Traveling is all fun and games until you or someone in your group experience physical sickness. You can catch a cold, have an upset stomach, and many such things during travel. However, one thing that is a huge buzzkill for everyone is motion sickness.

People can experience motion sickness anywhere and anytime. They can experience it on fun amusement rides, boat and yacht rides, and even in airplanes. However, the problem is very common and happens to almost every other person.

The good news is, there are some effective ways to tackle motion sickness.

What is Motion Sickness?

You must have heard or seen many people complain about getting motion sickness when traveling in cars, boats, or any isolated moving vehicle. However, if someone around you or you yourself get motion sickness, it is important to understand it in more detail. Traveling requires you to get on a lot of moving vehicles and adventures such as jet skis and boats, so it is important to remain prepared for such incidents before you go travel.

In simple words, motion sickness’s definition is a typical sick feeling you get when you are stationary yourself but are in a constantly moving vehicle. A bus, boat, car, airplane, and even amusement park rides can cause this feeling. People experiencing motion sickness go through nausea, headaches, dizzy and even actually vomit. The biological explanation for this is that your brain is unable to understand the multiple signals you are getting from your ears, eyes, and your body.

Common triggers of motion sickness, other than a moving vehicle are reading in a moving vehicle, looking down or in the opposite direction of the vehicle’s movement, and migraines as well. People who have had to drink a lot of alcohol before the ride can also experience this feeling. Menstruating women, any particular kind of medication, birth control pills, hormonal changes, and genetics are common causes of motion sickness.

How to Prevent Motion Sickness?

Prevention:

• Avoid Alcohol

Avoid drinking alcohol during or before the ride to prevent feeling sickness and dizziness. Alcohol makes you feel heavy and lightheaded in normal situations, so the effects are worsened when you are in a moving vehicle.

• Avoid Smelly Foods

Smelly food refers to anything that has a strong but unpleasant smell, such as spicy food and flavored energy drinks. The smell can trigger nausea and make you feel stick to the stomach.

• Avoid Focusing Your Eyesight On Something Small

Firstly, don’t read a book in your car or plane if you wish to prevent motion sickness. You better avoid using the phone screen and reading long posts, e-mails, or looking down while using the phone. If you are watching a video and not reading anything, do it by holding the phone at your eye-level and in the direction the vehicle is moving.

• OTC Medication

Around 30 to 60 minutes before you hit the road, take an OTC oral medication. Over-the-counter medicines usually referred to as antihistamines, have certain drugs in them that help prevents motion sickness. Some of these medications are also safe for kids, but consulting a doctor before using them is highly recommended.

• Motion Sickness Bands

Sickness bands work by putting a good amount of pressure on specific pressure points around your wrist area. These bands are not 100% guaranteed to work for everyone, but they are worth the try, considering that they are easy to use and quite budget-friendly. Search through the internet using your AT&T new service to find the best motion sickness brand for yourself. You can also check out amazon for an inexpensive variety of these bands.

Management:

• Facing the Direction of the Motion

Motion sickness often occurs because you are looking in the opposite direction of the motion. This is why it is recommended to not read a book looking down or use your phone as well. Try to find a spot that has you facing towards the motion or direction of the vehicle to manage the sick feeling.

• Change of Position

If you are sitting, try laying down and relaxing your back a little. Standing with someone’s support might also help ease it down for you.

• Get More Air

One of the biggest things that trigger motion sickness is lack of air. Breathlessness and gasping for air are also very common symptoms of motion sickness, so this can be a good way to identify when someone is experiencing such sickness. Try opening up the windows, moving away from a crowded spot, sitting in the front, or asking the driver to stop for a couple of minutes so you can get out for fresh air. Turning up the AC might also help if other solutions are not possible.

• A Light Snack

A small snack definitely helps with nausea and sick feeling. An empty stomach means less tolerance for sickness in the stomach and more lethargy or dizziness. Getting a small snack, such as a biscuit or a packet of chips can help you manage the sickness. Make sure to avoid foods that have oil, spices, and heavy ingredients in them. Also, mind the quantity, and go light on your stomach instead of getting completely full.

• Get Some Sugar

Sugary foods, such as chocolate or sugary drinks can give you more energy and help with nausea.

• Smelling Herbs

This may be odd, but smelling herbs with strong smells can actually be a good solution for your motion sickness. Mint, lavender, and ginger are some examples you can use. You can carry lavender scents with you, such as lavender essential oils. Ginger-flavored hard candies are also good for this purpose.

• Stay Hydrated

Don’t forget to remain hydrated throughout your ride. Drink lots of water before the trip starts and even during the trip. It helps balance your stomach and also helps with the nauseous feeling.

Summing It All Up

Keeping yourself prepped with things like herbs and fresh smelling scents always proves to be helpful for someone experiencing motion sickness. Make sure to take some precautions beforehand, such as OTC medications and avoiding alcoholic drinks.