How To Cope With Travel Sickness
07/03/2007 By Chad Davies, Staff Writer, On The Beach Holidays

For short distances, driving to a vacation spot is sometimes less expensive and less trouble for a family than flying or other forms of travel. Unfortunately, passengers are more prone to travel or motion sickness in cars. Travel sickness has affected 60-80% of the population at some point, and can actually happen during various forms of travel including buses, ships, trains, planes, automobiles, and (unsurprisingly) spaceships.

Travel or motion sickness, aka kinetosis, is caused when different sensors in your body, particularly your inner ear, get mixed signals about whether you’re moving or stationary. This often happens because your eyes see “proof” of being stationary and other parts of your body (skin receptors, inner ear, muscles) feel motion. If this persists over an extended time, you may feel queasy, get cold sweats, lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, have a headache, or even throw up, amongst other symptoms. This is due to the fluid in the canals of your inner ear becoming agitated. Motion sickness is thought by some to be a natural defense mechanism against toxins, which would be expelled through vomiting.

Children have a tendency to suffer more from travel sickness, and mostly on buses and cars. The tips below provide suggestions for avoiding travel sickness primarily for cars, but some tips apply to other forms of travel as well.

Pre-Travel Preparation Tips

You can never be too prepared, especially if you know that members of the traveling party are susceptible to motion sickness. Some tips you can follow before you leave on vacation.

Eat accordingly.
Don’t eat heavily before travel, especially rich food. Avoid any acidic foods (fruit, salad with tomato, etc.), as well as greasy, salty and spicy foods. Dry foods such as cracker breads are okay, even encouraged as they help absord fluids in the digestive system. Complex carbohydrates are okay; fatty foods are not. That’s often difficult on the road, since many highway rest stops are populated with fatty fast food restaurants. A small snack is best. For instance, take a bag of carrot and celery sticks to snack on.
Have a map.
If you’re driving and get lost, the situation is highly likely to cause anxiety, which may cause sickness if you continue driving. Having a map is always a good idea, especially if there are children on board and your wife is the navigator / co-driver.
Be in good health.
If you have a hangover, are in poor health, have had limited sleep or are pregnant, you may be more susceptible to travel sickness. Make sure to get sufficient rest before leaving. If you’re flying with a cold, you may not only get airsick but could potentially damage your ears due to pressurized cabins.
Ditch the fuzzy dice.
Or other dangly stuff in the car. They’ll confuse your senses and exacerbate any problems.
Don’t be anxious.
Anxiety or stress before a trip adds to the irritant factors that can cause travel sickness. Do some deep breathing exercises before you leave. Anxiety can be brought on by a multitude of factors including fear of traveling, lack of adequate preparation or life / work issues that have not been resolved.
Prepare pets.
If you intend to do a lot of travelling by car and have or will have pets, get them used to car travel when they’re young. It’s fairly common for dogs to get car sickness. For older dogs, check with a vet, who will probably advise reduced food and water before a trip, and may prescribe anti-nausea medicine. Putting a pet in a travel crate/ kennel sometimes helps reduce the confusing mobile/ stationary signals. Don’t use cardboard crates as they are not sturdy and can be easily damaged. Keeping a litter box in the crate is an especially good idea. Stop for short exercise sessions for your pets on long trips is good for them and you.
Pack supplies.
Have a leak-proof container or airline-style sick bags. If children are travelling with you, bring entertaining material that they can talk or singalong with, instead of reading or video game material. Make sure you have a range of options here, you know how easy kids get bored!
Go natural.
Go light on colognes and perfumes, which could aggravate feelings of nausea.

During the Trip

What you can do while you’re traveling, to prevent motion sickness or at least reduce its effect on you.

Don’t read.
While in motion, don’t read, write, watch TV or stare at stationary objects. This includes maps, because you’re otherwise staring down while your inner ear feels motion. Basically, the rule is to not look downwards for extended lengths while in motion as that’ll contribute to the confusing motion signals. Encourage kids to do a singalong or count a particular type of car, since playing board or video games will have the same negative effect as reading. Unfortunately, popular games such as 'I spy with my little eye' tend to get extremely wearing on your nerves after only a few minutes, but at least you won't be stopping to mop up breakfast!
Don’t stare.
Don’t stare out the window for a long time, especially at waves or other moving objects (cars, etc.). If you are driving and you know you have a propensity towards travel sickness, do not under any circumstances settle for the back seat! If you’re not driving, close your eyes (cars, planes, trains).
Take breaks.
Stop the car for fresh air and allow your senses to time to settle. If you can’t stop the car, open a window to let in some cooler air. On a plane, get up and walk around. Watch for symptoms of potential oncoming travel sickness: yawning, lack of alertness, dizziness.
Don’t smoke.
Some places already have laws against smoking with children in the car or on commercial modes of travel, most airlines ban smoking onboard anyway. But if you’re driving, pull over and step out of the car to have a smoke. A cigarette may help you cope with traveling, but it will most likely agitate non-smokers and create tension within the traveling party.
Ditch the fizzy drinks.
Don’t drink soda, milk, or natural fruit juices. While travelling, try drinking bottled water, especially for children. Avoid anything acidic or carbonated such as orange juice, lemonade and cola. Some people believe flat cola settles the stomach; however, any evidence is purely anecdotal so try at your own peril.
Look forwards.
Particularly at distant scenery, even the horizon, if possible. (Though drivers should be careful not to get “hypnotized”.) Children in the backseat could sit on pillows or elevated seats so that they’re able to see out the front window. Looking out the side windows in a moving car greatly increases the disparity in your senses between being stationary and moving, which is really going to make traveling unpleasant.
Filter bright sunshine. Use sunglasses or, window tinting or sun shades in the car.
Fasten your seat belts.
Make sure they’re comfortable, not restricting. Just make sure they are being used at all times.
Be the driver.
Drivers tend to get less motion sickness because they are focused on what’s in front of them. The front passenger seat works as well (if the person is old enough, since most states have laws against children in the front seat). On a bus, sit near the front or centre - not near the wheels - and pop open a window. On a ship, sit in the midship or mid-deck section - especially away from fumes or the galley. If you do get seasick, lie down and move as close as possible to the center of the ship to reduce the roll. On a plane, try to get a seat near the wing section where you can also enjoy more legroom. Closing your eyes and listening to music on headphones may help.
Use motorways.
Highways are faster and less likely to cause travel sickness because there are less winding roads up and down hills. Choose the straightest roads, if possible. Do not be put off if the motorways are tolled like they are in many European countries, you'd be much better to pay some cash and keep your lunch down!
Drive considerately.
Drive slowly around corners. Don’t brake too suddenly or accelerate quickly.
Quiet time.
Avoid talking in general, or talking to or watching someone who is travel sick. Why? Because they are probably struggling enough without having to concentrate on a conversation.

Medications

Some prescription, over the counter (OTC), or natural remedies can alleviate the potential for travel sickness. If you are planning a journey any time soon, it would be wise to at least buy a few travel aids.

Peppermint.
Peppermint’s oils help keep you alert.
Ginger root.
Ginger root in various forms (crystallized, dried and powdered, capsules, biscuits/ cookies) is said to soothe the stomach and be effective against nausea. Peppermint and ginger combinations may work as as well.
Under pressure.
Chinese accupressure, travel bands and wristbands placed at stress points may help reduce stress and anxiety. Alternatively, apply finger pressure below your wrist.
Prescription/OTC drugs.
Travel sickness pills and antihistamines: Hyoscine, Dramamine, Bonine, Marezine, Cinnarizine, Cyclizine, Promethazine. The latter two have the least side effects. Hyoscine is said to be the most effective, with antihistamines less so. Cinnarizine and Cyclizine cause less drowsiness. Check with a doctor first, and take medication before travelling. Obviously, if you are going to be driving, make sure that what you’re taking will have no side effects, ie. drowsiness. Most of these items are taken before travelling.
Scopolamine skin discs.
These are an alternative to Dramamine, which may cause drowsiness.

Cure Tips

What do if / when you do get sick during your travels.

Use a sick bag.
Keep airline-style sick bags with you, especially if you have kids in the car. What would you rather? Be prepared or have your car upholstery pebbled dashed with a regurgitated version of dinner?
Replace fluids.
If you get sick, have a sip or two of water. This will remove that disgusting taste and will also help balance your system.
Sit in front.
Move to the front passenger seat for a while. (Or any of the positions mentioned above for other modes of travel.) Make sure you face forwards and stay quiet until you feel better.
Change clothes.
Make sure you pack a change of clothes that’s easy to get to, say in a small travel bag instead of a suitcase. This is good for for when someone throws up, or just for changing into something looser and more comfortable.

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How To Cope With Travel Sickness 07/03/2007 By Chad Davies, Staff Writer, On The Beach Holidays

Pre-Travel Preparation Tips

During the Trip

Medications

Cure Tips

How To Cope With Travel Sickness
07/03/2007 By Chad Davies, Staff Writer, On The Beach Holidays