Life hacking yachting: fighting seasickness

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Have you ever felt sick on the subway, on an airplane, in a car, or on rides? If so, then you do not need to explain what motion sickness (kinetosis) is. If not, there are two options: either you are one of those unique people (less than 5%), whose body is ideal and ready to fly into space, or you simply have not yet been in the sea. Let's talk about seasickness, its symptoms and treatment methods.

Motion sickness is a rather mysterious thing. For a long time, people have wondered why this happens, what provokes the body, how it can be hardened against seasickness? And why do the same people feel great, say, on an airplane, but on the Ferris wheel they feel nauseous? Why do many people adapt after several trips to the sea, while some still suffer all their lives? The latter, by the way, include Admiral Nelson, who can in no way be called a land rat. Even in modern medicine, you can find different answers to these questions and different versions of what is happening.

Causes

Conflict begins in the body due to conflicting information coming from the inner ear and eyes. The vestibular apparatus is irritated, signals are sent to the brain that cause a strong release of histamine (the cause of nausea). Inertial forces cause malfunction in the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Simply put, our body cannot understand where these mechanical, regular and long-term vibrations in space come from. The eyes indicate that you are standing on a solid surface, and the natural balancer desperately screams the opposite. You are looking forward to a great cruise and a sea of pleasure, but the body "sees" around itself only chaos, to which it is trying to adapt.

Another observation: women usually tolerate rolling worse than men, and at any age. This, of course, is not an axiom (tell Helen MacArthur about this:), but the statistics are stable.

Attention! Certain chronic illnesses on board can be exacerbated. Especially often: cholecystitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, rectal inflammation. Go through a medical examination before leaving if you are not sure of your health. And visit the dentist at the same time, a bad tooth can poison any trip.

Symptoms

Mild (so-called latent) motion sickness manifests itself moderately: weakness, fatigue, dizziness and drowsiness, occasionally it can feel nauseous, but not much. Appetite disappears, food smells irritate. In general, women who suffered from a mild form of toxicosis during pregnancy will perfectly understand what this is about. These symptoms are experienced by many newcomers who are in the sea for the first time for a long time. And the psychological attitude, although it is important, will not help much here - this is pure physiology. The good news: on a charter, on a standard itinerary, you almost certainly won't get to know real pitching, thank goodness. A yacht sailing in good weather and even winds in coastal waters will not give you the feeling of hardcore. The normal body of an average person adapts to new conditions on about the third day. Bad news: no one can predict in advance how badly you will be rocked, even in such greenhouse conditions. There are people who do not tolerate a long ride by car or by train, but at the same time feel great on a charter, in the fresh air. It also happens the other way around.

Pronounced motion sickness declares itself more severe: increased salivation, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, sharp, painful pallor, trembling in the fingers, all kinds of intestinal problems. And again, the good news: even severe attacks of this ailment can pass without a trace after initial adaptation. The group of people who are unable to overcome the disease even with the help of modern drugs is extremely small.

Prophylaxis

The best prevention of motion sickness is a healthy, trained vestibular apparatus. But if you have not had a chance to work as a stuntman, acrobat, astronaut or ballerina, then this does not mean at all that nothing can be done.

Say NO

1. Books, games on the phone, movies (the already stressful vestibular apparatus will be very irritated)

2. Contemplation of objects flickering overboard / outside the window (for example, waves, glare, if you are in a car - roadside posts). It's better not to look down at all, look up and into the distance.

3. Alcohol (after the first sip, it may seem to you that life has become much better, but you will soon see that it is not)

4. Smoking: even if you are a heavy smoker, be patient a little, do not increase the load on the body. Moreover, smoking on a yacht is only allowed on board from the leeward side. To grind on the stern, where it already sways more, barely moving away from the dock, while frantically trying to get into the ashtray - this is pure masochism

5. Fatty and heavy food on the eve and in the first days of the trip

6. All kinds of soda, coffee

7. Lack of sleep: try to get a good night's sleep the night before. You already have a flight, acclimatization in a foreign country, do not aggravate the situation. Fatigue contributes to more intense symptoms of motion sickness

8. Heavy use of perfumes and deodorants. Even your favorite scent, if strong, can make your first day aboard much worse.

Treatment

There are now many types of motion sickness pills and patches (mainly anticholinergics and antihistamines). You will find an abundance of information about them by simply googling “remedies for seasickness,” and it is inappropriate to give specific recommendations here. However, it is best to get acquainted with the side effects and agree on the choice with your doctor, not to rely on chance. Such medicines are usually taken in advance, some time before going to sea.

But pills do not help everyone. Consider the classic, folk remedies for motion sickness on board.

1. Oddly enough, the first signs of seasickness are perfectly saved by work at the helm. Ask the skipper to let you stand at the helm. Focus your gaze on the fixed horizon line, focus not on your inner feelings, but on the boat itself. In general, try to look at motionless, stable objects and move your head as little as possible. It is better to choose an object for yourself outside the boat: a bird, a cloud, a steamer on the horizon.

2. Vitamin C. Suppresses histamine and improves overall well-being.

3. Ginger. Eat 1 gram of crushed ginger an hour before your trip. Take with you gingerbread cookies, caramels. Drink ginger tea. It fights nausea very well.

4. Massage a point on the inside of your wrist:

There are special acupuncture bracelets on the market with massage balls on the inside, they also help a lot. You can also click on the points located between the thumb and forefinger of both hands. It is best to do this with something thin, but not too sharp, such as the corner of a plastic card.

5. Lemon. Keep a lemon wedge in your mouth. For many, pickles (in small quantities) or cranberries also help.

6. Mint: pour 2 tablespoons of mint with half a liter of boiling water, drink without sugar.

7. Squeeze a match or a toothpick between your front teeth, grit your teeth and concentrate on keeping the match from falling out.

8. Breathe deeply and evenly.

9. Drink plenty of clean water.

10. If it gets really tight, go down to the cabin, lie down and close your eyes: this will soften the confusion of the sensors. Most importantly, do not forget to take a bag or some kind of container with you in case of deterioration. But in general, it is better not to sit in the cabin for too long: fresh air and spaciousness are better than a closed, stuffy space.

Controversial and untested methods:

- to seal the navel with adhesive plaster: a mysterious way to combat motion sickness, which is still found here and there, but what if it will help you?

- "draw" numbers from 1 to 10 in the air with your nose, then in reverse order, and so on several times. It distracts someone, shifts their attention, while someone only gets worse from such manipulations.

- hold the magnet firmly in your hand and hold for a long time: there are tips to hold a coin or any small object in your hand

- Slight swaying or moving your legs (from heel to toe): it seems to the body that you are walking on the ground. But if you don't get into the pitching rhythm, this method can do a disservice.

Psychological attitude

Whatever happens, remember: no one has ever died of seasickness, this is not a clinical case. The more you worry and wind yourself up, the harder it will be for the body to adapt. That is why work on board helps many people: a person feels responsibility, the significance of his actions, he switches. If you are a fighter by nature, take seasickness as a challenge, as an obstacle to overcome and emerge victorious. Call on your sense of humor, self-irony to help: can you imagine how great it is to lose weight without any diet? And what a savings in food! Think about the pleasant, convince yourself that everything will soon pass, everything will be fine. The next time you go out to sea, you will surely feel better.

Enjoy your stay and get less sickness!