Perhaps you have been traveling and getting unwell in
vehicles, planes, and boats and wondering why that is the case. If not, you
might have seen fellow travelers feeling sick. It is a normal condition called
motion sickness that many people across the globe struggle with but it is
manageable.
What is motion sickness?
Motion sickness is a feeling characterized by dizziness when
traveling by sea, road, or air. It is a self-diagnosable condition that ends
when the motion stops. If you tend to feel unwell when traveling in a car, it
is called car sickness and sea sickness when on a boat or ship. One can also
feel sick when on a plane too.
Not everyone struggles with motion sickness, but it is a
common condition that causes symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Unfortunately, some people continue to feel sick even a few days after a trip.
The good news is that there are several things to do to prevent or ease motion
sickness. Continue reading to find out.
What causes one to be car sick or plane sick?
Naturally, our bodies are wired to know when we are in
motion. Your ears, eyes, and legs can sense when you are moving. For example,
whenever your feet hit the ground for example when walking or running, your
entire body knows you are moving around, your eyes can see you are moving
forward or backward, and your ears can hear the sounds you are making as you
move.
Now, when sitting in a car, a boat, or plane, you are moving
but your feet are not moving and probably your eyes cannot see that you are moving
from one place to another. However, your ears hear the turbulence around the
plane, the whooshing blue waters, or tires touching the ground. Therefore, your
body gets confused messages, which can cause you to feel dizzy or nauseated.
What are the symptoms of motion sickness?
Multiple symptoms signal you that you are going to be car
sick, sea sick, or plane sick. As mentioned before, you could feel dizzy,
nausea, or vomit. The other symptoms you could experience include cold sweat,
short breath, drooling, discomfort, or headache.
Who experiences motion sickness?
Anyone can feel car sick be it male or female, children,
adults, and the elderly but not everyone experiences it. However, pregnant
women, older people, and kids between 2 and 12 years old are more prone to the
condition. Besides vehicles, planes, and boats, rides in amusement parks or
playground equipment can also cause motion sickness.
How to prevent or manage motion sickness
There are several things you can do to prevent feeling sick
when travelling in a car, by boat, or by plane.
· -Avoid eating
greasy foods immediately before and during travel. They could upset your
stomach when your journey begins.
· -Do not sit facing backwards, as it confuses your body.
· -Sit next to a window in a vehicle and allow fresh air
in.
· -Choose a wing or window seat on a plane. From the
window, look outside and watch the motion of the horizon, so your eyes can see
what your body is feeling, which is movement.
· -In a car, take the front seat and look at the scenery
ahead of you. if you are the one driving, your motion sickness will not be that
bad because your senses can feel and hear the movement you are making.
· -Rest well before your trip and avoid alcohol.
· -If you are traveling by boat or ship, head over to
the deck and look at the motion of the horizon.
· -Choose a seat located over the wings of a plane, as
there is minimized motion on this part.
· -You can also sleep, chew gum, or take some ginger to
ease the symptoms of motion sickness.
Being carsick, seasick, or airsick is a common condition that
you can manage or prevent to ensure you have a wonderful trip free of
discomfort.
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