How to Prevent Sea Sickness
Humankind has been traveling through rivers and seas since the dawn of time, and there’s always that one passenger who lurches, heads off to the side of the boat, and vomits. Sea sickness can ruin a long boat ride or an exciting journey on a cruise ship. If you suffer from sea sickness, here are some remedies you can try.
Look Out To The Horizon
The ship or boat may seem that it’s moving a lot, and you may be focusing more on the movement of the vehicle or the waves. Out in the sea, there’s always that one stable point out on the horizon that does not move. Instead of focusing on the movement of the boat, you should focus on that still point.
Many cases of sea sickness are caused by the instability of the fluid in your inner ears. Focusing on a stable point on the horizon helps you keep your head stable, and prevent the fluid in your ears from moving and swishing around so much.
Travel With a Half-Empty (or Half-Full) Stomach
Another cause of motion sickness is traveling on a long journey with a full stomach. Indigestion, along with the movement of the ship, can cause you to get nauseated. It’s the same problem you have if you ride a rollercoaster, or go on a long car ride, with a full stomach. When you do decide to eat before traveling, keep these tips in mind:
Avoid strong-flavored foods. Spicy, heavy, or savory foods need a lot of time to digest, and complete digestion can only happen if you’re still, or if you move only a little. Stick with foods that calm, but at the same time fill, your stomach. Instead of full meals, try light snacks like salted crackers or vegetable sticks.
Stick to water. Carbonated beverages and alcohol can irritate your stomach lining, especially if you’re traveling. The excess gases found in cola or alcohol can build up in your stomach, and cause you to be really sick while traveling.
If you’re seasick, you may find that rushing off to the bathroom to vomit can get rid of your motion sickness in a snap. Just make sure that you’re still courteous enough to hold you vomit in until such time you can find the bathroom.
Take an Antiemetic
Antiemetics are over-the-counter medications used to treat vertigo and motion sickness. Brands like Bonamine, Serc, and some antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and promethazine (Pentazine) can be bought over-the-counter. If you do a lot of traveling and can’t seem to be used to motion sickness, you may want to buy a whole box of antiemetics instead of buying them on retail at drugstores and pharmacies.
Seasickness has been around since the first people found a way to travel across large bodies of water. With these tips, you can count yourself out of the long list of people who have hurled and fainted their way to long journeys on the open seas.