You can prevent motion sickness by eating lighter meals, avoiding alcohol and breathing fresh air. This article provides additional tips.

Motion sickness is a common ailment for certain people when traveling in cars, buses, boats, trains or airplanes. While motion sickness is an annoying distraction, it can be treated fairly easily.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of motion sickness are cold sweats, fatigue and nausea. Dizziness and a loss of appetite are also common symptoms. Some people who experience motion sickness report that their skin becomes paler, they have headaches, their mouths produce more saliva than usual and they experience shallow breathing.

Prevention

For starters, you should eat appropriately before you travel. Do not overeat. Eat a light meal and avoid alcohol. Eating a spicy or heavy meal can make your motion sickness worse and give you an unpleasant feeling if you become nauseated.

While traveling, try to breathe fresh air to help reduce nausea. If you’re on a large vessel, try to spend some time out in the open air. If possible, open car windows slightly to let in fresh air. Do not smoke and try to avoid areas where others smoke.

It is also a good idea to avoid certain activities. For instance, reading and watching television can make motion sickness worse. Always sit facing the direction in which you’re traveling. Sitting backward in your chair can make you feel nauseated or dizzy.

Try to position yourself in a place where you experience less motion. In a car, try to get a front seat instead of sitting in the back. In a boat, get a lower-level cabin near the middle of the ship.

You can also take an over-the-counter tablet to prevent motion sickness. Consult with a pharmacist for a recommendation.

Motion sickness tends to go away once you’ve stopped traveling, and people do not often need a physician’s care to overcome motion sickness. However, if you continue to feel sick after traveling, consult with a physician.