If you’re anything like me, you can love boats and the ocean, but sometimes that same love isn’t reciprocated causing my favorite thing…SEASICKNESS! You may be out on your new or pre-owned boat enjoying your time on the water, when suddenly one of your passengers looks a little green. This makes it difficult to go offshore fishing or to take a long weekend trip due to the vertigo that you experience while being on a boat.
Seasickness is caused when the minute inner ear organs that enable a person to balance are disturbed by the motion of the boat swaying. This movement sets off alarm signals to the brain causing nausea, headaches, dizziness and sometimes vomiting. This condition can be intensified by the lack of fresh air or inactivity. Though seasickness affects many people in varying degrees, your body adapts after time.
To combat your seasickness, there are several remedies that can be taken before setting sail. Pills can be obtained over the counter, which helps most people by sedating certain organs. Some of these pills can cause drowsiness and some are non-drowsy. There are special wrist bands that press on certain veins and pressure points that are very effective (I’ve tried these and I love them). There are also stick-on patches that can be worn on the skin behind the ear that are obtained by a doctor’s prescription.
You can also avoid seasickness by staying busy at the helm or doing any type of activity that will keep you above deck. Get some wind in your face, look out at the horizon, take deep breaths and drink plenty of water. Avoid reading or staring at your phone because this will be sure to bring on the affects of seasickness. If you are seasick and can’t bear it anymore, lie down on your back with your eyes closed. This will greatly reduce the affects.