Can Telemedicine Treat Motion Sickness?

Audience: adult

Motion sickness is a common condition that causes nausea, dizziness, and discomfort during travel by car, boat, plane, or other moving vehicles. It happens when your brain receives mixed signals about movement from your eyes, inner ears, and body. Telemedicine can help you understand motion sickness, suggest ways to prevent it, and recommend over-the-counter remedies. However, telemedicine cannot provide emergency care or perform physical exams needed to rule out other serious causes of your symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or unusual, you should seek in-person medical attention. Telemedicine visits are a convenient way to get advice and education about motion sickness from home or on the go.

Red flags — go in person / ER

• Vomiting that does not stop or worsens — seek emergency care immediately.
• Severe dizziness or loss of balance causing falls — get urgent medical evaluation.
• Confusion, difficulty speaking, chest pain, or difficulty breathing — call emergency services right away.

What telemedicine can do

• Providing education about motion sickness and its causes.
• Recommending preventive measures and lifestyle changes.
• Suggesting over-the-counter medications or natural remedies.
• Answering questions about symptoms and travel advice.

What telemedicine cannot do

• Performing physical examinations or diagnostic tests.
• Treating severe or emergency symptoms.
• Diagnosing other causes of nausea or dizziness that need in-person evaluation.
• Prescribing controlled substances or specialized treatments requiring in-person visits.

What Is Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness occurs when your brain gets conflicting messages about movement from your eyes, inner ears, and muscles. This mismatch can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and a general feeling of discomfort during travel by car, boat, plane, or other moving vehicles. It is common and usually not serious.

How Can Telemedicine Help?

Through a telemedicine visit, a healthcare provider can ask about your symptoms, travel history, and medical background. They can offer advice on how to prevent motion sickness, such as sitting in certain positions, focusing on the horizon, and avoiding heavy meals before travel. Providers may also suggest over-the-counter medications or natural remedies that are often used to reduce symptoms.

Limitations of Telemedicine for Motion Sickness

Telemedicine cannot perform physical exams or tests needed to rule out other causes of nausea and dizziness, such as infections or neurological problems. It also cannot provide emergency treatment if symptoms are severe or worsening. If you experience unusual symptoms like severe headache, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or confusion, you should seek in-person care immediately.

Preventing Motion Sickness

Simple steps may help prevent motion sickness:

When to Seek In-Person Care

If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning signs, in-person evaluation is important. This includes symptoms like vomiting that won’t stop, severe dizziness causing falls, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or signs of dehydration. These may indicate other serious conditions needing urgent care.

How to prepare for your tele-visit

• List your symptoms clearly, including when they started and what makes them better or worse.
• Have details about your recent travel or activities ready.
• Prepare a list of current medications and any allergies.
• Ensure you have a quiet, private space with good internet connection for the tele-visit.
• Have a family member or friend nearby if you feel very dizzy or unsteady.
• Be ready to describe any other health conditions you have.

After your tele-visit

• Follow the healthcare provider’s advice on prevention and symptom management.
• Use recommended over-the-counter medications as directed.
• Monitor your symptoms and note any changes or worsening.
• Seek in-person care if red flag symptoms develop or if symptoms do not improve.
• Schedule a follow-up telemedicine or in-person visit if needed for ongoing symptoms or questions.

FAQs

What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness is caused by conflicting signals sent to your brain from your eyes, inner ears, and body about movement. This mismatch confuses your brain and leads to symptoms like nausea and dizziness.

Can I take medicine for motion sickness without seeing a doctor?

Many over-the-counter medicines can help prevent or reduce motion sickness symptoms. However, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider through telemedicine or in person to ensure the medicine is safe for you, especially if you have other health conditions or take other drugs.

Are there natural ways to prevent motion sickness?

Yes. Some people find relief by focusing on the horizon, sitting where motion is least felt, getting fresh air, and avoiding heavy meals before travel. Ginger is a natural remedy some use, but you should discuss this with a healthcare provider.

When should I see a doctor in person for motion sickness?

If your symptoms are severe, don’t improve, or come with other signs like chest pain, confusion, or severe dizziness, you should seek in-person medical care. These could be signs of other serious conditions.

Can telemedicine diagnose other causes of nausea and dizziness?

Telemedicine can help assess your symptoms and decide if you need in-person evaluation. However, it cannot perform physical exams or tests needed to diagnose conditions other than motion sickness.

Sources

1. Motion Sickness — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. Motion Sickness: Symptoms and Causes — Mayo Clinic.
3. Motion Sickness — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
4. Nausea and Vomiting — Merck Manuals Consumer Version.

This telemedicine guidance is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional in-person medical care. If you have severe, persistent, or worsening symptoms, or any emergency signs, seek immediate medical attention.