CAR SICKNESS Meaning and
Definition
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Car sickness is a physiological condition characterized by nausea, dizziness, and vomiting that occurs when an individual travels in a moving vehicle, typically a car. It is also known as motion sickness or travel sickness. This condition is caused by a sensory conflict between the visual and vestibular systems of the body, leading to an imbalance in the perception of motion.
When a person is seated in a car, the body's visual system perceives the surrounding environment as stationary or moving at a different speed compared to the actual motion felt by the vestibular system, which senses changes in acceleration and position. This sensory discrepancy results in a mismatch of signals sent to the brain, leading to symptoms such as queasiness, sweating, paleness, and even vomiting.
Car sickness is more common in children and can persist into adulthood, although it tends to decrease with age. Factors that can exacerbate the condition include reading or focusing on close objects, inadequate ventilation, strong odors, and heavy meals before traveling. Additionally, certain individuals may be more susceptible to car sickness due to their inherent sensitivity in balancing sensory inputs.
Preventive measures for car sickness include sitting in the front seat, focusing on distant objects or the horizon, taking breaks during long journeys, ensuring proper ventilation, and avoiding heavy meals before travel. Over-the-counter medications such as anti-nausea drugs or patches that release scopolamine can also be employed for symptomatic relief, although they may cause drowsiness in some individuals.
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An affection resembling sea-sickness caused by railway riding.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CAR SICKNESS
- xar sickness
- var sickness
- far sickness
- dar sickness
- czr sickness
- csr sickness
- cwr sickness
- cqr sickness
- cae sickness
- cad sickness
- caf sickness
- cat sickness
- ca5 sickness
- ca4 sickness
- car aickness
- car zickness
- car xickness
- car dickness
- car eickness
Etymology of CAR SICKNESS
The word "car sickness" is composed of the noun "car" and the noun "sickness".
The term "car" originated from the late 19th century abbreviation of "carriage" which initially referred to a wheeled vehicle used for transportation, typically horse-drawn. Over time, "car" specifically came to refer to self-propelled vehicles.
"Sickness" is a noun that stems from the Old English word "seocnes", meaning "disease" or "illness". It has been used in English since the late Middle Ages to describe the state of being unwell or experiencing discomfort.
Therefore, the etymology of "car sickness" suggests that the word refers to the discomfort or illness experienced by some individuals while traveling in a car.
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