Weekly Topic...
Simple measures may prevent
motion sickness
Downing a
protein bar and keeping your face cool may be all it takes to prevent motion sickness,
according to recent research.
Motion
sickness, caused by conflicting signals sent to the brain from the various senses, affects
only about 1% of travelers under calm conditions, but as many as 100% when severe
turbulence occurs. Few effective options are available for preventing motion sickness in
those who wish to avoid the possible side effects of nausea-preventing drugs.
This lack
of treatments prompted the researchers to examine factors that influence the development
of gastric tachyarrhythmia, a laboratory model of motion sickness induced by watching a
striped, revolving drum.
In the
first experiment, the researchers compared stomach responses and motion sickness symptom
scores of volunteers who applied a cold pack to their foreheads before the test and those
who did not.
Volunteers
who used the cold pack did not have the increase in stomach activity experienced by those
who did not use the cold pack and their symptom scores tended to be lower.
In the
second experiment, people were tested either fasting, after a protein meal or after a
carbohydrate meal.
Those who
ate a protein meal had the least stomach hyperactivity and the lowest motion sickness
symptom scores. Carbohydrate meals helped to control stomach activity but did not control
motion sickness symptoms as well as a protein meal.
Disclaimer
This information is being provided by Axiom Medical Consulting, LLC as a service. Users of
this information should make appropriate analysis and check the information to their own
satisfaction. Axiom does not warrant or represent, expressly or implied, the correctness
or accuracy of the content of the information presented in this e-mail, nor can they
accept liability or responsibility whatsoever for the consequences of its use or misuse by
anyone.
|
