Have Sippy Will Travel

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Motion sickness is a feeling of nausea triggered by movement, which occurs during traveling via vehicle, boat, train, and even plane. Common symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, sweating, and a general feeling of irritability. It is caused by a mismatch between what we see or feel and what our bodily senses perceive. It can also occur when the inner ear, the part responsible for balance and equilibrium, has an infection.

It is estimated that one-third of people are vulnerable to motion sickness. While it is not life-threatening, it can make your traveling experience unpleasant. Fortunately, there is something that can be done to avoid it or lessen its impact. Here are the top tips to prevent motion sickness and guarantee a healthy travel experience.

Watch Your Diet Before and During Travelling

Avoid eating heavy meals before and during traveling as they may trigger the sickness and make you uncomfortable. Instead, eat light and plain food or snacks. Light snacks such as dry crackers are known to ease stomach upset. Also, avoid foods with a strong odor. Greasy, fatty, acidic, and spicy food should also be avoided. Additionally, avoid taking too much alcohol before or during your traveling as it may worsen your discomfort. Drink water instead.

While you should avoid heavy meals, avoid traveling on an empty stomach, which may worsen the discomfort.

Find the Right Position

Position yourself where there is the least motion or discomfort. If on a vehicle, always get a front seat and opt for the window side. It allows you to enjoy the scenery and stay calm. On a ship, select the lower cabins near the center of the ship. This region experiences less movement and therefore prevents the trigger of motion sickness. The middle area of a plane is the calmest; go for this position. Choose the window seats on a train as they experience fewer bumps and also enable you to see the horizon. Positioning yourself right helps you avoid the turbulence that may trigger motion sickness.

Use Motion Sickness Wristbands

These wristbands are designed to guarantee healthy travel by helping relieve motion sickness symptoms, especially nausea and vomiting. The bands are worn to apply pressure on a point on the inner forearm known as the Nei Kuan spot. Although more studies are required, it seems acupressure may be an effective way to manage nausea and vomiting. You can wear these wristbands on your next trip to evade the discomfort of motion sickness.

Look to the Distance

When traveling, looking out to the distance helps the senses achieve congruence, preventing motion sickness. Check out the horizon or fix your gaze at a particular distant object. If you are prone to motion sickness, avoid acts such as reading while traveling as it increases the mismatch between your inner ear and your sight. It may eventually trigger motion sickness. Instead, try looking out the window to help the body gain calmness.

Take Ginger

Ginger is very useful in easing stomach upset. It is often recommended as an anti-nausea medication. Its components, gingerols and shogaols, help alleviate vomiting and nausea. These components work in the stomach, intestines, and in the nervous system to control nausea. Taking ginger can, therefore, help you avoid motion sickness. Try chewing the ginger root or taking ginger-flavored tablets before or during traveling.

Chew Gum

Another effective way to curb motion sickness is to use chewing gum. The movement of jaws during gum chewing is known to work well with the inner ear, helping in attaining congruence in your sensory system. Additionally, most chewing gums contain flavors such as peppermint and ginger. These additives help prevent and relieve motion sickness symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Use Motion Sickness Medicine

There are several over the counter drugs, available from pharmacies, that you can take to counter motion sickness. Drugs such as Bonine, Antivert, and Dramamine work well in preventing motion sickness. If you always experience extreme sickness, consult a medical expert for recommendations on the right prescription drugs for you. This is important since some medications have serious side effects. Most of these medications should be taken one or two hours before traveling.

Traveling should be fun and exciting. However, motion sickness can make your trip miserable, ridding you of the comfort you should be enjoying. The above tips will go a long way to ensure you have a comfortable and healthy trip.