Airsickness 999351 220946563 2008-06-22T10:15:57Z DOI bot 6652755 Citation maintenance. You can [[WP:DOI|use this bot]] yourself! Please [[User:DOI_bot/bugs|report any bugs]]. {{DiseaseDisorder infobox | Name = Airsickness | ICD10 = {{ICD10|T|75|3|t|66}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|994.6}} | }} '''Airsickness''' is a sensation which is induced by air travel.<ref name=benson>{{cite book |author=Benson AJ |title=Motion Sickness. In: Medical Aspects of Harsh Environments |volume=2 |chapter=35 |location=Borden Institute |place=Washington, DC |date=[[2002]] |url=http://www.bordeninstitute.army.mil/published_volumes/harshEnv2/harshEnv2.html |accessdate=2008-05-09 }}</ref> It is a specific form of [[motion sickness]], and is considered a normal response in healthy individuals. Airsickness occurs when the [[central nervous system]] receives conflicting messages from the body (including the [[inner ear]], [[eye]]s and [[muscle]]s) affecting [[balance]] and [[Equilibrioception|equilibrium]].<!--inoperative link ref>[http://www.ineed2know.org/motion-?sickness.htmreferrer=adwords&kw=airsickness&gclid=CPuw1tTf5oMCFSgcIgodgznuIQ Motion Sickness Facts]</ref--> The [[inner ear]] is particularly important in the maintenance of balance and equilibrium because it contains sensors for both angular (rotational) and linear motion. Airsickness is usually a combination of [[spatial]] [[disorientation]], [[nausea]] and vomiting.<ref name=faa>Antunano, Melchor J., M.D. [http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/SpatialD.pdf ''Medical Facts for Pilots'' (pdf)] [[Federal Aviation Administration]], Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. Publication: AM-400-03/1.</ref> Experimentally, airsickness can be eliminated in [[monkey]]s by removing part of the [[cerebellum]], namely the nodulus of the [[vermis]].<ref>Lackner, James R. [http://www.graybiel.brandeis.edu/publications/PDF/191_ms_encns.pdf ''Motion sickness'' (pdf).]</ref> == Signs & Symptoms == Common signs and symptoms of airsickness include: Nausea, vomiting, [[Vertigo (medical)|vertigo]], loss of appetite, cold sweating, skin [[pallor]], difficulty concentrating, confusion, drowsiness, headache, and increased fatigue.<ref name=benson/> Severe airsickness may cause a person to become completely incapacitated.<ref name=benson/><ref name=faa/> == Susceptibility to Airsickness== The following factors increase some people's susceptibility to airsickness: *[[Fatigue (physical)|Fatigue]], stress, and anxiety, are some factors that can increase susceptibility to motion sickness of any type. *The use of [[alcohol]], drugs, and medications may also contribute to airsickness. *Additionally, airsickness is more common in women (especially during [[menstruation]] or [[pregnancy]]), young children, and individuals prone to other types of motion sickness.<ref>Hain, Timothy C., M.D. (2006) [http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/central/motion.htm ''Motion Sickness''.]</ref> *Although airsickness is uncommon among experienced pilots, it does occur with some frequency in student pilots.<ref name=faa/> ==Avoiding Airsickness== {{Unreferencedsection|date=December 2007}} Travelers who are susceptible to motion sickness can minimize symptoms by: *Choosing seats with the smoothest ride in regards to pitch (the seats over the wings in an airplane).<ref name=benson/> *Sitting facing forward while focusing on distant objects rather than trying to read or look at something inside the airplane. *Eating dry crackers, [[olive]]s or suck on a [[lemon]], to dry out the mouth, lessening nausea. *Drinking a carbonated beverage. *Susceptible student pilots should be handed the controls if they experience nausea. This will, in most cases, eliminate the sickness. ==Treatment of Airsickness== ===Medication=== Medications that may alleviate the symptoms of airsickness<ref name=benson/> include: *[[meclizine]] (Antivert, Bonine) *[[dimenhydrinate]] (Dramamine)<ref>{{cite journal |author=Weinstein SE, Stern RM |title=Comparison of marezine and dramamine in preventing symptoms of motion sickness |journal=Aviat Space Environ Med |volume=68 |issue=10 |pages=890–4 |year=[[1997]] |month=October |pmid=9327113 }}</ref> *[[diphenhydramine]] (Benadryl) *[[scopolamine]] (available in both patch and oral form).<ref>{{cite journal |author=Spinks AB, Wasiak J, Villanueva EV, Bernath V |title=Scopolamine (hyoscine) for preventing and treating motion sickness |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |volume= |issue=3 |pages=CD002851 |year=[[2007]] |pmid=17636710 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD002851.pub3}}</ref> *[[ginger]] capsules <ref>{{cite journal | last = Ernst | first = E. | coauthors = and M. H. Pittler | year = 2000 | title = Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials | journal = British Journal of Anaesthesia | volume = 84 | issue = 3 | pages = 367–371 | url = http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/3/367 | format = PDF | accessdate = 2006-09-06 | pmid = 10793599}}</ref> Pilots who are susceptible to airsickness should not take anti-motion sickness medications ([[medical prescription|prescription]] or [[Over-the-counter substance|over-the-counter]]).<ref name=benson/><ref name=faa/> These medications can make one drowsy or affect brain functions in other ways. ===NonPharmacologic Remedies=== A method to increase pilot resistance to airsickness consists of repetitive exposure to the flying conditions that initially resulted in airsickness. In other words, repeated exposure to the flight environment decreases an individual’s susceptibility to subsequent airsickness.<ref name=benson/> Recently, several devices have been introduced that are intended to reduce motion sickness through stimulation of various body parts (usually the wrist).<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bertolucci LE, DiDario B |title=Efficacy of a portable acustimulation device in controlling seasickness |journal=Aviat Space Environ Med |volume=66 |issue=12 |pages=1155–8 |year=[[1995]] |month=December |pmid=8747609 }}</ref> ===Natural Remedies=== There are numerous alternative remedies for motion sickness. The most popular are [[ginger]] derivatives, such as ginger tea or powdered ginger capsules.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Ernst | first = E. | coauthors = and M. H. Pittler | year = [[2000]] | title = Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials | journal = British Journal of Anaesthesia | volume = 84 | issue = 3 | pages = 367–371 | url = http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/3/367 | format = PDF | accessdate = 2006-09-06 | pmid = 10793599}}</ref> When the hosts of the popular [[United States|American]] television program [[MythBusters (season 3)#Seasickness - Kill or Cure?|Mythbusters]] tested motion sickness remedies, they found that ginger was one of the most effective non-prescription remedies; however, the clinical study was inconclusive as the sample size was only two, and efficacy over placebo was not proven. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==See also== *[[Airsickness bag]] *[[Motion sickness]] {{Consequences of external causes}} [[Category:Aviation medicine]] [[Category:Neurological disorders]]