Airsickness is a specific form of motion sickness which is induced by air travel 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, eyes and muscles) affecting balance and equilibrium.<!--inoperative link ref>Motion Sickness Facts</ref-->
Whereas commercial airline passengers may simply feel poorly, the effect of airsickness on military aircrew may lead to a decrement in performance and adversely affect the mission.
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.
Signs and symptoms
Common symptoms of airsickness include:
Nausea, vomiting, vertigo, loss of appetite, cold sweating, skin pallor, difficulty concentrating, confusion, drowsiness, headache, and increased fatigue.
- Although airsickness is uncommon among experienced pilots, it does occur with some frequency in student pilots.
- diphenhydramine
- scopolamine (available in both patch and oral form).
Pilots who are susceptible to airsickness are usually advised not to take anti-motion sickness medications (prescription or over-the-counter).
The Italian Air Force also uses a similar spinning chair and psychologic relaxation techniques which yields an 82% long-term success rate, over a 10-day training period.
Several devices have been introduced that are intended to reduce motion sickness through stimulation of various body parts (usually the wrist).
Alternative medicine
Alternative treatments include ginger and acupuncture, with variable effectiveness.
See also
- Acclimatization
- Airsickness bag
- Motion sickness
- Space adaptation syndrome