How to Beat Motion Sickness
Any type of transportation can cause motion sickness.
- It can strike suddenly, progressing from a feeling of uneasiness to a cold sweat, dizziness
& vomiting. it usually quiets down as soon as the motion stops. - The more you travel, the more easily you'll adjust to being in motion.
- Anyone can get it - Kids & Adults.
- It happens when your brain gets conflicting information from your body, your eyes & your
inner ear which tells your brain how your head is moving.
- For example, if you’re on a boat, your inner ear may detect a rolling motion that your eyes
can’t see which can cause motion sickness.
Who’s at Risk?
Some people are a little more likely to get it than others:
- Women, especially when they’re menstruating, pregnant or on hormone therapy.
- People who get migraines, especially when they have one
- Kids ages 2 to 12
- People who take certain kinds of medication, some antibiotics, narcotics, asthma
medicines, anti-depressants & even common over the counter drugs like ibuprofen
of naproxen.
Symptoms
- Nausea & vomining are the most common symptoms caused by motion sickness, but
they’re not the only ones. - It also can cause cold sweats, headaches & pain.
- Sometimes your skin may be pale or you might get sleepy or have more saliva.
- Lots of yawning can be the first sign of motion sickness.
- Also some people get more & more irritable.
Avoid That Sickly Feeling
You can do a few things to try to help with motion sickness.
- Lay off caffeine, alcohol & big meals before the trip. Drink lots of water instead.
- Lie down if you can, or shut your eyes & keep your head still. Look at the horizon & don’t
read or stare at the seat in front of you. - Find a better spot.
- Many people find relief by taking the wheel.
- If you’re not driving, sit in the front seat rather than in back.
- If you’re in a plane, sit over the wing rather than in the front or extreme back.
- If you’re on a bus or train, try to get a seat that faces the way you’re going.
- Add some distractions for example music plus:
1. It also helps if you eat something like dry crackers which may may calm a queasy stomach.
2. It's also good to suck on a lozenge.
3. Something with ginger in it may be especially helpful.
4. Light, fizzy drinks, like ginger ale, also can help. - There’s some evidence that bands that put pressure on your wrist can help but other studies have shown that they don’t.
Medication
- If you can’t keep it at bay, there are two kinds of medicine you can take for motion sickness.
1. The first is anti-histamines, both prescription & over-the-counter.
These are most commonly used medications for motion sickness & they're available in
any drug store & in many supermarkets.
2. Cyclizine (Marezine) & dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) are two major ones.
Make sure to read the drug labels becuse one of the big side effects of these
medications is drowsiness. Some products use different ingredients that don't
make you as sleepy but they may not work as well.
3. The other well-known drug used to keep motion sickness under control is Scopolamine (Transderm Scop). It's an adhesive patch you put behind your ear a few hours before
you think you'll need it. You have to have a prescription to get it. - Kids shouldn’t take antihistamines or scopolamine.
1. If your child is between the ages of 2 &12, dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or diphenhy
dramine Benadryl might be helpful.
2. Try a test dose before you leave home, though, because some children can be
sensitive to them with all drugs, including over-the-counter antihistamines. Check
with your doctor before you take them or give them to your child.
You might avoid motion sickness by planning ahead.
When traveling, avoid sitting in seats in the rear of the vehicle
or seats that face backward.
Pick seats where you'll feel motion least:
- By ship, request a cabin in the front or middle of the ship near the water level.
- By plane, ask for a seat over the front edge of a wing. Once aboard, direct the air vent
flow to your face. - By train, take a forward-facing seat near the front & next to a window.
- By car, drive or sit in the front passenger's seat. Children should be in age-appropriate
seats & restraints.
If you're susceptible to motion sickness:
- Focus on the horizon or on a distant, stationary object. Don't read while traveling or use electronic devices.
- Keep your head still, while resting against a seat back.
- Don't smoke or sit near smokers.
- Avoid strong odors, spicy & greasy foods & alcohol.
- Take an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as one containing dimenhydrinate
(safe for children over 2 years) or meclizine, at least 30 to 60 minutes before you travel.
Expect drowsiness as a side effect. - Consider Scopolamine, available in a prescription adhesive patch (Transderm Scop).
Several hours before you plan to travel, apply the patch behind your ear for 72-hour
protection. Talk to your doctor before using the medication if you have health problems, s
uch as glaucoma or urine retention. - Try ginger. A ginger supplement combined with ginger snaps, ginger ale or candied ginger might help curb nausea.
- Eat lightly. Some people find that nibbling on plain crackers & sipping cold water or a carbonated drink without caffeine help.
♦♦♦♦♦
SEA BANDS
Bands that you place just below your wrists on the pulse point
DRAMAMINE OR BONINE
- Most common over-the-counter pills
- Available for sale in stores & airports
TRANSDERM SCOP
NOT RECOMMENDED
- A small patch that you place behind your ear
- Requires a prescription
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REMEMBER
TO AVOID DVT
(Deep Vein Thrombosis)
- If driving a car stop at least every hour & take a walk
- If on a plane, train or bus, get up & regularly & walk up & down the aisle
- Do heel & leg stretches while sitting
- Drink plenty of water
- Visit our DVT page
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