00:00Whatever happens, don't look down.
00:04You keep telling yourself like a mantra.
00:07Your friend is laughing out loud at a cat video and you can't resist the temptation.
00:13Just one look at the screen and you ask to stop the vehicle.
00:18An old travel companion of yours is back.
00:21Its name is Motion Sickness.
00:24It has been there for centuries.
00:26The famous Greek physician Hippocrates described the way sailing on the sea affects the body over 2,000 years ago.
00:33The number of environments where you can experience this unpleasant condition has grown since Hippocrates' times.
00:40You can now get motion sick in cars, tilting trains, funfair rides, aircraft, weightlessness in outer space, and even virtual reality and simulators.
00:51But the real cause for this sensation is still a mystery.
00:54When you're inside a car that's cruising down the road, see the inside of the car as steady as a rock.
01:01But the vestibular system in your inner ear is feeling the movement.
01:05That's why even if you are traveling in a pitch-dark setting, your body still knows you're on the move.
01:11And that's why your senses start playing tug-of-war over whether you're chilling or zooming.
01:16Your vestibular system consists of three semicircular tubules, and each is responsible for its type of movement, up-down, side-to-side, and front-back.
01:27There are also two hairline sacs filled with fluid.
01:30When you move, the fluid sloshes around, tickling those hairs and sending messages to your brain about how you're grooving.
01:38This system helps you sense your body's orientation, speed, and angles.
01:43But if your eyes start telling stories that don't match the ears' wild tales, that's when the tummy turbulence begins.
01:51And it's not just about moving vehicles.
01:54Even watching a movie, especially one of those cool 3D ones, can be a culprit in this dizzy drama.
02:01Imagine the camera on screen going all wild and swoopy while you're comfortably seated.
02:07Your eyes feel like you're flying, and your ears are sending the opposite signals.
02:10And that's when the queasiness creeps in.
02:14There's another related theory explaining why it happens to some people.
02:19It has to do with controlling posture.
02:21It says that you get motion sick not just because your sensory information gets out of sync, but because you can't adjust your posture to reduce that mismatch.
02:30It does make sense because you often can't get up and straighten your spine when in a vehicle.
02:35But there isn't enough evidence to support this idea.
02:38For some people, it all ends in feeling uncomfortable, and others have to get it all out.
02:44And here comes another motion sickness mystery.
02:47Since it has to do with your eyes and ears, how does the tummy jump into the equation?
02:52One theory is that our bodies are playing an evolutionary game here.
02:57Fast vehicles are a relatively new concept on the evolutionary timeline.
03:01Our ancient bodies never signed up for this sensory roller coaster, and they're still figuring out how to deal with it.
03:09They remember the best way to deal with something poisonous is to throw it out.
03:14Back in our evolutionary past, feeling disoriented by eating poisonous stuff called for a purge response.
03:21That disoriented feeling is pretty close to the motion sickness vibe.
03:25So, when your brain gets confused by motion, your body decides it's time to go back to the good old days of purging out poison.
03:33So, it hits us all differently, and there's no single reason why some people are more prone to it than others.
03:40It has to do with your overall health and the presence of certain conditions.
03:45They might affect how well your vision and balance systems work as a team.
03:49It's also common that the younger generations reach for the paper bag more often than their parents.
03:55The type of ride you're on plays a big role in how much motion sickness you'll feel.
04:01The longer you're exposed to a bumpy ride, and the bigger the range of movement, the more severe the symptoms are going to be.
04:08If you're on a small boat during a storm for longer than eight hours, get ready for a whole symphony of queasy symptoms.
04:16But if you need to travel by train, and it's just under an hour or so, even the loose tracks shouldn't turn your trip into a stomach roller coaster.
04:25Your role during the ride also affects how you're going to feel.
04:29Lots of folks feel the motion sickness blues when they're a passenger, but not when they're behind the wheel.
04:35There's a theory that says it's all about how much control over the situation you have.
04:40As a driver, you're informed of every twist and turn on the road in advance, and you choose how fast or how slow you'll cover them.
04:48You always know when you're about to push the brake, and the car will stop abruptly.
04:52Passengers are like backup dancers who don't know the moves.
04:56They react after every twist and turn, making the motion sickness party even wilder.
05:02That's why one easy fix here is to always take the driver's seat if you know your body isn't keen on bumpy roads.
05:10If that's impossible, your second best option is the seat right next to the driver.
05:16This way, you can stare at the road ahead of you and see which twists and turns to expect next.
05:22Try to stick your eyes to the horizon. It's your safe line.
05:26Even when you go over bumps, the car will move up and down the same as your vision.
05:31There shouldn't be a conflict between the two senses, and you should be fine.
05:36If you're traveling by sea, choose the midpoint on a boat.
05:40Unless it's absolutely necessary, try to avoid traveling by a speedboat and opt for something larger and more stable instead.
05:48On a cruise ship, book a cabin in the front or the middle, closest to the water level.
05:54When choosing a plane seat, go for the window one over the wing.
05:58It's the most stable section of the plane, and even if the flight gets bumpy, you'll feel the least of it.
06:05If you're getting to your destination by train, always pick a seat facing forward, ideally by the window.
06:12This way, you'll be able to stare at the horizon all you want.
06:15Make sure you get enough air and water.
06:18If you aren't feeling well, try lying down, shutting your eyes, and getting some sleep whenever it's possible.
06:25Control your diet before and during the trip.
06:29Heavy, spicy foods, those with strong odors, and rich in fat can make you feel much worse.
06:35Plus, avoid all foods and drinks that normally don't agree with you or make you feel unusually full.
06:41Instead, get some ginger. Just a tiny pinch of encapsulated ginger root powder one hour before travel.
06:48And again, every two to four hours during the trip can help you feel better.
06:53It's easier said than done, but don't think about getting motion sick as you get on a trip.
06:59Research has shown that it can be one of the reasons you actually will get sick.
07:03For the same reason, try to avoid the company of people who talk about getting motion sickness or describe the bumpy feelings in their tummies.
07:12Try to immediately focus on some other activity to keep your brain busy.
07:16It can't be reading or watching funny cat videos in a moving car, but it can be thinking about your future destination and things you're going to do there.
07:26Tell yourself you won't get sick this time.
07:29Verbal placebos have proved themselves effective in some cases.
07:33Any VR fans out there?
07:36If you're experiencing the modern type of motion sickness called cyber sickness, try to reduce the lengths of your VR sessions.
07:43Your body should adjust to your new reality eventually, but it takes some time and training.
07:49Try to choose the games where you don't need to move around a lot, but teleport to the next location.
07:55A headset with the right distance between lenses will also help.
07:58You will only need to move your eyes around as little as possible, and you should feel better in VR land.
08:05Finally, make sure you breathe properly and the room you're playing in has enough air.
Comments