Pharmacist Chris Newbury shared ways to ease motion sickness, whether it comes on when travelling by train, car, boat or plane.
“Motion sickness is caused by a disconnect between your senses,” Newbury explained.
“Often when we travel, our brains are receiving a series of mixed signals. Our eyes, ears, and bodies are experiencing different sensations.
“And the brain simply can’t rationalise this conflicting information, causing us to feel queasy, dizzy, and often feeling the need to vomit.”
Travel sickness can lead to:
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Inability to concentrate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pale skin
- Increased breathing rate.
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Factors that increase your risk of motion sickness include:
- Having a family history of motion sickness
- Using hormonal contraception
- Suffering from inner ear disorders
- Being on your period
- Experiencing frequent migraines
- Having Parkinson’s disease
- Being pregnant.
Newbury said: “While motion sickness is pretty unavoidable for those who are most susceptible, there are measures you can take to reduce the risk while travelling.”
For those travelling by car, Newbury recommended sitting in the front seat, if possible.
“Forward visibility tends to be better than looking out of a side window,” Newbury elaborated.
“And you’ll also feel slightly less motion when the car turns a corner.”
If you are travelling by train or plane, it’s better to “choose a window seat”.
Should you be cruising, then “sit in the middle of a boat and on the upper deck is possible”.
Newbury also advised: “Avoid using your phone or reading while in motion.”
Another tip is to “try not to look at other moving objects around you”.
Newbury added: “Avoid drinking alcohol or eating heavy, spicy food before travelling [and] stay hydrated throughout your journey.”
If you are going to eat, do so, but “little and often”, opting for snacks such as “crackers, bananas, apples, and nuts”.
You can also speak to your local pharmacist who can advise on medication to help provide relief from travel sickness.
8 top tips to reduce the risk of motion sickness
- Sit in the front of a car to reduce motion
- Choose a window seat on trains or planes
- Sit in the middle of a boat and on the upper deck if possible
- Avoid using your phone or reading while in motion
- Try not to look at other moving objects around you
- Avoid drinking alcohol or eating heavy, spicy food before travelling
- Eat little and often, opting for snacks such as crackers, bananas, apples, and nuts
- Talk to a pharmacist.
Chris Newbury (BPharm IP) is the pharmacist at The Independent Pharmacy.
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