Car sick!

[boognish76]

I have been car sick since I was a child. Now, in adulthood, it rarely bothers me except when I try to read in the car. I know that car sickness is caused by fluid in the inner ear moving about so what difference does reading make? And for that matter, why am I never car sick when I'm driving?

[natalie_1982]

I can't answer your Q but I don't get travel sick, although reading in a car makes me feel sick too.

[andy hughes]

the problem is the conflicting information reaching your brain. The fluid in your ears tells your brain that you are moving. Focusing your eyes on a book tells your brain that you are in fact imobile, et voila! Confusion = nausea, which if not corrected by aligning the information - either stopping the car, or looking out of the window, then vomiting follows.

[andy hughes]

Sorry, missed a bit - when you are driving, all your senses are focused on driving, so your eyes agree with your brain that you are moving, so no nausea.

[twiggyfr3ak]

That happens to me too. Probably cause you can't see whats going on. I am fine on a boat as long as i can see the sea. Otherwise it's terrible

[nicola_red]

My brother and I are 23 and 30 and have both been terribly car sick since childhood. I can't even look down in a car or on a bus or train, never mind read. Those accupressure bands you can buy in Boots etc do seem to help though.

[slimjim]

I remember heering once that drivers are never sick because they lean into bends (even if only slightly so without realising it). So, years ago I tried doing that whenever I didn't feel good on a journey and it worked. Now I always do this and it works for me. And I can never read in a car.

[georgit79]

I have exactly the same problem. Was very sick in the car as a child, and now it only happens when I'm reading. Personally, I reckon I've psychologically programmed myself to feel ill unless I'm concentrating on something outside the car.

[boognish76]

Thanks for all your replies - they make a lot of sense though they don't explain why I can read perfectly happily on a bus! I suppose that's just me. georgit79 - I know what you mean. As a child my vomit avoidance strategy was to try go to sleep, and now I can't help dozing off on any journey over 10 miles! I read in a magazine once that if you feel sick in the car you should run your finger lightly up and down between your breastbone and your navel. I think it works or maybe it just works because I think it does!