How to Prevent Nausea While Reading in a Car

Sometimes, a good book can keep you hooked to the point that you don't want to stop reading, even when you're in a car. The problem occurs when you read, as your eyes send signals to your brain that you're sitting still. This contradicts the signals from your inner ear, muscles, and joints, which are experiencing the car's movement. As a result, you may suffer from motion sickness, leading to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, drooling, shortness of breath, headaches, and drowsiness. However, if you still wish to continue reading, there are several methods you can use to prevent motion sickness.

Look up after reading for a few seconds. If you decide to do this, gaze at the horizon. Focusing on a stationary object on the horizon and looking out of the window will help your body reconcile the motion it feels with your visual perspective.

• Avoid focusing on roadside trees, as this can cause dizziness.
• Hold the book higher rather than placing it on your lap, allowing you to easily switch your gaze between the book and the view outside.
• If you begin to feel motion sick, take a few minutes to look outside before returning to your book.

Minimize body shaking while reading. By doing this, you reduce the conflicting signals sent by your body and eyes to your brain. You can achieve this by:

• Sitting in the least bumpy spot in the car. The back seat usually has more bumps than the front, so it's best to sit in the front passenger seat.
• Resting your head on the headrest to keep your head steady.
• Avoid reading when the car exits the highway and turns into another lane, as the sharp movement will increase nausea.

Open the window. The breeze blowing into your face while you read helps reduce nausea and gives you a fresh feeling. The cool air can refresh you.

• Opening the entire window may blow the pages of your book, but slightly cracking it will still help.

Relax and don't stress about feeling motion sick. The more anxious you get, the worse the nausea will become. Instead, stop reading and focus on relaxing. You can use these relaxation techniques:

• Deep breathing
• Meditation
• Gently tense and release each muscle group in your body
• Imagine a calm, peaceful space
• Listen to music
• Close your eyes and rest for a moment

Eat light snacks before and during the trip. Although reading is more enjoyable with a snack, eating too much will lead to nausea and even vomiting. Avoid these foods:

• Greasy, high-fat foods
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol

Soothe your stomach while reading. The following foods are generally light, easy to digest, and help reduce nausea:

• Plain crackers help absorb excess stomach acid.
• Hard candies, especially peppermint. Suck on them instead of chewing.
• Carbonated drinks. These help settle your stomach and provide additional electrolytes.

Wear an acupressure wristband. This fabric wristband is usually stretchy with a small button on it. You should wear it in a way that the button presses against the inside of your wrist, between two tendons on the arm. It is believed that stimulating this point may help reduce nausea.

• However, avoid wearing it too tight as it could cause pain or hinder blood circulation in the arm.
• The scientific effectiveness of this method has not yet been proven, but some individuals report it helps them.

Avoid smoking or sitting in a car with cigarette smoke. If you start feeling nauseous, you'll become sensitive to cigarette smoke. The smell of cigarette smoke often triggers vomiting.

• Air fresheners with strong scents can also have a similar effect.

Use ginger. Researchers are still uncertain about which compound in ginger helps alleviate nausea, but it is likely the oils and phenols. Ginger has been used for centuries to soothe the stomach and prevent vomiting, but its effectiveness for motion sickness has not been scientifically proven. Before using it, check with your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medications to ensure it won't affect you. If your doctor approves, you can try:

• Fresh ginger tea. A warm cup of this tea can help you feel more comfortable while reading. However, ginger tea can be a bit spicy. Add honey to sweeten it.
• Ginger-flavored carbonated water. The carbonation in the water also helps soothe the stomach.
• Ginger biscuits or gingerbread
• Ginger supplements

Take over-the-counter antihistamine medications. Antihistamine drugs (anti-motion sickness) are commonly used, and meclizine is also available. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and consult your doctor before using it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medications.

• These medications can cause drowsiness, so you may find it difficult to stay awake to read.
• Avoid driving or operating machinery while taking this medication.
• It is best to take the medication 30 minutes to 1 hour before traveling.

Consult a doctor if you need to travel long distances by car. Inform the doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have other medical conditions such as asthma, glaucoma, urinary retention, epilepsy, heart disease, kidney issues, or liver problems. If deemed appropriate, the doctor might suggest using a scopolamine or hyoscine patch (Transderm Scop).

• Apply the patch behind your ear several hours before travel.
• This patch can help prevent motion sickness for up to 3 days.
• It can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, and dizziness, so if these side effects are intense, it could affect your reading ability. Avoid using it if you're driving.
• In some countries, motion sickness patches are widely available, but they should not be used by young children or the elderly without first consulting a doctor.