Oct 29, 2008 4:49 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Explaining Motion Sickness
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A popular movie is turning some viewers green.
We've all experienced motion sickness – sometimes it's called airsickness or even seasickness.
A rocky boat, a bumpy plane, an amusement park ride – even a movie can bring on motion sickness.
"This happens when the information that your eyes are giving to the brain and the information that the ears are giving the brain don't match up," Dr. Richard Lee, of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, says.
Anne Hathaway's new movie, "Rachel Getting Married," was shot using a hand-held camera. The film has a jerky home-movie feel that's left some viewers reeling with nausea.
"Your brain tells you to feel nausea, and you feel sick and sometimes vomit," Dr. Lee said.
But not every moviegoer had such an experience.
"There wasn't too much movement," Upper West Side resident Marty LaSalle said. "There was more movement than usual, but it wasn't that bad, I don't think."
"I've seen movies where it did give me a headache, and this didn't do it," Gramercy resident Addison Schultz said.
Of course, motion sickness isn't limited to movies.
"If your body is in motion, like on a boat, your eyes need to be able to see that motion," Dr. Lee said. "So if you're below deck, you need to get above-deck and see that there is motion."
Reading in a car or while riding a train can turn some stomachs upside down.
Motion sickness can cause any number of symptoms related to nausea, including dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, and weakness.
Sometimes relief for that inner ear imbalance comes from sitting or lying down completely still.
"Get out of that situation," Dr. Lee says. "Somehow, get your eyes and your ears back into coordination."
Medication can also help.
"You can take some Dramamine or some Polymine," Dr. Lee said. "These medications do seem to alleviate the symptoms a little bit."
And as for any motion sickness tied to Hathaway's new movie, you'll have to judge for yourself.
"It didn't take long to get used to," Brooklyn resident Jeremy Christensen said. "And I think it added to the story."
Some people try to prevent motion sickness by taking ginger or wearing acupressure wrist bands.
While these methods aren't harmful, and may offer some relief, there's little scientific evidence that they work.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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