Travel sickness, Motion sickness, seasickness, car sickness”¦ many names but the same outcome.
The most accepted theory is that of sensory conflict. It is a disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. It’s when your vestibular system tells you one thing, and the other senses tell you another. This creates a conflict, leading the vestibular system to become confused and over-active. When this happens, the body tries to make things right, leading to Travel sickness.
Travel sickness can affect even the most regular travellers. Anyone can suffer from an episode of motion sickness; however, some people have a higher threshold than others. Travel sickness is known to commonly affect children between the ages of 2 to 12 years, pregnant women and those suffering from migraine. Research also shows travel sickness is linked to a genetic factor.
Travel sickness often triggers nausea and vomiting – the two most common conditions associated with it. However, travel sickness is not just limited to nausea and vomiting but may include sweating, pallor, headaches and drowsiness. In some cases, people feel dizzy and experience rapid breathing.
While it may be impossible to prevent all cases of Travel sickness, here are a few tips that will help to lessen the intensity.
For example, while travelling in the car, putting yourself behind the wheel makes you less prone to travel sickness as the brain uses its motor commands to control the car and can predict the motion. However, if you ride as a passenger, try sitting on the front seat and looking at the horizon, which confers a sense of greater control than riding in the back. If you get stuck in the back seat, try getting involved in conversation and distraction to alleviate the anxiety of not being in control of the situation. If possible, open a vent or a source of fresh air and avoid reading.
Curb the consumption of food, drinks and alcohol before and during your travel. Avoid foods that make you feel unusually full or have strong odours, that are heavy, spicy, or fat-rich as these may worsen symptoms of nausea or travel sickness in some people.
Try choosing a seat where you will experience the least motion. For example, the middle of an aeroplane over the wing or in the lower level cabins near the centre of a ship. Distance yourself from others who may be suffering from motion sickness. Hearing them talk about motion sickness or seeing others become ill can possibly make you feel ill yourself. Face the direction of your travel.
For some people, lying down relieves their symptoms, for some others standing up works best. Depending on your type of travel, experiment with what works best for you. If travelling in a vehicle, leaning your head against the headrest can reduce the head movements.
Talk yourself out of travel sickness. Use affirmative sentences and learn breathing techniques to help achieve this.
Along with the ones mentioned in the blog , deep breathing and not using AC will help in reducing the symptoms of motion sickness
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Some studies support the use of ginger as having a preventive effect on Travel sickness. Peppermint tea is known to reduce nausea. Consider sipping on some tea before your travel or store it in a flask so you could use it during your travel.
If the above self-care measures don’t work, the other options are medications at your local drug store or through a doctor’s prescription. Try taking OTC antihistamine drugs. However, it’s not just what you take but when you take that’s important. These medicines are useful when taken correctly which means 30 mins to an hour before you start your travel so that it has a chance to work and get absorbed in your system. It should be noted that antihistamines are known to cause drowsiness. Consult your doctor before consuming any medication.
For children feeling motion sickness, offer sips of water and very light snacks if required while travelling. Avoid milk or milk-based food preparations for at least one hour before the travel to minimise chances of feeling motion sick.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Also Read: How to Make Yourself Throw Up: Necessary Techniques and Precautions
If you are on a cruise, move towards the bow and don’t stand near the stern. It helps in disengaging your inner ear from your visual stimulus. Try sitting in the front seat instead of the rear seat. It is said that being seated in the front helps in relieving symptoms of motion sickness.
Keeping your eyes fixed on a stationary item placed at a distance is another technique that helps in disconnecting your visual sense from your inner ear that causes the sickness.
Prevent your mind from constantly thinking about how sick you feel. Instead, distract yourself by focusing on your favourite music or talk about things that bring comfort to you. Motion sickness is highly associated with psychological reasons and doing things that let you relax can help with your nausea.
Motion sickness can cause difficulty in texting or grasping visual elements that are on your screen. Constantly being on your phone can aggravate the symptoms instead of alleviating them.
Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients, and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.
Ever wondered why as a child, your elders warned you against going into the water immediately after a meal? The belief that you should wait at least 30-60 minutes after eating a meal before you swim is based on the idea that, after eating a meal, some of your blood flow from your muscles is diverted to your stomach for digestion – swimming might inhibit that necessary blood flow, causing cramps or a stitch, leaving you unable to swim, which could result in drowning.
Researchers have disputed the food-drowning link and have questioned whether there was any correlation. It is true that the blood from the muscles around the stomach aids indigestion. When there is a reduction in blood flow, there is potentially less oxygen available to the working muscle and stomach, which can cause cramping. However, some researchers do not correlate this specifically with swimming.
There is no scientific basis for that recommendation that we should wait 30 mins after taking a meal to swim. You may end up with some stomach cramping or a muscle cramp, but this is not a dangerous activity to routinely enjoy.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Cramps are involuntary, spasm-like contractions that can occur during or after exercise and is usually related to fatigue. However, cramping is more likely to be caused by a combination of factors, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and neurological fatigue. Moreover, after a big sized meal, we have enough blood to keep all our body parts functioning properly, so a cramp after a meal is unlikely.
Stitches can be explained as exercise-related transient abdominal pain. It manifests as a sharp pain felt on either side of your abdomen. Stitches aren’t well understood but are thought to be caused by cramping of the diaphragm due to restricted blood flow due to pressure from the lungs above and abdomen below.
It is in fact recommended to eat after swimming as it is an intensely physical activity, the consumption of protein-rich foods for the repairing and building of our worn-out tissues after a swim is usually very helpful.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D
It is true that swimming on a full stomach can be uncomfortable and, if done in excess, can lead to vomiting caused by unexpected reflux. That said, numerous scientific studies could not establish any correlation between cramp, cold shock response, drowning and digestion. In fact, professional swimmers are cautious enough not to overeat, yet they ensure that they have eaten enough to provide them with the energy needed to perform at their best. Long-distance swimmers even consume food during the race. And, if they do experience a cramp, it’s more out of overexertion, and not related to food.
Also, remember that a meal itself does not pose any real danger if and only if it is not accompanied by alcohol. Reports on drowning have no mention of lives being lost after eating. These reports, however, express concern about the elevated risk of drowning due to alcohol consumption. Alcohol impairs judgment and physical ability thereby reducing our reflexes and the ability to react.
Common sense lies in knowing that swimming is not the best way to settle your full stomach. So, take your time to get in the water, use the stairs if required, also taking a shower will help you get used to the temperature. If you want to swim immediately after a meal, choose meals that are high in simple carbohydrates, like fruits, milk and milk products. These foods are good for your body and are much easier to digest as compared to food rich in fats and proteins.
To conclude, swimming after meals is just like any other type of physical activity. It should be done in moderation.
Read More: 14 Health Benefits of Swimming
Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients, and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.
