If you vomit when you travel here are tips for you

Jun 29, 2008

MANY times, we have seen people travelling with us vomit. Most of these people get the problem every time they travel. According to www.entassociates.com, this is called motion sickness.

By Caroline Ayugi

MANY times, we have seen people travelling with us vomit. Most of these people get the problem every time they travel. According to www.entassociates.com, this is called motion sickness.

It is usually a minor annoyance and does not signify any serious medical illness. However, the condition can be debilitating with some travellers suffering the symptoms for a few days after the travelling.

Causes of motion sickness
Kizito Wamala, a clinical psychologist in Gulu, says vomiting is caused by the physiological contraction of the intestinal muscles, thus forcing out the stomach contents up the oesophagus through the mouth.

He says nausea, which normally leads to vomiting is a psychological reaction of theparasympathetic nervous system to a situation or a state of physical or psychological well-being.

For instance, in a bus with many passengers, different perfumes, odours and exhaust gases can be sniffed by the sufferer.

The nervous system, therefore, reacts to the situation as unsafe, suffocating, filthy and unhealthy. The person then gets anxious feelings of nervousness.

Eventually, the person gets stomach disturbances (because there is a connection between our minds and stomachs), and nausea which further escalates their anxiety, ending in vomiting.

Vomiting while travelling is therefore more of a physiological occurrence, although psychologists say, aspects that follow it are not merely physiological, but largely psychological.

Kizito adds that worrying about motion sickness makes the condition worse.
www.entassociates.com/dizziness notes that motion sickness relates to the sense of balance.

A person’s sense of balance is maintained by a complex interaction of the inner ears, which scrutinise the directions; the eyes which observe where the body is and also the directions of motion; the skin pressure receptors like the joints and spine, which tell what part of the body is down and touching the ground; and the muscle and joint sensory receptors, which tell what parts of the body are moving.

Control motion sickness
According to www.entassociates.com people with severe cases of motion sickness and those that become progressively worse should see a doctor specialising in diseases of the ear, nose, throat, equilibrium, and neurological systems.

Avoid situations that trigger dizziness, such as stress and anxiety; and substances you are allergic to.

Always ride where your eyes will see the same activity. You can sit in the front seat or by the window and look at a distant scenery. Do not to sit facing backward.

Avoid reading while travelling.

Avoid strong odours and spicy or greasy foods before and during travel.
People should also avoid talking to a traveller who is suffering from motion sickness because they might make them more anxious and worsen the condition.

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