How to Prevent Seasickness

A buddy of mine had recently informed me that he'll be going on a cruise with a group of friends but was not too thrilled about the fact that he regularly gets seasickness on boats.

If you're like him, you know the feeling of nausea, dizziness, and (ew) vomiting can truly ruin a great trip in no time at all and when you're stuck on a boat for the new few days - it can be hellish.

Seasickness actually starts because of an imbalance within your inner ear. Without getting to scientific, it makes your body feel as if it's disoriented and rocking back and forth. Internally, you feel like you're constantly swaying which results in you feeling ill.

The common effects of being seasick is nausea, sweating, and dizziness which may, unfortunately, result in vomiting. Since you can't control your inner ear, your seasickness can last for days on end without the right remedies or preventative care.

Anyone that's been on a boat, riding in a car, or been on a carnival ride that had you slinging back and forth can quickly tell you how discomforting the feeling is when you get this kind of motion sickness.

Let's look at some ways to remedy the situation:

There are a few great options for preventing and curing seasickness these days, such as:

• Over the counter drugs
• Patches
• Natural foods
• Avoiding the triggers

First, over the counter drugs which are generally marked down as 'seasickness' or 'motion sickeness' remedies generally have dimenhydrinate or Dramamine which will aid in your body's ability to handle the situation. These can be found in nearly any CVS/Walgreens/Grocery Store and won't cost much.

Secondly, patches containing the same type of common drugs can be found and may be a better alternative to ensure that you have a constant release of the product such as when you're sleeping and miss out on a regular dosage or if you're the forgetful type.

Third, natural foods such as apples, lots of water, ginger, cookies, and other healthy foods can help settle your stomach though they may not get rid of all the symptoms of seasickness. However, it's important that you eat healthy because your body needs all the nutrients to perform the best it can during distressful times.

Fourth, avoid the common triggers of motion sickness such as sloshing around the deck, watching the trees go past while driving, rides that spin too fast. A helpful tip is to focus on a single point when you begin to feel sick - this tricks the brain into thinking you're on level ground and may help with the nausea. Also, get some rest when you start to feel it coming on and try to stop focusing on the rocking - take your mind off things.

If you do get sick, and the result is you vomiting, than remember to replace the lost nutrients by eating healthy and trying to keep things down. Drink lots of water. You don't need to be dehydrated on top of your sickness.