Canadian Yachting
Seasickness or motion sickness - is caused by the displacement of fluids in the inner ear, within the cochlea. The cochlea is the snail-shaped tube that controls our sense of balance. So when the boat rocks, so do the fluids in the cochlea. This movement sends mixed signals to the brain - causing nausea, this feeling can be made worse by engine fumes or anxiety.
Here are some tips to avoiding the sickness:
- Keep a positive attitude: if you're having fun you can keep your mind occupied. Keep busy by sorting lines or even watching the chart. Keeping your mind on anything other than the fact the boat is bobbing up and down will usually suppress any ill feelings.
- Head out with a full stomach: It is less likely to be upset if it, like your mind, has something to do. *Avoid greasy or hard-to-digest foods, or alcoholic beverages.
- Nonprescription drugs like Gravol: They are effective, but you have to take them before you leave the dock, not after you feel sick.
- Acupressure devices, like Sea Bands: The beads press against points on your wrist to break impulse transmissions in your nervous system, this prevents nausea. You can also skip the drowsiness often associated with anti-motion-sickness drugs.
Be prepared because there isn’t much you can do once you become seasick.
Read the full article originally published here.