Before you slip into good-Samaritan mode, it helps to know what’s actually going on. Motion sickness isn’t about “weak stomachs”; it’s about sensory conflict.
“In flight, our inner ears sense that we’re moving, while our eyes are sending the neurological message that we’re sitting still,” explains Hadley M. Sulpizio, MPH, CAsP, a Certified Aerospace Physiologist. “When those mixed messages reach the brain, there’s a sensory mismatch that often results in nausea.”
Some people are more vulnerable than others. Colin Knight, M.D., a board-certified pediatric surgeon and former USAF Flight Surgeon, notes that “certain groups have a greater predisposition depending on factors like family history, inner ear disorders, pregnancy, migraines, and more.”
On board, symptoms tend to creep in gradually: pale or clammy skin, increased sweating, frequent swallowing or burping, shallow breathing, or a fixed, faraway stare. Many passengers also grow quiet or withdrawn. Add turbulence, warm cabins, and stale air, and mild discomfort can escalate quickly.
