Summer is beginning and the anticipation of the holidays is great. But for many, going on vacation is pure horror. As soon as things get restless on the plane or in the car, many travelers suffer from nausea. But you can do something about it.
Which family doesn’t know this: The child on the back seat in the car becomes quieter and paler and triggers a hectic search for a parking space with the comment “I’m sick”. Travel sickness is a frequent companion, especially during the holiday season, when many people are currently traveling by car. But there are a few ways to remedy this.
What is motion sickness?
Typical symptoms of motion sickness, also known as motion sickness, are nausea and vomiting. The organ of balance in the inner ear can be severely irritated, especially on winding roads in the car, a turbulent flight or waves on the ship. If the entire environment is in motion, the eyes no longer have a fixed point.
The stimuli, which then arrive in the nervous system and are passed on, can activate the vomiting center and trigger nausea. Especially children from the age of two suffer from it. It is typical for motion sickness that vomiting does not improve it. Only when solid ground is reached again does the nausea slowly subside.
Can a change of position in the car help?
Riding in the passenger seat in the car can prevent nausea. Children should sit in the back, buckled up. According to paediatricians, a change to the back middle seat may help. There the child can look through the windscreen so that the movement perceived through the sense of balance and the impressions of the eyes are in harmony.
Children are less likely to get sick in the car if they stare at the horizon. By the way, the easiest way is to drive overnight. Motion sickness does not usually occur during sleep.
Are there also tricks for ships, buses and planes?
There is least movement in the middle of ships. The same applies to the area directly behind the front axles in the bus. On an airplane, a seat by the window over the wings is the best place to avoid getting motion sickness.
What should be considered when eating?
Techniker Krankenkasse recommends light, low-fat meals before and during the trip. Chewing motions seem to mitigate the overreaction of the stomach. Ginger is said to reduce nausea and help against cold sweats. Distracting games, listening to music and regular breaks are also helpful.
What medications are there?
For the treatment of nausea and vomiting, there are over-the-counter remedies with the active ingredient diphenhydramine from the group of antihistamines. The medicines are to be taken in good time before departure. However, diphenhydramine makes you tired.
According to Stiftung Warentest, the active ingredient dimenhydrinate – a compound of diphenhydramine and 8-chlorotheophylline – is only suitable to a limited extent. 8-Chlorotheophylline can therefore increase the risk of adverse effects. In children, the drugs should be used with caution because of possible side effects and, if possible, in consultation with the pediatrician. Medical chewing gum often helps too.
To prevent motion sickness, there are also prescription drugs with the active ingredient scopolamine. A plaster containing active ingredients is stuck behind the ear five to six hours before the start of the journey. The effect can last up to three days, but side effects can also occur.
