COMBATING CAR SICKNESS

Here are some simple things you can do to keep motion sickness at bay

Bumps, tight corners and long winding roads . . . just the thought canmake somefeel ill. Travel sickness is something almost everyone will experience atsometime.

It’s caused by sensory confusion — your eyes and inner ears get conflicting signals about the movement going on around you, muchlike the sensation you receive when you’re spun around in a circle. Whenyou’re in an enclosed space such as a car, you tend to focus on objects inside. Your eyes tell your brain the environment is stationary, but your balance organs say it is not.

Because motion sickness is easier to prevent than deal in the moment, wehave compiled five tips to help avoid it completely.

Eat right

Travelling on an empty stomach can increase the chance of sickness, somake sure to eat something light about 45-60 minutes before you set off.

If you’re planning to be on the road for a long period of time, pack somesnacks that are low in fat and acid— we all knowhowtempting it is topopinto the bakery or petrol station and fill up on greasy goodness, but these fatty foods are known to cause nausea or worsen travel sickness. Spicy foods should also be avoided.

Keepit fresh

Strong scents such as perfumes or car fresheners are likely to can makeyou feel worse. Avoid eating smelly snacks and try to keep the vehicle as odourless as possible.

Stuffy, hot conditions can also have an impact. on travel sickness Even on cold mornings, avoid making the cabin excessively hot with the heater, especially on recirculated air. Slip the windows open when you can and get fresh air circulating in the cabin. Andof course, there’s no better fresh air than the air outside, so takesome breaks along the way and stretch your legs.

Choose the best seat

If you can, offer to drive. Drivers are less likely to suffer because their focus is firmly fixed outside on the road ahead, rather than objects close by.

Passengers prone to travel sickness should sit in the front whenever they can. Try to give children agood viewing point, so they can look out of the window.

Avoid reading

Focusing on something up close while travelling has been known to cause nausea; whether you’re reading abook, checking your horoscope or streaming the Football Worldcuplive on your phone. Instead of staring down, try to keep your sight fixed on the beautifulnzscenery. Rather than giving your children a cellphone or tablet to keep them entertained, try other ways such as classic car games (I spy withmylittle eye), music or even podcasts.

The magic pills

Preventing car sickness ismuch more effective than trying to treat symptoms once they’re in full swing. Tablets like Sea-legs are available over the counter and are specially formulated to provide reliefwhether travelling by car, boat, plane or bus. Antihistamines, such as cinnarizine and cyclizine, can also help.

If you’re the one doing the driving, however, be warned that someproducts canmake you drowsy; consult adoctor before taking medication.

For thosewhoprefer amore natural option, try ginger tablets or wearing acupressure wrist bands.