Some Of The Most Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Travel Sickness

Do you always fail to enjoy the fun and excitement of a long journey due to nausea or vomiting? Is it a sense of feeling unwell that engrosses you as soon as your vehicles get going? Or, maybe it is not a chronic issue but you have experienced it at some point in your life. Whatever the frequency of the happening is, you are basically prone to travel sickness and it is high time to consider the condition seriously. Check out the causes, symptoms, and some of the most effective ways to get rid of travel sickness.

Travel sickness, also referred to as motion sickness (car sickness, sea sickness, etc.), is a highly common problem of the inner ear (labyrinth), which is typically caused by repeated motion. When the inner ear senses motion (balance and equilibrium) but the eyes and the body (mostly the nerves in muscles and joints) do not, the brain receives conflicting information, thereby making a person travel sick.

Anybody can experience travel sickness while exposed to serious motion for a really long period of time based on their sensitivity to motion. Some of us have a relatively higher threshold than others. However, children aged between 2 and 12, people suffering from migraine, and pregnant women are more prone to experience it.

It is truly difficult to put an end to travel sickness completely but you can certainly lessen its severity or even prevent it from happening by following a few simple and easy tricks.

* Keep Yourself Filled

You might have heard that eating enough before traveling leads to motion sickness. But the truth is that it is absolutely wrong. If your stomach is empty, you will end up vomiting more. Hence, keep yourself filled while setting off.

* Pick Foods Wisely

Well, your pre-trip meals should be planned carefully. You can’t eat and drink just anything and everything immediately before the journey. Large and heavy meals with strong odors is a complete NO-NO! It is always recommended that you stay away from hot, spicy, or greasy (fat-rich) foods as well as items that make you more nauseous. A few dry crackers and a small drink will help you feel comfortable. Also, try not to smoke or drink (including alcohol) while traveling.

* Choose Right Seat

Whatever your medium of travel is, make sure that you choose the right seat for yourself. There are certain places, such as the front seat of a car, the wing seat of an airplane, and the lower level cabins of a ship, which help passengers not to experience extreme motion. So, try to find a seat at these places and keep your motion sickness away.

* Maintain Appropriate Posture

When it comes to traveling, your own postures and positions can turn out to be your biggest enemy. Never ever sit facing backwards from the direction of your travel. Rather, sit straight facing the direction in which the vehicle is moving. If it becomes tough for you, at least keep your head straight. Looking out is also good as long as you are fixing your eyes at the horizon.

* Change Your Activities

Do you love to read, knit, or watch movies while sitting on a vehicle? These might be the reasons behind your travel sickness. As it needs you to bend down and fix your eyes on an object inside the vehicle, it can make you more prone to vomiting. Therefore, reduce your sensory input and look in front of you. Keeping your gaze fixed on a point outside can make symptoms subside.

* Distract Yourself

It is another great way to avoid motion sickness. The more you become able to divert your mind from the thought of sickness, the more you feel well and good. Keep yourself busy by singing songs, listening to your favorite music, or even talking to others. If none of these suits you, simply close your eyes and sleep.

* Find Air Ventilation

Adequate air ventilation is essential to steer clear of travel sickness. Open windows or vents as soon as possible in order to increase the circulation of fresh air inside the vehicle. In addition, make sure that the air is clear of any strong odors.

* Try Ginger Candies

Place a hard ginger candy inside your mouth cavity and let it melt down inside gradually. Not all but some people find this natural remedy extremely effective in providing relief from nausea.

* Keep OTC Medicines Handy

There are more than a few OTC (over-the-counter) drugs in the market, which can be taken for coping with motion sickness. If you are not aware of them, just consult your family physician and he / she will prescribe the same for you. However, check the labels of medication carefully and determine the correct dose before using.

* Use ‘Scopolamine Patch’

Scopolamine is basically a ‘tropane alkaloid drug’, which is available in the market as a transdermal patch. It needs to be put on right at the back of the ear to work against the repeated motion, which causes trouble to the inner ear. As a result, we can avoid travel sickness successfully. However, there are certain side effects of this patch including drowsiness and you must be prepared for that.