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content:medicine:diseases:m-q:motion_sickness

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Motion sickness

Dizziness and nausea is frequently caused by unusual physical motion (or perceived motion) - e.g. air sickness, sea sickness, car sickness, VR simulation sickness etc etc.

There are three commonly-documented versions :

  • Caused by motion that is felt but not seen
  • Caused by motion that is seen but not felt
  • Caused when both systems detect motion but they do not correspond

There are currently two main theories about why this might happen :

The first is that it's a mistaken defence against neurotoxins, in other words an emetic effect designed to eliminate ingested toxins which (can) have very similar dizziness-inducing effects.

The second theory is the 'Nystagmus Hypothesis' which is explained here in : The possible role of nystagmus in motion sickness: A hypothesis Open AccessAviation Space and Environmental Medicine, 65(11):1032-5 · December 1994.

In which the authors note, however :

"[…] the mechanism by which vestibular stimulation ultimately leads to motion-sickness signs and symptoms, including emesis, has by no means been established."

Also see : Mal de debarquementplugin-autotooltip__plain plugin-autotooltip_bigMal de debarquement

Mal de debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is associated with Motion sickness i.e. sickness caused by the movement of sea air and land travel - except that it's experienced after the individual returns to the stability of dry land.

It's a persistent form of 'Land sickness' which many people experience for short periods after disembarking from a voyage.


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