft is heading and cross-checks what it feels inside the ear. I know several people who can fly an airplane or sit in the front without an issue, but those same people will feel sick if they aren’t in control or able to see out the windshield. Everyone is a bit different, but that’s one thing you can try to help reduce the sick feeling.

Proper rest and hydration

Motion sickness is one way the body responds to stress. Dehydration and fatigue increase the body’s stress. If you want a better chance at fighting motion sickness, give it all the support you can. Drink plenty of fluids and add some electrolytes, especially if you’ve been outside all day. Your brain and body need water and essential minerals to function. Help it recover with sleep, and give it the proper fuel during the day.

Fresh Air

The last thing you can do is try to get some cool, fresh air to the person experiencing motion sickness. If you search online for this one, you may find several answers. How effective or beneficial this one is, I can’t say for sure. However, fresh air should stimulate the brain, lower its temperature, and help remove any unpleasant odors from the area. It’s not perfect, but if you’re sick, I would try anything at that point.

Ways to think about turbulence

Often, what makes someone feel motion sick is the little rocks, bumps, and bounces during a flight. They may feel anxious (stress), and that then puts their mind and body in a compromised position. So, to help you understand what turbulence is, I want you to imagine something.

Picture a lake. Now, picture yourself in a small boat on the lake. Now, imagine the wind is blowing, and you have some waves in the water, causing the boat to rock up and down.

The same thing happens with an airplane. The air is like the water, and the plane is like the boat. The air moves around, and the airplane gets pushed a little bit by it. The small bumps can be unpleasant, but they aren’t dangerous. Turbulence, unless it’s severe, won’t cause an issue for the airplane. If you aren’t expecting it, it may be a bit startling, but just put the plane back where you want it and keep going about your day. Eventually, it becomes like riding a bike, and you don’t even think about it anymore than you do balancing on a bicycle.

Hopefully, this week has helped inform you about some of the effects and remedies for motion sickness. When your brain falls out of balance, so does your body, and it reacts by trying to remove anything that might have caused it. That’s why you feel nauseous. Medications like Dramamine and scopolamine can help reduce the body’s response, but may not work 100% of the time. Motion sickness isn’t weird; in fact, it’s quite common. Give yourself the best shot by preparing beforehand. If you’re flying, avoid stressing about turbulence; thinking about the bumps won’t make your symptoms better. The plane is like a boat on the water; it won’t suddenly fall out of the sky. Trust the pilot; they don’t want to be in turbulence any more than you do. It’s going to be all right. So, until next week, keep your head straight and fly smoothly.

CFI, out.

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