Motion sickness on the train - a guide for travellers | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Motion sickness is triggered when the inner ear senses movement that the eyes do not confirm
• Children are more commonly affected than adults due to underdevelopment of balance-related brain areas
• Sitting facing the direction of travel and looking ahead significantly reduces symptoms
• Ginger is a popular natural remedy and can help reduce nausea for many travellers
• Anti-nausea medications should be taken before departure as directed on the product leaflet
• Persistent or severe motion sickness after every journey is worth discussing with a specialist You can check and buy night-time connections, for example to Zakopane, in the PolishTrains search engine by choosing departure times that best fit your travel plans.

Motion sickness - what is it anyway?

Motion sickness - what is it actually? It is a set of symptoms that appear in particularly susceptible people when moving around in different types of vehicles, such as a car, plane, ship, train, but also when playing on a carousel. Usually its unpleasant symptoms appear in children, but unfortunately it can also affect a wide range of adults.

It is presumed that the vagus, the organ responsible for maintaining balance, is to blame for its symptoms. When the vagus registers the state of immobility of the body while sitting in a chair, but at the same time the eyes observe the changing landscape outside the window, it becomes disturbed. A not insignificant role is played here by the brain lobes, which literally "go crazy" and are unable to process the data they receive correctly. The underdevelopment of this area in young children may be the reason for the higher incidence of motion sickness in children.

What are the symptoms of motion sickness? Usually it is headache, nausea and vomiting. Importantly, in many people the symptoms do not disappear even after leaving the vehicle, but can continue for many hours. There may be pallor of the skin, the appearance of cold sweats and a slowed heart rate.

Usually, motion sickness experienced in childhood grows out of itself. You can check and buy night-time connections, for example to Zakopane, in the PolishTrains search engine by choosing departure times that best fit your travel plans. Its symptoms pass around the age of 6, rarely 13. Interestingly, kinetosis is not experienced by infants, due to the semi-recumbent position in which they travel. However, due to its nature as a condition of vagus disorders, symptoms can always appear, even in adulthood.

Motion sickness on the train

Motionsickness on a train is somewhat less common because it is a large vehicle where movement, sudden braking, etc. are less noticeable. This is why motion sickness usually affects passengers travelling by car, because on the way the driver alternately speeds up and slows down, and there are also turns every now and then.

Nevertheless, people with a sensitive vagus can get motion sickness on the train. This is very inconvenient, because it is impossible, for example, to interrupt the journey to get some fresh air and at least get off the moving train for a while. This is why many particularly sensitive people prefer overnight connections. There is more chance of sleep then, and there is little to see out of the window, so the vagus is less confused.

A short list of things worth keeping to hand:

• Water: drink small sips throughout the journey

• Light snack: crackers, a banana, dry bread

• OTC medicine or ginger preparation: take as directed in the leaflet, before departure

• Acupressure wristband: optional, worn on the wrist

• Chewing gum or mint sweets: in case of sudden nausea

• Sick bag: especially when travelling with a child

• Headphones and an eye mask: if you want to make it easier to have a nap

If you are taking more things, check the guide to luggage and preparing for your journey in the PolishTrains help centre. *You can buy a ticket without registering - it is sent to your email and by SMS, and 30 minutes before departure you will receive an SMS reminder with a link to the ticket. ## How to get rid of motion sickness?

Motion sickness cannot be unequivocally cured. It is simply that sometimes its symptoms occur and sometimes they do not. This is why many measures are taken either as a preventative measure or after symptoms have already appeared on a long journey. You can't always predict when motion sickness will hit you on the train, which makes prevention all the more important.

How do you get rid of motion sickness? Some people choose natural, but sometimes not entirely effective, methods such as sealing the navel with a plaster. This has no medical justification, but according to some, it really helps. Another such method popular with young children is various types of wristbands. Some see gentle acupressure as helping - pressure on the wrist of the hand is supposed to prevent symptoms of the condition. It is not certain that this will help, but on the other hand it is unlikely to harm, so it is worth trying.

With motion sickness, the most important thing is to alleviate the symptoms that accompany it, such as nausea and vomiting. Ginger, which is also often used by pregnant women, can certainly help. Simply chew on a piece of fresh root or choose one of the many tablets containing extract from its rhizome.

Pharmacies and shops offer numerous over-the-counter remedies in the form of capsules, lozenges, lollipops or syrups. Please note that these will work less effectively once the symptoms have already appeared. The best way to prevent motion sickness on the train is, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, to take the first tablet up to 30 minutes before you set off and to take the subsequent tablets at regular intervals of several hours. Usually these remedies are homeopathic, so they do not weaken the liver, and there are few contraindications to their use. It is always advisable to choose remedies that are as natural as possible and only then reach for stronger ones. Remember that some also contain ingredients with a sleeping effect. This helps some children.

Give up heavy, fatty food and overeating before a train ride. This can exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms. Also, don't risk riding with an empty stomach. Something light but nutritious is best, such as a salad or a healthy wrap. If you are travelling by train for several hours, make sure you also pack something to eat to help with the gastric suction (which can also lead to nausea).

A short list of things worth keeping close at hand:

• Water: drink in small sips throughout the journey

• Light snack: crackers, a banana, dry bread

• OTC medicine or ginger preparation: take before departure, as stated in the leaflet

• Wristband: optional, worn on the wrist

• Chewing gum or mint sweets: for sudden nausea

• Sick bag: especially when travelling with a child

• Headphones and an eye mask: if you want to make it easier to have a nap

If you are taking more things with you, check the guide to luggage and preparing for your journey in the PolishTrains help centre. You can buy a ticket without registering - it is sent by email and SMS, and 30 minutes before departure you will receive an SMS reminder with a link to the ticket. Nowadays, most trains are equipped with air conditioning, which dries out the air. Therefore, before travelling by train, even if it is not a long journey, remember to take water with you and drink it in small sips all the way. Coffee bought on the train is not always a good option. Some people just react to it with headaches and nausea. If you are one of these people, don't take the risk.

A good way to get rid of motion sickness on the train is to reach for chewing gum or peppermint candy. The sucking reflex weakens the negative response from the vagus. Swallowing saliva helps to cope with nausea. Therefore, always have a packet of such sweets in your pocket or purse.

What other methods are there?

What other methods are there to prevent motion sickness? On the train, choose your seats according to the direction of travel. Try not to look out of the window, as the rapidly changing scenery can upset the vagus. Some people are even unable to read while on the train. The best way to survive the symptoms of motion sickness may simply be to sleep. The sleepy sound of carriages rolling down the tracks is conducive to napping, so make the most of this time. For matters concerning your ticket or travel arrangements, contact PolishTrains customer service - consultants are available every day from 7:00-23:00 at 703 402 010. To be safe, take a vomit bag with you, especially if motion sickness affects a child.

If you or your child has really bad symptoms of motion sickness and every journey is a nightmare, go to the doctor. Your doctor may prescribe prescription anti-vomiting drugs. For longer routes, for example from Warsaw to Berlin, you can also buy tickets for international trains, including Deutsche Bahn, through PolishTrains. In some cases, they can cause negative symptoms such as excessive drowsiness, so you should use them very carefully. On the other hand, however, moving around in vehicles, including trains, really has to be done, so using them may simply be a necessity.

Until now, doctors do not know much about motion sickness. What is it and how to prevent it? It is only known that it is conditioned by the action of the vagus, but this knowledge is not 100% researched. Therefore, there is no miracle cure that can cure the afflicted patient. The solution is to listen to one's own body and prepare well for the journey.