Avoiding Seasickness

Posted April 10th, 2012

Seasickness, hardly fatal, but, last thing you need is to experience nausea, stomach cramps or vomiting as they can dampen your cruising holiday fun!

Seasickness:

They say motion sickness is caused by visual disorientation from being on an object in motion (eg: ship, car, plane, etc) competing against our natural inclination for balance. If you are concerned that you might develop symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness or dizziness, you should arm yourself with preventative measures before your cruise holiday.

Medication:

Medications work to either calm the nerves of the inner ear, or sooth the brain’s vomiting centre, but most motion sickness pills are only effective if they are taken before you feel sick.

You need to be aware of the side effects of the medications you are taking. Some may induce side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, blurry vision and dizziness, which can also be unpleasant while cruising. Consultant your doctor for the right medication for you and your cruise holiday.

Drug-free remedies:

If you don’t like to take drugs, or want to avoid the side effects, there are other options to consider. One of the most popular remedies is the Sea-Band wristband. An easy-to-wear acupressure band with a plastic bead that presses against the pressure points located on the palm. It is meant to help curb nausea and vomiting without any side effects. Sea-band wristbands come in both adults and children sizes.

You could also try ginger. Studies have found that ginger alleviates nausea associated with motion sickness, when taken in either tea, powder, pill or candy form. Some people also swear by green apples to help ease the nausea.

A few Tips onboard:

Acclimatise yourself to shipboard life. Spend as much time as possible out on the deck. Use the horizon as a point to maintain your equilibrium & balance. If it gets rough, locate yourself in the middle of the ship, as low down as possible. Book an outside cabin in the middle of the ship. This is the natural balance point of a ship & having a having a window will also give you a constant view of the horizon.

If you are feeling nauseous try and avoid reading or watching TV. Also, avoid excess alcohol and heavy or spicy food whilst onboard. Sometimes all you need is a bit of Fresh air. Try taking a walk on the Promenade deck.