Mal de Mer is a rather pleasant and unassuming French term for the debilitating effect motion sickness may have on your body. Luckily, it is not usually life threatening although many sufferers wish it were if only to bring relief to the extreme discomfort they feel!
This is not a problem just for the elderly, sick or those of us that are just plain wimps. Recent research has reported that of 79 US Space Shuttle missions 94% of astronauts used some medication during flight. 47% of that medication was for the relief of space motion sickness. Hope that makes you feel a whole lot better!
One of the most irritating things about seasickness is how everyone else around you just goes on their merry way, perfectly comfortable and happy, in the same conditions that have reduced you to utter misery.
Many first time passengers will be anxious about the possible effect seasickness will have on them and the potential disruption it will have on their well earned vacation. Old hands will want to know what can be done to avoid the worst effects they may have suffered on previous boat trips.
Try not to let anything you read on this blog prevent you from taking your well earned break and from enjoying what may be a thoroughly rewarding journey via sea. Rather, use it to your advantage and in all probability, for those of us it affects, seasickness will be a short term discomfort.
This is not a problem just for the elderly, sick or those of us that are just plain wimps. Recent research has reported that of 79 US Space Shuttle missions 94% of astronauts used some medication during flight. 47% of that medication was for the relief of space motion sickness. Hope that makes you feel a whole lot better!
One of the most irritating things about seasickness is how everyone else around you just goes on their merry way, perfectly comfortable and happy, in the same conditions that have reduced you to utter misery.
Many first time passengers will be anxious about the possible effect seasickness will have on them and the potential disruption it will have on their well earned vacation. Old hands will want to know what can be done to avoid the worst effects they may have suffered on previous boat trips.
Try not to let anything you read on this blog prevent you from taking your well earned break and from enjoying what may be a thoroughly rewarding journey via sea. Rather, use it to your advantage and in all probability, for those of us it affects, seasickness will be a short term discomfort.
What is Sea-sickness
Seasickness happens when the body, inner ear, and eyes all send different signals to the brain, resulting in confusion and queasiness. It is a problem generally attributed to disturbance in the balance system of the inner ear (vestibular) system. Your sensory perception gets out of synch as these nerve fibers attempt to compensate for the unfamiliar motion of the ship moving through water.
The movement of a boat on a fluid sea creates stress in the portions of the brain responsible for balance. Perhaps that stress causes the brain to start malfunctioning as the land based environment it understands is suddenly not behaving as it should.
The visual stimulus is misleading as it reports things like cabin walls, and furniture, in such a way that the brain interprets these things as stable when they're not. Your brain is being told by the vision system that the world is stable, while the inner ear is screaming that it's not.
The good news for sufferers is that the condition often disappears without medical treatment within a few days. As your brain learns to compensate for the swaying and pitching of the boat you will get your “sea legs”.
One unfortunate aspect is that after a prolonged period at sea it may take a while for you to adjust to being on terra firma again.
Who gets Sea-sick.
Everybody. 90% of all people will have suffered from motion sickness at some point in their lives. Almost anyone who has normal inner ear balance function can suffer motion sickness - even sailors.
Sleepiness can often be the first sign and some people who think they don't get seasick actually do without realizing it. People who love to take a nap the moment they get out onto the water are probably feeling the effects of mild motion sickness.
After sleepiness comes the nausea but it is often mild and may not be much of a problem. Studies have shown that maintaining a positive state of mind can help offset the effects.
For many unfortunate souls the symptoms escalate to extreme nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, pallor and cold perspiration.
If you have a problem with motion sickness in automobiles and airplanes, you may be more prone to seasickness. On the other hand, if you get nauseous in a smallish sailboat, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get seasick on a cruise ship.
Sleepiness can often be the first sign and some people who think they don't get seasick actually do without realizing it. People who love to take a nap the moment they get out onto the water are probably feeling the effects of mild motion sickness.
After sleepiness comes the nausea but it is often mild and may not be much of a problem. Studies have shown that maintaining a positive state of mind can help offset the effects.
For many unfortunate souls the symptoms escalate to extreme nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, pallor and cold perspiration.
If you have a problem with motion sickness in automobiles and airplanes, you may be more prone to seasickness. On the other hand, if you get nauseous in a smallish sailboat, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get seasick on a cruise ship.
Triggers
Seasickness is not a virus and therefor you cannot “catch it”. Most people are affected by motion sickness to varying degrees. There are certain treatments that may help to prevent the onset or at least shield you from the very worst effects of seasickess.
There are three seasickness triggers guaranteed to cause suffers uncomfortable symptoms. These triggers should be avoided whenever possible during the initial boarding and first few hours at sea:-
Going below deck for extended time periods. Not easy if the weather is poor and impossible on some boats such as hovercraft. At least try to find a window or porthole and keep your eyes gazing at but not fixed on the horizon.
Looking through binoculars for anything longer than a glance
Reading a book, looking at a compass, doing detailed work or staring at one point. Try to keep your peripheral vision out on the horizon and not staring at objects your brain will interpret as stable.
There are three seasickness triggers guaranteed to cause suffers uncomfortable symptoms. These triggers should be avoided whenever possible during the initial boarding and first few hours at sea:-
Going below deck for extended time periods. Not easy if the weather is poor and impossible on some boats such as hovercraft. At least try to find a window or porthole and keep your eyes gazing at but not fixed on the horizon.
Looking through binoculars for anything longer than a glance
Reading a book, looking at a compass, doing detailed work or staring at one point. Try to keep your peripheral vision out on the horizon and not staring at objects your brain will interpret as stable.
Prevention
You can often avoid seasickness by staying busy and keeping your mind occupied. Any activity that will keep you above decks and focus your mind on anything other than the swaying environment will help. Staying in fresh air instead of in a stuffy cabin may help.
Take deep breaths and drink plenty of water. The worst thing that you can do is go below decks with no land or horizon to look at.
Reading or staring at an object will assuredly bring on the affects of seasickness. Keep your senses, particularly your eyes, working flat out interpreting the motion of the boat and the waves.
Find a haven on the boat where the motion is at its minimum and which allows your eyes to gaze at the horizon. On a large ship try and face forward. Your peripheral vision is an important factor keep it out on the horizon but do not visually lock on to it.
Let you brain adjust to this unstable environment by allowing the horizon to act as a true point of reference.
If you can, try and eat lightly and avoid fatty or spicy foods. Try to stay warm, relaxed and comfortable. Try to sleep at the appropriate time and allow your brain to recover. Spending valuable leisure time in bed isn't fun, but a prone position could alleviate some of your symptoms. If possible try not to lie down in your cabin, instead find a deck chair and get some fresh air as well.
There are certain remedies that may help some sufferers and these are discussed in the next section. Medication must be taken hours before you travel and not during the onset of symptoms. Herbal remedies such as ginger are reported to have a beneficial effect. There is some evidence in the medical papers section which supports this. Some non pharmaceutical aids such as pressure bands are claimed to help.
Try choosing the type of boat, where you sail and what season you travel carefully. Modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers that eliminate much of the motion responsible for seasickness. Bigger is best, if your boat is a mega-liner it may not pitch and roll quite so much as a smaller craft.
Take deep breaths and drink plenty of water. The worst thing that you can do is go below decks with no land or horizon to look at.
Reading or staring at an object will assuredly bring on the affects of seasickness. Keep your senses, particularly your eyes, working flat out interpreting the motion of the boat and the waves.
Find a haven on the boat where the motion is at its minimum and which allows your eyes to gaze at the horizon. On a large ship try and face forward. Your peripheral vision is an important factor keep it out on the horizon but do not visually lock on to it.
Let you brain adjust to this unstable environment by allowing the horizon to act as a true point of reference.
If you can, try and eat lightly and avoid fatty or spicy foods. Try to stay warm, relaxed and comfortable. Try to sleep at the appropriate time and allow your brain to recover. Spending valuable leisure time in bed isn't fun, but a prone position could alleviate some of your symptoms. If possible try not to lie down in your cabin, instead find a deck chair and get some fresh air as well.
There are certain remedies that may help some sufferers and these are discussed in the next section. Medication must be taken hours before you travel and not during the onset of symptoms. Herbal remedies such as ginger are reported to have a beneficial effect. There is some evidence in the medical papers section which supports this. Some non pharmaceutical aids such as pressure bands are claimed to help.
Try choosing the type of boat, where you sail and what season you travel carefully. Modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers that eliminate much of the motion responsible for seasickness. Bigger is best, if your boat is a mega-liner it may not pitch and roll quite so much as a smaller craft.
Remedy
Over-the-counter and prescription medications such as dramamine and scopolamine (as transdermal patches and tablets) are readily available. Ginger capsules are also considered effective in preventing motion sickness.[1] Some sufferers find that wearing special wristbands helps stave off the condition.
Those suffering from seasickness who are unaccustomed to the motion of a ship often find relief by:
keeping their eyes directed to the fixed shore or horizon, where possible
lying down on their backs and closing their eyes
drinking any substance that is likely to temporarily diminish their senses of sight and touch
move into a position where fresh air is blowing on their face
sucking on crystallised ginger, sipping ginger tea or taking a capsule of ginger.
moving to the boat's center of gravity to eliminate motion due to pitch, roll and yaw (but not translation)
taking the helm of a yacht can reduce sickness as the sufferer has something to concentrate on, and can also anticiptate the movement of the vessel
Unlike with a hangover, succumbing to nausea normally does not relieve the symptoms of seasickness, and, once started, is often difficult to stop.
Those suffering from seasickness who are unaccustomed to the motion of a ship often find relief by:
keeping their eyes directed to the fixed shore or horizon, where possible
lying down on their backs and closing their eyes
drinking any substance that is likely to temporarily diminish their senses of sight and touch
move into a position where fresh air is blowing on their face
sucking on crystallised ginger, sipping ginger tea or taking a capsule of ginger.
moving to the boat's center of gravity to eliminate motion due to pitch, roll and yaw (but not translation)
taking the helm of a yacht can reduce sickness as the sufferer has something to concentrate on, and can also anticiptate the movement of the vessel
Unlike with a hangover, succumbing to nausea normally does not relieve the symptoms of seasickness, and, once started, is often difficult to stop.
Natural Cures For Seasickness
Cocculine - Made by Boiron are homeopathic pills. This is our favorite seasick pill. They work sublingually (under the tongue) so you don't need to swallow anything when you are feeling bad. There are four ingredients of cocculine; Cocculus, Nux Vomica, Petroleum and __?__. Each of these separate ingredients are homeopathic remedies for nausia and are so safe they can be taken by pregnant women for morning sickness.
Coke and Saltines - The phosphoric acid in the coke settles a sea-sick stomach and a salty snacks always seem to help while underway.
Ginger - Is a natural anti-emetic that helps prevent nausea if taken the day before and the day of leaving. It comes in many forms, soda, tea, pickled ginger slices, cookies, lollipops, ginger pills. Especially strong ginger cookies have done very well in preventing motion sickness
Bagels - Eating a bagel seems to help motion sickness, some think because of the carbohydrates involved.
Motion Eaze - Herbal Oils that smell nice and are supposed to help get rid of your seasickness. We have found it helps a little if you use it at the early stage of seasickness and the movement isn't too bad.
You can also use this to put behind the ears of animals to help their seasickness. Even though after using this on our cat a few time she associated the smell with being seasick and would actually GET sick from the smell. Would this happen to people too? --Ben 13:11, 29 March 2006 (GMT)
Vitamin C - 3000mg to 5000mg (3-5 grams) taken when you begin to feel sick, recovery comes immediately. Supposedly the brain makes histamine which makes you feel seasick. Vitamin C cuts its production. The link between seasickness, vomiting, and histamine was discovered by German Professor Dr Jarisch.
Vitamin B-6 - May help with seasickness along with digestion and muscle spasms. One of the reasons may have to do with it's ability to help maintain salt and water balances.
ReliefBand - Is a watch type device that sends electricity through a point in your wrist to stop seasickness. It works almost instantly, within 10 or 15 minutes. It works best for mild cases, but when the going gets rough you will turn it up to the point of possible nerve damage, and be so seasick that you won't know the difference. Also, when you are running around on deck it is easy to nock the device off of the pressure point.
Wrist Acupressure - An elastic wristband with a plastic point is used to stimulate the same median nerve the ReliefBand does but by acupressure. This is supposed to help with sea-sickness but the problem is, like with the reliefband you need to keep it on the correct point.
Lying down - Lying down horizontally while looking at the horizon or your eyes closed seems to help some people.
Steer - Steering the boat (like driving a car) helps keep your mind off motion sickness and temporarily stops symptoms.
Tempest sunglasses - These "artificial horizon sunglasses" are based on seasickness being a "sensorial conflict". One sees the bridge of the boat inclining, and the horizon moving from side to side. This happens perceptually, while the inner ear remains horizontal whatever the movement of the head. These two pieces of information - visual perception and labyrinth perception - enter into conflict without being able to find a resolution. This sensorial conflict is at the origin of seasickness. The sunglasses are supposed to "trick" the visual perception to make the inner ear always "see" a level, stable horizon, thus relieving the conflict and keeping nausea from coming on.
lemon drops - or other tart hard candy may help hide that watery mouth sensation.
Nandkishore Gitte.
2 Comments:
Check out http://captainwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Cure_for_Seasickness if you would like to see an up to date list of where the "remedy" content was taken from.
More tips in tips
Post a Comment