Tips for motion sickness

Tips for Travelling with Vertigo and Dizziness

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are preparing for trips to visit family, take a vacation, or explore new destinations. However, for individuals who experience dizziness, vertigo, or motion sickness, traveling can often be a stressful experience. Whether flying across the country, taking a boat trip, or driving long distances, the motion involved in these forms of transportation can exacerbate feelings of discomfort.

Fortunately, there are plenty of effective strategies to reduce the risk of dizziness and motion sickness. In this blog post, we’ll provide essential travel tips for plane trips, boat trips, and car trips, highlighting helpful tools like earplane earplugs, Travel Calm remedies, neck pillows, and FL41 glasses. Additionally, we will discuss the role of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), a treatment that can significantly help individuals with motion sickness and balance disorders, making your travel experiences much more manageable.

Understanding Dizziness and Motion Sickness

Motion sickness occurs when there is a mismatch between what you see, feel, and hear. For example, when traveling by car, the movement of the vehicle causes the inner ear to sense motion, but your eyes may not register it, especially if you’re reading a book or looking down at your phone. This conflict can confuse the brain and lead to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, and even vomiting.

In addition to general motion sickness, vestibular disorders can contribute to dizziness. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, helps control balance and spatial orientation. When this system is affected—whether by conditions like Vestibular migraine, Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) or general Motion Sickness —dizziness can be triggered by various forms of motion. If you experience frequent dizziness or vertigo, it’s important to know that vestibular rehabilitation can be a highly effective treatment to help you manage and even reduce these symptoms over time.

For those looking for more information about vestibular rehabilitation or needing appropriate guidance, The Vertigo Co can offer specialized programs to help individuals with balance disorders regain control of their lives. Their team can help create a customized therapy plan based on your specific needs and help you improve balance, reduce dizziness, and better cope with motion sickness during travel.

General Travel Tips for Managing Dizziness and Motion Sickness

Regardless of your mode of travel, there are a few key tips that can help manage dizziness and motion sickness, ensuring a smoother journey.

1. Stay Hydrated – Dehydration can worsen dizziness, so it’s important to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your trip. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, as they can contribute to dehydration and exacerbate motion sickness. Drinking carbonated beverages such as ginger ale or lemonade can help.
2.  Eat Small, Frequent Meals – Avoid heavy, greasy meals before and during travel. Instead, choose light, bland foods like crackers, dry toast, bananas, or apples. Eating smaller meals can help prevent nausea and regulate blood sugar levels, which can reduce the likelihood of dizziness.
3. Take Breaks When Possible – Try to drive as this reduces motion sickness however if being a passenger is unavoidable, stop every hour or two to stretch and move around. On a boat, step outside for fresh air, and on a plane, take a short walk when it’s safe to do so. Moving around can help reset your body and alleviate dizziness.
4. Mind Your Breathing – Slow, deep breaths can help reduce anxiety and calm your nervous system. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a moment, then exhale slowly through your mouth. This simple technique can help you manage the physical response to motion sickness.
5. Acupressure – Wearing acupressure bands (like Sea-Bands) that apply pressure to the P6 point on the wrist can help reduce nausea and dizziness. These non-invasive bands are a popular, drug-free option for alleviating motion sickness.

Best Travel Tips for Plane Trips

Air travel can be challenging for people prone to dizziness or motion sickness due to the rapid altitude changes and confined cabin space. To make your flight more comfortable, consider these strategies:

1. Choose the Right Seat – When booking your flight, aim for a seat near the wings of the plane by pre-choosing your seat. This area experiences less turbulence compared to seats at the front or back. If possible, opt for a window seat so you can focus on the horizon, helping your brain align visual and sensory inputs to reduce dizziness.
2. Ear Plane Earplugs – One common cause of dizziness during a flight is the change in air pressure, especially during takeoff and landing. Ear Plane earplugs are designed to regulate air pressure in your ears, helping to reduce discomfort and prevent dizziness. These earplugs can help alleviate ear pressure, reduce the feeling of fullness, and prevent motion sickness caused by cabin pressure changes.
3. Travel Calm Remedies – If you’re prone to motion sickness, Travel Calm remedies containing ginger can be a great solution. Ginger is a natural remedy known to reduce nausea and settle the stomach. Travel Calm tablets are easy to take before or during your flight to help prevent dizziness and nausea. Alternatively, you can also try ginger tea, ginger candies, or ginger chews.
4. Neck Pillow – Supporting your neck during long flights is essential, especially if you tend to feel dizzy from poor posture. A memory foam neck pillow provides support and helps keep your head aligned, reducing strain on your neck and minimizing dizziness. It’s an invaluable tool for comfort and stability during flights.
5. Avoid Strong Odors – Strong smells in the airplane cabin, such as food or perfumes, can trigger nausea and dizziness. Try to sit away from the food cart, and if you’re particularly sensitive to smells, consider using a small bottle of essential oils like peppermint or lavender to mask unpleasant odors. You can also carry a face mask or handkerchief to block out smells that may make you feel unwell.
6. Wear FL41 Glasses – If you are sensitive to bright lights or glare, wearing FL41 glasses can provide significant relief. FL41 is a specialized tint that blocks out certain wavelengths of light, reducing glare and enhancing visual comfort. Auvulux is a popular brand offering FL41 glasses that can help alleviate symptoms of dizziness and migraine attacks triggered by bright or fluorescent lighting. Wearing these glasses during a flight can help reduce light sensitivity, which is often a trigger for those with vestibular disorders or motion sickness.
7. Posture – Maintaining good posture can help prevent dizziness. Try to sit upright, avoid slouching, and keep your head aligned with your spine. Poor posture can exacerbate dizziness and make it more difficult to cope with motion during your flight.

Best Travel Tips for Boat Trips

Whether you’re taking a ferry, cruise, or other boat trips this holiday season, the motion of the water can easily trigger motion sickness and dizziness. These tips can help reduce discomfort during your boat ride:

1. Stay in the Middle of the Boat – As with air travel, the most stable area of the boat is generally in the center. This is where you’ll feel the least movement. Opt for lower decks if possible, as these experience less rocking than higher decks.
2. Look at the Horizon – Focus on a fixed point in the distance, such as the horizon. This helps the brain synchronize visual and sensory inputs, reducing feelings of dizziness. If you’re prone to motion sickness, avoid focusing on the water or looking down at the boat’s interior.
3. Get Fresh Air – If you begin to feel unwell, step outside to get some fresh air. The breeze can help alleviate nausea and dizziness, and the natural rocking of the boat may feel less disorienting when you’re exposed to the open air.
4. Use Ginger and Peppermint – Ginger and peppermint are effective natural remedies for motion sickness. Try ginger tea, ginger candies, or even ginger tablets. Peppermint oil, whether inhaled or applied topically to your temples, can also help reduce nausea and calm dizziness.
5. Stay Low and Centered – For larger boats or cruise ships, aim to stay on lower decks near the center. The lower you are to the waterline, the smoother the ride will be, which helps minimize dizziness and motion sickness.

Best Travel Tips for Car Trips

Long car trips can also trigger dizziness and nausea due to the motion, winding roads, and sudden stops. Here are a few tips to make your car journey more comfortable:

1. Sit in the Front Seat – The front seat of the car offers a smoother ride and less motion than the back. If you’re the passenger, sit in the front seat, where you’ll feel the least movement. Looking at the road ahead, rather than focusing on the interior of the car or reading, can help reduce dizziness.
2. Take Frequent Breaks – Long car trips are notorious for triggering motion sickness. Take a break every 1-2 hours to stretch your legs, walk around, and get some fresh air. This will help reset your body and reduce dizziness.
3. Use a Neck Pillow – A neck pillow is an essential travel accessory, particularly for long car rides. A memory foam neck pillow will provide support to your neck and help prevent dizziness that often occurs when the head is not properly supported.
4. Get Fresh Air – Open the window slightly to allow fresh air to circulate. If you feel nauseous, the fresh air can help calm your stomach and alleviate dizziness.
5. Avoid Sudden Movements – Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, avoid sudden movements, sharp turns, or quick starts and stops, as these can make dizziness worse. If you’re the driver, maintain a smooth and steady pace on the road, avoiding erratic lane changes or sharp curves. If you’re the passenger, keeping your body relaxed and steady will help your inner ear adjust more easily to the motion of the vehicle.
6. Adjust the Air Conditioning – Maintaining a comfortable temperature in the car can help you feel better during your journey. Avoid too hot or too cold temperatures, as they can make dizziness worse. Use the car’s air conditioning to maintain a moderate temperature and fresh air circulation. Keeping your environment comfortable can prevent feelings of nausea and disorientation.
7. Consider Medication – For long car trips, especially if you’re prone to severe motion sickness, you may want to consider over-the-counter medications like Travelcalm. These medications are effective at preventing motion sickness, but make sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking them, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
8. Drive During the Day – Traveling during daylight hours, when visibility is clearer, can help reduce dizziness. The natural light allows your brain to better coordinate visual and sensory signals, which can reduce the likelihood of motion sickness. Avoid traveling at night, when limited visibility and fatigue can make dizziness more pronounced.

Conclusion

Traveling with dizziness, vertigo, or motion sickness doesn’t have to limit your adventures. By following the tips shared above, you can make plane trips, boat trips, and car trips more comfortable and manageable. Whether you rely on earplane earplugs, Travel Calm remedies, a memory foam neck pillow, or using strategies like taking breaks and getting fresh air, there are multiple ways to reduce dizziness and make your journey smoother.

Additionally, if dizziness is a persistent issue, vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) can be an excellent treatment option. With specialized guidance from Vestibular Physiotherapists like The Vertigo Co you can work towards long-term solutions that improve your balance, reduce symptoms of dizziness, and allow you to travel with confidence.

Travel should be an enjoyable experience, free from the discomfort of dizziness or motion sickness. With the right preparations and strategies in place, you can travel far and wide while keeping your equilibrium intact.