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By Lisa Plotnick
When friends and colleagues learn that I am planning a cruise, several of them will tell me, “I’d love to go on one, but I’m afraid of getting seasick.”
Although today’s ships are large—most exceed 800 feet in length—the occasional wind
storm can still make for some modest motion. Most notably, some water-
Even so, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I occasionally have that same concern. Yet, as one who loves being at sea, I have learned to combat it, often successfully. They key is to be prepared. The remedies and preventatives I will describe below do not work for everyone (as personal experience avows), yet may give the reader some ideas to test for themselves. I must also provide a disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Therefore, please note that any medications and other treatments, including those available over the counter, should be discussed with your own physicians. Additionally, I do not endorse any medications or devices mentioned or implied in this article.
That said, let’s go into the causes of seasickness, ways to prevent it, and methods to treat it.
The Science of Seasickness
Seasickness, or any kind of motion sickness for that matter, is brought upon when the vestibular system and visual system do not correspond, confusing the brain in the process. In other words, your inner ear detects motion, but your eyes don’t see it. According to several of my college textbooks, the feelings associated with seasickness are the brain’s responses to these mixed signals. These feelings might include nausea, fatigue, headache or, in more severe cases, vomiting. It has been postulated for a long time that some underlying conditions, such as migraines, may make one more susceptible to seasickness, and more recent research points to genetic factors. In any case, seasickness, while usually not harmful to the body, can potentially interfere with the enjoyment of a cruise vacation.
Fortunately, there are ways around it.
Pre-
Let’s start at the beginning. Your location on the ship can often reduce the feelings
associated with mal de mer. Ideally, you would want to be in the most stable part
of the ship—that is—the area that experiences the least motion. Generally, this is
amidships on a mid-
Don’t be concerned if your cabin is located outside of this supposed comfort zone. Whether or not this is the case, walk around the ship until you find a location where you feel more settled. I recall one particular cruise in the North Atlantic where we were experiencing fairly rough seas—a tropical storm had been in the vicinity hours before. It was a sea day and, rather than hang out in my cabin or on the lido, I went to the middle part of a middle deck, where I found a rather comfortable chair. I curled up there with my book, oblivious to the waves in our midst. Eventually, the ocean calmed, and I was able to move about the ship with no difficulty.
Medication may be an option for some, especially those who have experienced motion
sickness on ships or boats in the past. I don't use medication (and I am not qualified
to recommend it), yet there are several over-
Remedies
So you forgot, or it came on suddenly. My worst episode of seasickness came while
gazing out the window of a forward-
Mistake number one was watching the rolling surf while my feet were planted firmly
on the ground (or, more precisely, a ship’s deck). My eyes were taking in plenty
of motion, yet my ears were not sensing it as my body was not moving relative to
itself. This is why we often hear ship’s crew tell us to look at the horizon—it supposedly
makes the eyes and ears match up, reducing the visual-
Mistake number two was not eating. Even though I was not in the mood for a large
meal, a carefully selected snack might have helped to counteract the effects. Ginger
is well-
Some people have success with acupressure wristbands. These are available in most
drug stores for about $10-
What Not to Do
Whether gleaned from personal experience or from the literature, the following are to be avoided when attempting to alleviate seasickness symptoms: alcohol, greasy foods, fasting, or staring at the ocean (as opposed to the horizon) or reading.
In most people, the symptoms of seasickness will eventually subside as the brain
becomes adjusted to the underlying cause. However, should symptoms persist, or become
severe, do not assume that seasickness is to blame—a visit to the ship’s doctor may
be in order. If more serious conditions are ruled out, the medical staff may be able
to provide an injection of an anti-
Yet, no matter what remedy or preventative works best for you, the sooner the onset of mal de mer is addressed, the sooner you can enjoy your cruise vacation. Apples, anyone?
The topic of this article was suggested by one of our readers. If you would like to submit a topic for consideration for a future Reader’s Choice article, you may do so by email or via our fan page on Facebook.
Reader’s Choice
Combating Mal de Mer