Seasickness among Icelandic seamen

Abstract

Introduction The working environment abroad a ship is unique, with constant stimuli such as rolling of the vessel, noise, and vibration. Fishing industry is important for Icelandic economy, still the effect of seasickness-related symptoms on seamen´s health is not fully understood. Thus, the objective of this study is to explore the impact of seasickness-related symptoms, i.e., seasickness, seasickness symptoms and mal de débarquement on seaman´s health, and how their working environment may affect those factors. Methods Cross-sectional data was collected from 262 seamen answering questionnaire. Majority of the seamen participated while attending a compulsory course held by the Maritime Safety and Survival Training Centre. The majority of participants were men. A chi-square test was used to detect the difference between variables. Results The majority of seamen had experienced seasickness (87.8%) or mal de débarquement (85.8%). Having a history of tension headache (38.1%) and tinnitus (37.9%) was quite common. A total of 30.6% of the participants had been admitted to hospital once or more due to mishaps or accidents on land. Discussion Seasickness and seasickness symptoms together with mal de débarquement are common in Icelandic seamen. Working conditions at sea are demanding and seam to affect the seamen´s health both at sea and ashore, making further research needed.

Lasting alteration of spatial orientation induced by passive motion in rabbits and its possible relevance to mal de débarquement syndrome

“…Mal de débarquement syndrome (MdDS) is an under-recognized and little-understood chronic disorder of spatial orientation characterized by a persistent false sensation of self-motion, which typically onsets following prolonged exposure to passive motion such as being on a cruise ship or airplane (1,2). A condition known as "sea legs" or mal de débarquement, i.e., a transient aftersensation mimicking the exposed motion, such as rocking, swaying, or bobbing, and associated postural instability lasting for hours to several days, is common and suggests the existence of some form of entrainment in the central vestibular system (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). The exact motion stimulus that triggers the condition or why it persists into a chronic form only in some people is not clear.…”