Carsickness and migraine

Car sickness, a form of motion sickness, is a common experience for many people, causing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Interestingly, studies have found a link between car sickness and migraines, suggesting that people who experience migraines may be more prone to motion sickness, including car sickness. There are various population studies linking carsickness, especially during childhood, with a history of migraine. As a migraine sufferer myself, I have always dealt with carsickness since I could remember. This association points to shared underlying mechanisms between the two conditions, particularly involving the brain's sensory processing systems.

Migraine is a neurological disorders characterized by intense headaches, often accompanied by sensitivity to light, sound, and movement. Individuals with migraines tend to have an increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli, and it is thought that this hypersensitivity may contribute to their susceptibility to motion sickness. The vestibular system, which helps regulate balance and spatial orientation, can be easily disrupted in people with migraines, making motion, such as the movements experienced in a car, more likely to trigger discomfort. The severity of migraine attacks does not appear to have a correlation of the severity of carsickness, and vice-versa.

Research shows that individuals who suffer from migraines, particularly those with vestibular migraines, are at a higher risk of experiencing car sickness. Vestibular migraines involve dizziness and balance problems, making people more prone to sensations of disorientation during car rides. This can lead to more frequent and severe bouts of car sickness compared to those without migraines. Vestibular migraine is only but one varient of migraine. Click here to learn more about other migraine and headache disorders.

References:

Cuomo-Granston A, Drummond PD. Migraine and motion sickness: what is the link? Prog Neurobiol. 2010 Aug;91(4):300-12. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.04.001.

Drummond PD. Triggers of motion sickness in migraine sufferers. Headache. 2005 Jun;45(6):653-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05132.x.

Barabas G, Matthews WS, Ferrari M. Childhood migraine and motion sickness. Pediatrics. 1983 Aug;72(2):188-90.