Motion sickness can be a very embarrassing and stressful experience. You just will fill with dread when a road trip is eminent. If you’ve experienced this condition, you can tell it just not funny and it’s not welcome in any way. It affects mostly children and women but is also common in older people. In fact any one can be motion sick given the right conditions.

1. What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness is a condition that results from mismatch and conflict of signals obtained from various body parts which do not sync and thus end up confusing the body. For instance, when you driving in a car, your brain does all the calculations with inputs it receives from the eyes, joints, ears and muscles.

In a situation where there is a conflict from these inputs especially when you when you riding in a moving car that is interpreted as stationary, your system gets confused and you most likely experience a feeling of nausea. Other people might experience headache, dizziness, salivation, vomiting, sweating and in some extreme cases hyperventilation.

This can very unpleasant condition is generally triggered by a lack of access to enough natural air a situation that is common when riding in an air conditioned car, or when you try reading or seeing a movie while riding in a car. This condition is also very likely to occur if you sit at the rear seat of a car or bus.

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2. Tips to manage motion sickness

Motion sickness can be managed, by preparing ahead if you be going on a long trip. We at Naijacarnews have compiled a list of some remedy and remedial actions to take to manage motion sickness;

2.1. Try to seat at the front area of the car or bus

Seating at the front area will help reduces the chances of getting motion sick. Normally when you seat at the front area, you are likely to experience less motion and will have a clearer view of the horizon will surely reduce the chances of experiencing motion sickness. If you will have to seat at the rear end of a car or bus, please try to fix your eye at a specific object, also try starting up a conversation with people close to you, to negate anxiety and reduce chances of falling sick.

2.2. Try seating where you get enough air

People who experience motion sickness have reported that experience less instances of motion sickness when the sick close to the window in a car or bus. This position exposes them to a sufficient supply of air which helps negate motion sickness. So, try sitting close to the window when travelling in a car or bus.

Try seating where you get enough air to avoid motion sickness

2.3. Take medication

If you are stuck at the rear seat of a car and are forced to travel in an air-conditioned car where all the windows are shut, your best remedy will be to take your medication. We expect that your doctor must have recommended the right kind of medication for you. So, please take this drug before embarking on the trip. Make sure you take your drugs at least one hour before the trip. Doctors usually recommend Benadryl for kids 6 years and above and Dramamine for Kids 2 years and above. Meclizine and Dramamine is usually recommended for adults.

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2.4. Avoid eating/ reading

Doctors recommend that you avoid taking food that are spicy and have strong odor. Also, avoid taking or consuming alcohol before embarking on a trip.

People also report that they experience motion sickness when they try watching a movie or reading a book as they car or bus moves. Please avoid doing either of these activities while driving. These are one of the strongest and most common causes of motion sickness. Rather than read a book, you can try talking to people around you to help ease the anxiety.

2.5. Try the Desensitization Therapy

This involves exposing yourself to motion sickness triggers in a gradual and systematic manner. For instance if watching a movie triggers this situation for you, try watching the movie for 5 minutes intervals then gradually increase your timing until your system adjusts. This therapy has been known to minimize and even cure this condition.

We hope you enjoy your next trip free of motion sickness

2.6. Take ginger

Some people have reported that taking ginger helps in managing motion sickness. A study by E. Ernst and M. Pittler publish on the British Journal of Aneasthesia also lays credence to the efficacy of ginger in managing vomiting and nausea.

We hope you enjoy your next trip free of motion sickness!!!

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