Beat Motion Sickness: Tips and Remedies

Tips and Remedies to Tackle Beat Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is a prevalent condition in India. Many people experience discomfort while travelling, which manifests as nausea or a headache. This occurs when the inner ear senses a different motion than the one they are experiencing.

Relieving motion sickness symptoms does not have to be complicated. Here are tips and remedies for the same.

How to Beat Motion Sickness Immediately? 

Whether travelling in a bus, car, or ship, instant remedies offer relief. Here are some effective remedies for motion sickness.

1. Face Towards the Direction You are Going : Often, motion sickness can be triggered if you sit in the opposite direction. If you are in a car, shift towards the front. On the other hand, if you are on a ship, try moving towards the bow (front). It may help manage your symptoms.
2. Try Ginger for Nausea : A common symptom of motion sickness is nausea and vomiting. If changing positions does not help, try having candied ginger or ginger ale. It will curb the nauseous feeling and make your journey smooth.
3. Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon : While travelling, focus your attention towards the horizon or any stationary object. It helps with visual stimuli and helps your body focus.
4. Avoid Smoking : If you have motion sickness, chances are smoking will increase the symptoms. Therefore, while travelling, avoid smoking. Moreover, if you are travelling with a smoker, try to steer clear of the smoke.
5. Have Some Crackers : Nibbling on crackers has proven to help with motion sickness symptoms. On the other hand, greasy food tends to increase or worsen the symptoms since they are slow to digest. You can also sip on cold or carbonated water for relief.

What Medicines Help With Motion Sickness?

You can also opt for over-the-counter medications for motion sickness. They are as follows:

1. Scopolamine Patches : Scopolamine Transdermal patches help relieve symptoms of vomiting and nausea. You must stick the patches behind your ear before travelling for this to work. They are also available as oral pills.
   However, scopolamine can cause dry mouth. In addition, you must remove the skin patch after three days of use.
2. Antihistamines  : Although they are commonly used for allergies, they can also alleviate symptoms of motion sickness. However, make sure the medication you take causes drowsiness. Without it, the drug will not be useful.

What is Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness is a health condition that happens when the brain gets conflicting signals from the senses, generally the inner ear (vestibular system), eyes, and the body's sense of position. This sense of conflict can result in symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It is usually related to travel in vehicles such as cars, aeroplanes, or boats, but could be stimulated by virtual reality or other motion simulations. 

Motion Sickness Symptoms

There are many symptoms of Motion Sickness. Below are the general symptoms of Motion Sickness.

• Nausea and vomiting are general, though nausea might persist even after vomiting. 
• Sweating that is usually described as a "cold sweat" or clammy skin. 
• Appearance of the pale skin. 
• Dizziness and Headache
• A feeling of fatigue and drowsiness. 

The other symptoms of Motion Sickness include :

• Increased Salivation
• Hyperventilation
• Yawning and Sighing
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Gastrointestinal Discomfort
• Loss of Appetite

What Causes Motion Sickness?

Now that you know how to alleviate motion sickness symptoms let us see why motion sickness occurs.

Generally, it happens when your brain gets confused about whether you are moving or stationary. For example, when you travel in a car, your eyes signal that you are moving based on the landscape. However, your inner ear and nerves signal that you are stationary. It causes the brain to get confused and feel nauseated.

Is Motion Sickness a Serious Issue?

Motion sickness is not a serious issue. However, in some cases, your symptoms may be prolonged or worsen.

Taking the right preventative steps can help you manage the symptoms associated with motion sickness. Moreover, there are OTC medicines to help with your symptoms as well.

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