SEA SICKNESS

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.

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.

Sea sickness 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 seasickness.

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.

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.

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.

If you have a history of motion sickness do not book an inside cabin, it will begin to resemble a movable coffin!

Remember - if your eyes see what your ears are feeling, you will certainly have a better chance of avoiding the worst effects of seasickness.

Prevention is certainly better than cure. There may not be any certain preventative measure but neither is there any instant cure. We do not endorse or suggest any particular product or remedy but you may find that one or more of the following will help to minimize the impact of seasickness.

No one wants to be drugged up and drowsy when they should be enjoying a cruise and there are nearly as many remedies for seasickness as there are sufferers. On the other hand, neither do you want to suffer the effects of seasickness when a simple remedy may have helped.

Remedies must be taken before setting sail. Medication can be obtained from pharmacies which help most people by sedating the balancing organs. These can cause drowsiness and instructions for their use should be read carefully and they should be taken with care. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you are not sure.

Some people find special wrist bands effective. There are also stick-on patches that can be worn on the skin behind the ear, but these are obtained by doctor's prescription only.

There is some evidence to suggest that Ginger has a beneficial effect on motion sickness. It appears to be related to its action on the gastrointestinal tract rather than the central nervous system. Some studies say it is effective, others disagree. The usual recommended dosage is about a gram. Some report that the dosage is consistent with easy administration via a biscuit or cookie.

Side effects of ginger are rare when used as recommended. However, some people may be sensitive to the taste or experience heartburn. Persons with a history of gallstones should consult a doctor before using ginger. Short-term use of ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy appears to pose no safety problems; however, long-term use during pregnancy is not recommended.

There are several drug remedies that could reduce the effects of seasickness.

The most common drugs are Dramamine, Dramamine II, and Bonine which are all essentially antihistamines. They are available over-the-net or over-the-counter at most pharmacies. Antihistamines will make most people drowsy and Dramamine will almost certainly have that effect. Dramamine II and Bonine are non-drowsy formulas but they still put some people to sleep for a few hours. Considering the alternative, that's not necessarily a bad side effect.

Whatever you choose, just make sure you plan ahead for your next trip!

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