Vitamin Sea

Physician tips for preventing and treating seasickness.

A physician’s tips for preventing and treating seasickness

SITTING ON AN OPEN DECK AND LOOKING AT A FAR HORIZON WILL DECREASE THE SENSORY CLASH AND RELIEVE THE SYMPTOMS OF SEASICKNESS.

YOUR CRUISE HAS BEEN BOOKED FOR months and the date of departure is now approaching. Whether you’re new to cruise travel or a veteran, many passengers purchase seasickness medications and aids prior to boarding. Luckily, there is an array of products available to combat nausea, but understanding the mechanism of seasickness and its risk factors, as well as simple preventive measures, may make all the difference in the enjoyment of your cruise.

COMMON FACTORS

What are the chances of developing seasickness? About 30 percent of cruise ship passengers will experience some symptoms; only 5 to 8 percent experience the more incapacitating form. Depending on your personal susceptibility to seasickness, your therapeutic approach may vary from simple measures to medications.

Since ancient Greece, Hippocrates determined “sailing on the sea proves that motion disorders the body.” The word “nausea,” or that horrible feeling of impending vomiting, is derived from the Greek word “naus,” which translated means “ship.” Literally nausea became known as ship-sickness.

Many scientific theories abound regarding seasickness. Scientifically, our brain processes signals from various parts of the body, particularly the eyes and inner ear. Seasickness occurs when the signals don’t “compute.” Still, I can’t ignore my gut feeling (excuse the pun) that psychological factors also play a role.