It’s the worst feeling to ride in the car and have thesymptoms of motion sickness. If you are prone to this problem, you need to know how to help car sickness as quickly as possible. The faster you act when the symptoms are starting, the higher the chances that you will be able to get them under control before severe symptoms set in.
Motion sickness happens when your body and your brain are getting conflicting information. The inner ear is sensitive and sends signals to the brain about how your head is moving, and motion sickness can occur if these messages don’t line up with what your eyes are seeing. For example, if you are in a car, your inner ear detects movement, but the visual signals don’t align with the inner ear sensations.
Are You at Risk for Car Sickness?
Not everyone experiences car sickness. Some people can spend time in the car without a problem, looking anywhere they want without symptoms. However, there are a few risk factors to keep in mind. If any of these factors apply to you, you need to know how to help with car sickness so you can control the situation when the symptoms start to set in.
- Women: Women have a higher risk of motion sickness than men. Additionally, the likelihood of symptoms increases when a woman is pregnant, menstruating, or on hormone medications.
- Migraines: People with migraines or severe headache issues tend to be prone to car sickness symptoms as well. Sometimes the symptoms go hand-in-hand. For example, car sickness might be the trigger that brings on a migraine.
- Age: Children tend to get car sickness more easily compared to adults. If a child is between the ages of 2 – 12, be prepared with motion sickness remedies if they feel unwell.
- Medications: Some prescription medications can increase the likelihood of car sickness, including narcotics, antibiotics, antidepressants, and more. Even over-the-counter drugs can contribute, such as naproxen or ibuprofen.
How to Help Car Sickness: Prevention and Treatment
Ideally, prevention is the best approach so you can avoid the start of car sickness. Some people find that once the symptoms start, they can be hard to control. But if they can stop the signs in the first place, it’s easier to feel good for theentire car ride.
Here are a few tips for how to help car sickness. These steps can be beneficial for prevention (avoiding the symptoms from starting) as well as management (knowing what to do when the symptoms begin):
- Food and Drink: Avoid big meals. If you’re hungry, stick with small snacks like crackers. Also, drink water and avoid alcohol and caffeine.
- Positioning: Your body position in the car can make a difference. For example, some people find that they don’t get sick while driving. Or, you can try laying down and shutting your eyes. Always make sure you are facing forward and looking ahead.
- Activities: Be careful about the activities you are doing in the car. If you start reading a book or looking at your phone, it can aggravate the car sickness symptoms.