Just a couple of hours in Galveston can have your head spinning. Cruise ships, boat excursions, and a few twirling amusements at Pleasure Pier can lead to nausea and dizziness that could ultimately ruin your day. The good news is that Hospitality Health ER in Galveston is close by to help you feel better quickly. But to help you plan ahead, here is some helpful information.
If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from motion sickness, there may be things you could try or even avoid to prevent that sick feeling. Here is a little background information on motion sickness and some helpful hints.
Motion Sickness Tips by Hospitality Health ER in Galveston
What Causes Motion Sickness?
Nausea and dizziness happen when your vestibular system, which controls balance, gets confused by mixed signals and information. Say you’re riding on a carnival ride: your brain will process information and signals through your eyes, and combine those signals with sensory information from your body. The information is then communicated back to your inner ear, eyes, and sensory receptors. If things don’t match up—like they normally do when you’re not on the ride— then dizziness and nausea can kick in.
Who Gets Motion Sickness?
Although motion sickness is most common in women, older adults, and kids between 5 to 12 year old, anyone can have it. Some people are more susceptible than others, but there is not enough evidence to explain why. One theory is that it may be linked to genetics.
How Long Does Motion Sickness Last?
The duration of motion sickness really depends on the person or situation. If you get motion sickness on water, also known as ‘sea sickness,’ the nausea typically stops soon after you deboard. What you want to watch out for is dehydration from excessive vomiting. If this is the case, you can visit an ER and rehydrate through IV fluid treatment.
How to Prevent Motion Sickness
What You Should Avoid
- Stay away from fumes. For instance, when you’re choosing a beach to enjoy, choose one where you won’t be exposed to a lot of exhaust. Also, you may want to avoid certain water sports, like jet skis, that burn gasoline. Just the smell alone can make you ill.
- Avoid eating right before you board a boat, ride a car, or whatever activity makes you sick. Food in your belly can actually make your motion sickness worse.
- Avoid stuffy, enclosed areas. This will definitely make you feel worse.
What You May Want to Try
- Reading, bending down, or looking backward can make you dizzy in cars or boats. To break the cycle of motion sickness, try focusing on one object far away without taking your eyes off of it. This helps stabilize the vestibular system.
- If you’re in a car, get as much fresh air as possible by rolling down the window. This should help ease the nausea.
- Drink lots of fluids and rest well before you engage in activities that trigger your motion sickness.
- Ask your doctor about different medications, like antihistamines, that may prevent motion sickness. Some medications work by blocking the chemical signals that cause the symptoms. Here are the ones to inquire about:
- Cinnarizine (Dramamine): said to be the most effective antihistamine with the fewest side effects.
- Dimenhydrinate, Meclizine, and Cyclizine: long-acting piperazine antihistamines that generally cause less drowsiness than other antihistamines.
- Promethazine: addresses nausea or vomiting, motion sickness, and allergic reactions, but causes severe drowsiness.
For a non-medication option, you can try motion sickness wrist bands. They are popular among acupuncturists and acupressure practitioners, who believe stimulating the pressure point in your inner wrists can help reduce nausea and vomiting.
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