Healthcommunities.com, Doctors Helping People Online for Over 10 years Healthcommunities.com
Home Search SiteMap Contact Us Forum

Motion Sickness


Overview

Physician-developed and -monitored.

Original Date of Publication: 28 Aug 2008
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 13 Aug 2008

Original Source: http://www.pediatrichealthchannel.com/motion-sickness/index.shtml

Home » Motion Sickness » Overview

Overview



Motion sickness is relatively common in children. The condition often occurs as a result of motion or movement during travel. Some children experience motion sickness while riding on playground equipment (e.g., swing, merry-go-round), on amusement park rides, or on a school bus.

Motion sickness causes stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, dizziness (vertigo), and other symptoms, which are temporary and resolve after motion stops. When the condition occurs in an automobile, it sometimes is called car sickness. When motion sickness occurs on a boat or ship, it can be called sea sickness, and when it occurs in an airplane, it can be called air sickness.

During movement, the central nervous system (CNS; i.e., brain and spinal cord) uses information from nerve cells (called neurons) to help maintain balance (also called equilibrium). Nerve cells throughout the body send signals to the brain through the spinal cord. The brain receives and processes these signals to determine the position and orientation of the body—the direction the body is facing, whether the entire body or parts of the body are moving or still, and in which direction and at what speed the body is moving or turning. Motion sickness occurs as a result of conflicting signals within the nervous system—between nerve cells that detect movement or motion and the brain.

Nerves that sense movement are located throughout the body, including the following:

  • Inner ears (called the labyrinths; help monitor direction of movement, such as turning, side to side, forward and backward, up and down)
  • Eyes (help determine the direction and speed of movement and the orientation of the body in relationship to surrounding objects—upside down, rightside up)
  • Skin (e.g., of the hands, feet, back; help detect pressure and determine which parts of the body are in contact with surrounding objects, such as the ground or a chair)
  • Muscles and joints (e.g., in the arms, legs, neck, back; help detect which parts of the body are moving)

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Motion Sickness (continued...)

Comment on the above article

Browser Comments
    There are currently no comments.

Motion Sickness Resources

Join Our Motion Sickness Forum

Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience?

The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.



Living with...Share your story

Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others?

As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.

Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues.

Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience.

Help others by sharing your story.

View stories already submitted.

Stay Updated

Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.


To quickly access health information from your website's browser,
download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar.



Home