Why You Feel Dizzy or Nauseous in The Car: Car Sickness Explained

Feeling dizzy, nauseous, or unwell in a car is a common experience known as car sickness. This isn't a personal weakness or "overreaction." It's simply a moment of sensory confusion. This sensory conflict happens when your brain gets mixed messages: your eyes see you sitting still in the car, but your inner ear (your balance system) feels the motion of the road. This article explains why it happens and what you can do to feel better.

What is car sickness & when does it become a challenge?

Car sickness is a form of motion sickness. It is the feeling of nausea or dizziness caused by the motion of a vehicle, whether it's a car, boat, or plane.

Mild symptoms might just be a slight feeling of unease ("malaise") or yawning. However, more severe symptoms can include intense nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

It is crucial to understand that persistent car sickness is not "all in your head." It is a real and physical sign that your brain is finding it difficult to reconcile the sensory cues from your visual and vestibular (balance) systems. Your eyes may see the stationary interior of the car, while your inner ear feels the motion of the road, and the brain isn't sure what to believe. [1]

Symptoms of severe or chronic car sickness (for children & adults)

While nausea is the most well-known symptom, car sickness can present as a wide range of discomforts in both children and adults.

Common symptoms for all ages can include [2]:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Dizziness and a feeling of impaired balance

• Cold sweating and pallor (paleness)

• Fatigue, drowsiness, and excessive yawning

• Headache

• Blurred vision or difficulty focusing

• Irritability and a desire to be left alone

• Increased salivation

In children, dizziness is often the most prominent complaint. You might notice they have a strong need to lie down (especially under age 6). Please note that infants typically aren't affected by this problem; however, please beware of your baby keeps constantly crying whenever the car gets on the move, this could be a sign [5]. Children can have greater motion sickness sensitivity as their inner ear and sensory integration systems are still developing.

In adults, nausea is often the dominant symptom. This is frequently preceded by a general feeling of malaise, reduced alertness, and apathy. [2]

How to prevent and manage car sickness on the road

You can take several practical steps to help prevent or manage car sickness during travel.

1. Choose the right seat

Where you sit matters. For adults, the front passenger seat is often best. For children, the middle rear seat, which allows them to see forward, is ideal. Crucially, encourage them to look out the front window toward the horizon, not at the side windows [3]. Avoid reading, gaming, or scrolling on screens, as this creates more sensory conflict.

2. Keep the air and smells fresh

A stuffy car can make nausea worse. Keep the air fresh by opening a window slightly or using the air conditioning. It's also wise to avoid strong odours and heavy, greasy meals before or during travel.

3. Implement some behavioural strategies

Take regular breaks on long trips to get fresh air and "reset" the balance system [4]. Light conversation or listening to music can also be a helpful distraction from the motion cues.

4. Use motion sickness aids if needed

For mild symptoms, natural remedies like ginger chews or acupressure bands may help. For more persistent cases, consult a doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter or prescription medications [3].

When and how to seek professional help?

While most car sickness fades after the trip, you should seek professional help if the symptoms are severe or persistent.

If you experience persistent dizziness or nausea even after the travel has stopped, this is not typical. In some cases, individuals may experience "Sopite syndrome," a related condition where the primary symptoms are fatigue, drowsiness, and lack of initiative that can last for days or weeks after motion exposure, affecting school or work. This requires a professional assessment.

These persistent challenges may indicate an underlying visual-vestibular mismatch, an ocular misalignment (the eyes not teaming correctly), or a general motion hypersensitivity. Therefore, it is best to seek help from professionals experienced in vestibular and visual integration testing.

Where to seek support for car sickness in Singapore?

At Orthovision, our approach looks beyond just managing symptoms. We aim to identify the root cause of the challenge—how your eyes, brain, and balance system are communicating.

We use a Developmental Visual Cognitive Assessment to get a complete picture. Our 3-step approach includes:

1. The assessment: We conduct thorough testing of eye teaming, focusing, and visual-vestibular coordination. This may also involve a computerised balance platform and visual motion sensitivity screening to see how your systems react to motion triggers.

2. The vision therapy programme: Based on the assessment, we design a personalised programme. This involves specific exercises to retrain the brain to integrate visual and motion cues correctly. It often includes gradual desensitisation to motion triggers through controlled visual stimulation.

3. Monitoring & follow-up: We track your improvements in visual comfort and balance response to ensure the programme is effective.

Our goal is to help reduce motion sensitivity, improve visual stability, and restore your confidence in travel and daily activities.

Tired of dizziness and nausea during travel? Book a Comprehensive Assessment today to find the root cause of your car sickness.

Schedule a visual assessment

References

[1] Cleveland Clinic. Motion Sickness.

[2] M. T. T. T. D. V. R. P. A. N. (2020). Motion Sickness: A Comprehensive Review. PMD, PMC7048153.

[3] Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Motion Sickness.

[4] Warrantywise. 10 Ways to Deal With Car Sickness.

[5] Mayo Clinic. What causes car sickness in children and how can I prevent it?