Incidence of motion sickness and ear/sinus blocks
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Paris, France
Incidence of motion sickness and ear/sinus blocks
I once read that the incidence of motion sickness among airline passengers is about 0.1%, although I'm not sure how motion sickness was defined for this statistic (maybe only counting cases where passengers actually vomit).
Anyway, I'm wondering what the actual incidence is of motion sickness (serious enough to cause vomiting or requiring some sort of treatment) and ear/sinus blocks among passengers. Does anyone have any numbers for these, or a pointer to some stats on them?
If a passenger does get violently ill from motion sickness, what can you do? And if someone develops a total ear or sinus block and is in excruciating pain, how do you handle it? It seems to me that there probably isn't a lot you can do, but maybe there are some measures that can be taken to help.
Anyway, I'm wondering what the actual incidence is of motion sickness (serious enough to cause vomiting or requiring some sort of treatment) and ear/sinus blocks among passengers. Does anyone have any numbers for these, or a pointer to some stats on them?
If a passenger does get violently ill from motion sickness, what can you do? And if someone develops a total ear or sinus block and is in excruciating pain, how do you handle it? It seems to me that there probably isn't a lot you can do, but maybe there are some measures that can be taken to help.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,335
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From: Wet Coast
Besides the Valsalva manoeuvre to unblock the Eustachian tube(s), another technique which some swear by is to soak a couple of paper towels in boiling water, place them in a paper cup and tilt the head towards and cover the ear with the cup. The steam is supposed to 'melt' the blockage.
Never tried it myself.
Never tried it myself.
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,344
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From: Bedford, UK
sinus block
Had it once on descent into Jersey and it was very painful but fortunately didn't last long. Painkillers will be too slow to help. I tried massaging just in front of the ear and it helped a bit.
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: London
I've only actually vomited once on a flight (while in a holding pattern over New York in a violent storm), which is probably about 0.1% of the flights I've taken. But I've felt sick about a dozen times or so, always on descent.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1
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From: Dublin Ireland
I had severe pain above my right eye in the last flight two trips. (thought my eye would pop out).
Checked google and it advises a sinus decongestant. Always on the decent.
Massage relieves the pain a bit.
Checked google and it advises a sinus decongestant. Always on the decent.
Massage relieves the pain a bit.
