A day that should be nothing but fun and relaxing can turn sour very quickly if you have motion sickness. This condition is sometimes called mal de mer or seasickness. This sickness is a conflict between your senses. A fluid filled canal in your inner ear that controls your sense of balance tells your brain that your body is moving, while your eyes, looking into the cabin of the boat, tells your brain that you are not moving. This conflict can cause your body to be out of balance, which can cause your digestive system to act irregular.
There are two main symptoms of seasickness, which are dizziness and nausea. There are a number of factors that can contribute to sea sickness and can trigger either or both of these symptoms. The good news is that there are a few guidelines that you can follow to reduce the chances of succumbing to this temporary illness. Try following these guidelines:
Do not eat greasy or acidic foods for several hours before your boating trip. Heavy, greasy foods like bacon, eggs and sausage are slow to digest and can cause nausea while on your boating trip.
Do not skip your meals before sailing. An empty stomach can be just as bad as one with the wrong types of food.
Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body and may cause you to feel tired and non alert from just a few drinks, two qualities that are not conducive to safe boating.
Treatments For Seasickness
Most people find that Dramamine and Bonine work very well, but these should be taken a day before departure to eliminate discomfort. Bonine, is known to cause less drowsiness and you can drink while taking it. But remember, you have to take it before you set sail.
You can try non-medicated wrist bands which are designed to relieve motion sickness by acting on acupressure points. These bands are worn on your wrist just like a watch. Some people find these bands to be very helpful, but hey are not generally known as the best method to relieve seasickness.
Other Things You Should Do
Get plenty of rest before you go out on the water. Weariness and exhaustion can make you more susceptible to other things that bring on motion sickness. Do your gear preparation early in the day and get to bed early the night before your boat trip.
You should drink plenty of water. Even partial dehydration can lower your body's resistance to the stressful factors caused by the boat ride. Take plenty of water with you and drink often.
