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Warning-sign checks

Airsickness: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is vomiting and cannot keep fluids down
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Routine medical follow-up is reasonable if airsickness is frequent, is becoming worse, prevents necessary travel, or does not respond to basic measures.

    A clinician or pharmacist can review prevention options and check for medicine interactions or conditions that affect treatment choice.

    Arrange an evaluation if nausea, spinning, or imbalance continues beyond the expected period after travel; occurs when you are not moving; or appears with hearing loss, ear symptoms, migraine-like symptoms, or repeated falls.

    These patterns are not typical enough to assume they are simply airsickness.

The article also says

Before a future flight, note what happened during the previous episode.

Useful details include the seat location, turbulence, food and alcohol intake, sleep, activities such as reading, medicines taken, and how long symptoms lasted.

This information can help identify practical changes.

People who are pregnant, traveling with children, older, or managing glaucoma, urinary problems, heart disease, or several medicines should seek advice before using a motion-sickness product.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Airsickness. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.