SEA SICKNESS
Note: This is not professional medical advice. Please consult your physician for any questions on how to best treat your illness.
When setting sail on the open seas, it is important to be prepared in the event that you become sea sick. The rocking of a boat as it glides across the ocean waves is enough to mess with the average person’s equilibrium. If the conditions are right, even the most experienced seamen can get sick. Those who have experienced it know that sea sickness can quickly turn your pleasant trip into a miserable experience. Here is some helpful information on how to prevent and deal with sea sickness.
What is Sea Sickness?
Sea sickness occurs when what you see, conflicts with what your inner ear is sensing. So, while on the sea, the boat around you looks like it’s standing still, but your inner ear (vestibular) senses the movement of the boat on the water. As your body’s complex balance system reports to the brain, it becomes clear that something is not right. This conflict leads to headache, dizziness, and nausea.
Tips to Prevent Sea Sickness:
• – Take medication. There are several effective over-the-counter medications. Bonine, Dramamine, and Meclizine are some of the most popular brands. The scopolamine patch by Transderm Scop is reported to be very effective, and is easily obtained with a doctor’s prescription. (To be effective you should get this medication in your system 8 hours before you board the boat. If possible, sleep on it and take more at least 1 hour before you board the boat. That way, it’s in your system and working when you wake up.)
• Ginger capsules are also considered effective in preventing motion sickness.
• Some people find that wearing special wristbands helps stave off the condition.
• Avoid eating greasy or acidic foods before going out on the water.
• Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol the night before and the day of your boating experience.
• Drink plenty of water. Even partial dehydration lowers your body’s resistance and leaves you susceptible to motion sickness.
Tips on Dealing with Sea Sickness:
The first step in dealing with any ailment is understanding what is wrong so that you can mentally deal with the problem. This is very important in dealing with sea sickness.
If seasickness occurs, it is best to minimize your motion. To do so, go to the center of the boat, and get to the lowest level possible. The higher on the boat you are, the more you will feel the rocking motion.
If possible, stay standing and look at the horizon to get your bearings. Take some deep breaths. Rock your shoulders back and forth. Realize that your body is probably tight and stiff. Don’t fight the motion of the boat, try to relax and move with it. Soda crackers may help calm your stomach. Drinking Coke or Pepsi may also help calm your stomach. They contain phosphoric acid, which is an ingredient in Emetrol, a drug to control vomiting.[/fullwidth]