Hanging Your Head Over the Rail? Beat Sea Sickness

Any tourist will tell you that the last thing they want to do on a trip is to feel sick, especially if they are lying down with a seasick patch missing all the fun of their dream vacation onboard a luxury cruise ship. Although there are a variety of seasick cures, many people are still afraid to try a cruise for feat that none of the remedies will work and they'll spend their entire vacation nauseated and miserable. Although cruise ships are stable as a rock, some passengers are plagued by seasickness. Why?

What Is Seasickness?

Many people who have suffered from seasickness will tell you it feels as if you are dying. A terrible sensation washes through your head and stomach, rather like you've just been hit by a truck. Beyond this feeling of disorientation, you will be dizzy and nauseous to the point of vomiting and may only find relief by lying perfectly still with your eyes closed - not an attractive way to spend your vacation. If you do throw up, that may be the end of it or you may simply feel worse.

What Causes Seasickness?

Seasickness isn't caused by a major trauma or wound. Man brought it on himself back in the dim beginnings of our evolution when we decided to stand up on two-legs which placed the center of gravity in the middle of our bodies. To maintain our balance, we use our eyes to orient ourselves in the world. On the surface of the ocean, however, where everything moves, some people have a hard time finding a point of reference. As our equilibrium struggle to find its bearings, we experience nausea and vertigo.

Sometimes combating this disorientation goes against all logic. Many people think if they go indoors they'll feel better, but even with a seasick patch this strategy may make things worse. If you encounter strong smells like cooking food or even a strong perfume, the nausea will return with a vengeance. Your senses are overwhelmed and struggling to find their balance. Any assault to those senses will only make the spatial disorientation of the sea sickness worse.

Continue to: Are There Any Seasick Cures