How to Prevent Motion Sickness

Sit in the front seat of the car. Doctors believe that motion sickness happens when there is a conflict between what your eyes see and how your body interprets the movement of the vehicle. This process involves your inner ear, which helps you sense balance. For example, when you see the front seat of the car but your body feels the curves and speed of the road, your inner ear gets overstimulated. This causes nausea and dizziness, which are typical symptoms of motion sickness. To avoid this, focus your eyes on the road ahead, so your eyes and body can interpret the same information. By sitting in the front seat, you'll experience less of the disconnect between what you see and how your body perceives the movement.

• Driving yourself can help you concentrate on something else, and avoid focusing on your motion sickness.

Focus on the horizon. Fixing your gaze on a stationary point ahead helps you align your eyes, inner ear, and nerves. Look out the front window and focus on a distant point on the horizon. This point could be a mountain, a tree, a building, or simply any spot in the distance. Keep your visual focus on this point, even if the road is bumpy, winding, or hilly. Resist the urge to look out of the side windows: focus only on the front window in front of you.

• If you're the driver, be sure to focus on the road and surrounding vehicles, as well as the horizon ahead.

Keep the car at a cool temperature. A cool and ventilated environment can ease the symptoms of motion sickness, as well as alleviate sweating and nausea. If possible, crack open a window to let in some fresh air. Alternatively, you can turn on the air conditioning and direct the airflow toward your face to make the most of the benefits.

• Good ventilation will also help reduce the smell of food in the car. Motion sickness can worsen with strong food odors.

Stabilize your head. It can be difficult to keep your eyes focused on a fixed point when traveling on a rough, bumpy road. To maintain your line of sight, ensure that your head is also fixed in place. Rest your head against the headrest behind you to keep it steady. A neck pillow will also help keep your head stable, thus maintaining your focus.

Take regular short breaks. You can step out of the car and stretch your legs. Sit on a roadside bench or beneath a tree, and take deep breaths through your mouth to relax. This method is especially effective during long trips involving winding roads. Frequent stops not only help relieve motion sickness but also allow the driver to take short rest breaks. Continue driving when you feel more alert, and the dizziness and nausea have subsided.

Try to take a nap. Sleeping can be a great way to overcome motion sickness. When you close your eyes, you no longer perceive the mismatch between your visual input and your body's signals. Many people find that sleeping is the best strategy for surviving a long car ride without feeling sick.

• If you have trouble falling asleep in the car, you may consider taking a sleep aid. However, if you do, make sure you won't need to drive at any point during the trip.

Focus on something else. Distractions can be a great remedy for motion sickness, especially for children or passengers sitting in the back seat. Take your mind off dizziness or nausea by listening to music, singing, or playing a game like 20 Questions with your travel companion.

Avoid reading books, using your phone, or other electronic devices. Motion sickness tends to worsen when you focus more on visual stimuli inside the car than outside. Paying close attention to a book, playing games, or using e-readers or tablets increases the disconnect between your eyes and other parts of your body. To combat motion sickness, you should only focus on objects outside the vehicle, specifically the horizon ahead.

• Many people only experience motion sickness when reading in the car. Be sure this doesn’t happen to you!
• Audio books, car radio, and CDs are excellent entertainment options that won’t cause motion sickness.

Take deep breaths. Anxiety can worsen motion sickness. Relaxation techniques like slow, steady breathing can help reduce your heart rate and relax your body, making you less prone to motion sickness symptoms.

Avoid bumpy roads. The smoother the ride, the less likely you are to experience motion sickness. To ensure a more comfortable journey, drive on highways rather than city streets, where frequent stops are common. Also, make sure your car is equipped with the latest shock-absorbing technology. You can plan to drive on flatter roads instead of winding mountain or hilly routes by taking detours to avoid areas with many slopes. Try to choose the smoothest route possible.

• Avoiding peak traffic hours will also help you avoid the stop-and-go traffic that can worsen motion sickness.

Consider using a motion sickness wristband. Motion sickness wristbands apply gentle, continuous pressure to your wrist, about 2.5 cm from the wrist, which helps alleviate nausea from motion sickness. While scientific studies have not yet confirmed their effectiveness, these wristbands are inexpensive and have no side effects. You might want to try using one to see if it works for you.

• If you don’t have a motion sickness wristband, you can apply gentle pressure to your arm around 3 cm from the wrist (between the tendons).

Consider using alternative transportation methods. Many people who experience motion sickness face similar issues when using other forms of transportation, such as trains, buses, or airplanes. However, some individuals may only feel sick when traveling by car. Trains, buses, and planes might be better alternatives for you as they often provide a smoother ride, cause less strain on your eyes, and allow for a higher seating position.

• Choosing a stable seat in these modes of transport can be very helpful. Ensure your seat faces the direction of travel (avoid sitting with your back to the front of the vehicle); sit near the front of the train or bus; select a seat near the airplane door. You will feel less jostled.
• For shorter trips, walking or biking can help you avoid car travel altogether.

Avoid greasy foods and alcohol before your journey. Greasy foods can make you feel nauseous, and alcohol can cause intoxication symptoms that worsen motion sickness, such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and sweating. If you know you’ll be traveling by car soon, avoid fatty foods and alcoholic drinks to prevent motion sickness.

Snack frequently. Eating too much can make you feel nauseous. If you're traveling by car, especially for long trips, it’s best to eat small, healthy, low-fat snacks regularly. If you can find foods that are low in fat but high in protein, these would be ideal for preventing motion sickness.

• For example, avoid eating a hamburger while in the car. Instead, have a salad with grilled chicken. Skip the milkshake and opt for a low-fat yogurt smoothie with a bit of protein powder.

Eat light, bland foods with plenty of carbohydrates when traveling by car. Bland, odorless snacks can help settle your stomach. Foods like dry bread, crackers, or pretzels can absorb stomach acid and help stabilize it. These snacks are also great for satisfying hunger without causing indigestion.

• These snacks are also mild-smelling, which is helpful since strongly flavored or aromatic foods can exacerbate your motion sickness.

Cung cấp đủ nước cho cơ thể. Mất nước có thể làm trầm trọng hóa triệu chứng say xe. Bạn nên uống nhiều nước trước khi và trong chuyến đi để tránh cảm giác say xe. Mặc dù nước lọc là cách tốt nhất để giúp bạn duy trì lượng nước cho cơ thể, thức uống có hương vị cũng có thể sẽ đem lại sự xao nhãng cho bạn, giúp bạn tránh tập trung vào cảm giác chóng mặt và buồn nôn: bạn có thể uống các loại soda không chứa caffein, chẳng hạn như nước ngọt có ga hương gừng (ginger ale).

• Thức uống có hàm lượng protein cao đã được chứng minh cũng có thể làm giảm cảm giác buồn nôn.

Ăn nhiều gừng. Gừng đã được chứng minh rằng giúp giảm thiểu tình trạng say tàu xe. Bạn có thể ăn (hoặc uống) gừng dưới nhiều dạng. Trên thị trường có bày bán kẹo mút hương gừng, kẹo ngậm hương gừng, trà gừng, soda gừng, thuốc viên từ gừng, kẹo gừng, và bánh quy gừng. Bất kỳ một loại nào trong số này cũng sẽ giúp dạ dày của bạn ổn định hơn. Bạn chỉ cần nhớ sử dụng thực phẩm được làm từ gừng nguyên chất – chứ không phải là hương liệu nhân tạo.

• Tham khảo ý kiến của bác sĩ xem liệu bạn có nên sử dụng gừng hay không. Gừng có thể can thiệp với một vài loại thuốc.

Chuẩn bị sẵn kẹo bạc hà và kẹo cao su. Bạc hà cay, chẳng hạn như gừng, là bài thuốc tự nhiên giúp chữa trị buồn nôn. Kẹo cao su và kẹo bạc hà cứng cũng có thể giúp cơ thể sản sinh nhiều nước bọt hơn, và từ đó, trung hòa lượng axit trong dạ dày. Ngoài ra, những loại mùi hương này có thể đóng vai trò như tác nhân gây xao nhãng khi bạn đang tập trung suy nghĩ về triệu chứng của mình. Ngậm kẹo bạc hà hoặc nhai kẹo cao su bạc hà sẽ giúp bạn xoa dịu dạ dày và chuyển hướng tập trung vào một điều gì đó.

Trao đổi với bác sĩ về vấn đề say xe. Hầu hết mọi trường hợp say xe đều có thể được điều trị bằng cách thay đổi lối sống và thông qua nhiều bài thuốc tại nhà. Tuy nhiên, đôi khi, say xe có thể gây ảnh hưởng đến công việc hoặc cuộc sống hằng ngày của bạn. Trong trường hợp này, bạn nên trò chuyện với bác sĩ về phương pháp can thiệp y tế phù hợp, chẳng hạn như sử dụng thuốc thông thường hoặc thuốc kê toa.

• Bạn cũng nên tham khảo ý kiến của bác sĩ nếu bạn (hoặc con của bạn) đang gặp phải triệu chứng khác khi bạn đã bước ra khỏi xe, chẳng hạn như đau đầu nặng, thị giác và thính giác gặp vấn đề, và khó có thể bước đi. Đây có thể là dấu hiệu cho tình trạng bệnh lý nghiêm trọng hơn là say xe thông thường.
• Tình trạng say xe có thể liên quan đến độ tuổi, sắc tộc, giới tính, yếu tố hormone, bệnh về giác quan, và chứng đau nửa đầu.

Take antihistamine medication 30-60 minutes before getting in the car. There are several over-the-counter and prescription medications that are effective in combating motion sickness. Most of these medications contain dimenhydrinate (also known as Dramamine) or meclizine. Some well-known brands include Vomia and Antivert. Many of these medications come in patch form, which can be effective due to their time-released nature. Antihistamines can prevent the nausea caused by motion sickness by interfering with the body's motion-sensing mechanism in the ear. To get the best results, it’s recommended to take the medication 30-60 minutes before your trip begins.

• Consider possible side effects before using any medication (especially if you’re the driver), and consult your doctor as a precaution. Antihistamines can make you drowsy and affect your ability to operate machinery.

Ask your doctor to prescribe scopolamine. Only adults should use scopolamine – not children. This is a prescription medication that comes as a patch to be applied behind the ear. You should apply the patch 4 hours before starting your trip. While the side effects can be severe (blurred vision and dry mouth), this is a highly effective medication for combating nausea caused by motion sickness. You should consult your doctor to determine if this medication is right for you.

• Prevent motion sickness in children by having them sit in a booster seat so they can see outside clearly, and encourage them to look out the window. Avoid letting children watch movies in the car, as this can trigger motion sickness.
• People who suffer from migraines, pregnant women, and children aged 2-12 years old are more prone to motion sickness. In many cases, motion sickness is temporary and will gradually subside.
• Create various distractions in the car, but make sure they don’t require reading or screen time. Instead, prepare fun music, audiobooks, or safe games to play with your friends while driving.
• Keep the car environment cool and well-ventilated.
• Make sure your car has the latest tires and shock-absorbing system: you’ll want your ride to be as smooth as possible.
• Stop the car periodically and take a short walk for about a minute. Motion sickness will ease once you step onto solid ground.
• If you frequently suffer from motion sickness, keep a vomit bag handy in case you can’t stop the car in time.
• Chew gum. Switch to a fresh piece when the gum loses its flavor, as flavorless gum can make motion sickness worse.

• It was once believed by doctors that traveling by car on an empty stomach could ease motion sickness. However, we now know this is not true: you can eat, but it's best not to overeat or eat too heavily. Light meals or snacks are the most ideal choice.
• Consult a doctor before using any medications or natural remedies to combat motion sickness. Antihistamines, ginger, and peppermint may not be suitable for everyone: always check with your doctor before trying any remedies.