What are the causes and symptoms of motion sickness?
While all five of the body’s sensory organs contribute to motion sickness, excess stimulation to the vestibular system within the inner ear (the body’s “balance center”) has been shown to be one of the primary reasons for this condition. Balance problems, or vertigo, are caused by a conflict between what is seen and how the inner ear perceives it, leading to confusion in the brain. This confusion may result in higher heart rates, rapid breathing, nausea and sweating, along with dizziness and vomiting. Pure optokinetic motion sickness is caused solely by visual stimuli, or what is seen. The optokinetic system is the reflex that allow the eyes to move when an object moves. Many people suffer when what they view is rotating or swaying, even if they are standing still. Additional factors that may contribute to the occurrence of motion sickness include: • Poor ventilation. • Anxiety or fear. Both have been found to lower a person’s threshold for experiencing motion sickness symptoms. • Food
