Avoiding Motion Sickness During Road Trips
Taking a car trip can allow you to see parts of the country that you never knew existed. But taking a car trip can also lead to motion sickness for some people.
If you commonly get carsick, you may end up dreading every car trip you take. The good news is that there are some things you can do to help prevent motion sickness.
Check Your Health
If you have an ear infection, head cold, or another illness, it is likely that you will get carsick. This is because the body is not balanced properly, and so shifts in pressure, temperature, and other things can cause you to become ill.
Pressure changes in the ears will make it hard for a lot of people to get through a car ride without becoming nauseated. Before you head out on a long trip, have a checkup to make sure you are in good health.
The other reason you may end up with carsickness is because of a discrepancy between what you see and what you are able to feel.
The body will trigger a release of a neurotransmitter that tries to cleanse the body but ends up making you ill because you are not hallucinating like the body thinks you are.
Sit In the Front
A great way to help your eyes and mind stay on the same page is to sit in the front of the car where you can look out the front window.
Don’t look around to see things; instead, fixate on objects that are far out of the front window like the horizon. You need to limit how often you look down or back.
Try to look out the front window at that area as much as possible to prevent the mind from having a mismatch. The other good thing about the front of the car is that you are less likely to feel as much motion as you would if you were sitting in the back of the car.
If possible, try to close your eyes and take a nap. Closing your eyes will prevent you from getting motion sickness because the eyes will not see anything to cause the mismatch with the motion.
If you start to feel a little sick, crack the window to get some fresh air. This can make you feel better, especially if there is a strong smell in the car that is making you ill.
Schedule Breaks
One way to avoid getting sick is to schedule breaks into your road trip. Getting out of the car to stop and eat, take a walk, or just relax outside can make you feel better. It helps the stomach relax if you get out of the car and take some air.
Try Medicine
If you do get ill often when traveling, consider using some motion sickness medication. These over-the-counter medicines often help with motion sickness, as they will prevent nausea with a combination of different medications.
Try taking an allergy pill to help with the problems related to inner ear motion sickness troubles.
Snack
It helps to have some snacks in the car that can prevent you from feeling nauseated. Ginger biscuits are a great snack (ginger is recommended for women with morning sickness).
You could also try some salted crackers, fresh mint, peppermint candy, and water to help with your upset stomach.
