Which of the following is a common symptom of air sickness?

• A. Abdominal cramps
• B. Nausea/vomiting
• C. Earache
• D. Sneezing

Answer: (B)

Motion sickness from flight arises when the inner ear senses motion that the eyes do not see or vice versa, creating a sensory mismatch. This conflict triggers the body's autonomic response, including stimulation of the vomiting center, which makes nausea and vomiting the most common sign of air sickness. Other symptoms like abdominal cramps, earache, or sneezing don’t fit as typical responses to motion-induced nausea: abdominal cramps are more associated with GI issues, earache relates to pressure changes or ear pathology, and sneezing ties to irritants or allergies. In practice, recognizing nausea and sometimes vomiting early helps in taking simple relief measures—fresh air, a forward-facing position, and small sips of fluids, with medical care if needed.