Sea sickness, also known as motion sickness, may effect people in cars, trains and planes as well as boats. Sea sickness may only cause minor disruption for some, but for others the condition can be debilitating. While symptoms of sea sickness will vary with each individual, common symptoms include nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Other signs frequently associated with sea sickness are sweating, headaches and fatigue. Onset of sea sickness can be sudden and rapidly progress from general feeling of discomfort to severe nausea and vomiting
Causes of Sea Sickness
Sea sickness is actually a disturbance of the inner ear, the area of the body that controls balance and equilibrium. The condition occurs when the eyes, ears and muscles are not sending the same signals to the brain. While on a ship, the eyes may not see the ship moving up and down, but the muscles sense and react to the movement. According to MedlinePlus, the mixed signals from the eyes and muscles are often enough to send conflicting messages from the inner ear to the brain, causing sea sickness
Minimizing Sea Sickness
Fortunately, people suffering from sea sickness can take many steps to avoid it from occurrence. MedlinePlus recommends sitting in the front of the boat, avoiding reading during travel, and looking out into the distance as strategies to avoid sea sickness. According to MayoClinic.com, people susceptible to sea sickness should avoid alcohol, smoking, and overeating prior to travel.
Medine to Prevent Sea Sickness
Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine or dimendydrinate are over-the-counter medications commonly used to prevent sea sickness. Doctors often prescribe promethazine or scopolamine to treat serious cases of sea sickness. Scopolamine, according to MayoClinic.com, is a patch that prevents sea sickness for up to 72 hours.
