SEA SICKNESS: Any one can get it.

If the conditions are extreme enough, nearly everyone will get sea sickness. In fact, studies have found that motion sickness affects up to 80% of people at some time, regardless of the severity of the situation.

Even on a simple cruise, in which rough and turbulent seas are often avoided at all costs, over 7% of passengers report vomiting due to sea sickness. The number experiencing nausea without the vomiting is of course much higher than this. If you or someone you know is preparing to enter a situation that may present conditions necessary for the onset of sea sickness, you can best gauge the likelihood of experiencing sea sickness.

Clinical studies have found that women are more than twice as likely to be affected by sea sickness as men. If at sea during her menstrual cycle, the likelihood increases even further. Likewise, children between the ages of three and twelve are also particularly prone to both motion sickness and sea sickness. Should there also be a history of motion sickness, sea sickness or nausea, or should one be prone to vomiting, the chances further increase.

What Causes It?

Seasickness is caused by a discrepancy between the motion sensed by our inner ears and what our eyes see. The symptoms of seasickness are dizziness and nausea, and even the most seasoned of sailors may fall victim to it. Cruise-charter.net estimates that nine out of 10 people will experience seasickness at some time. However, there are several effective measures you can take to prevent seasickness or reduce its severity after it starts.

How to Prevent It:

Take precautions as much as two days before your sailing trip to reduce your chance of becoming seasick. For instance, get plenty of rest, which will increase your body's tolerance to motion disturbance, and avoid spicy, greasy or acidic foods. Also reduce your intake of caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Eat light meals, less acidic fruits such as apples, pears and bananas, and cereals and grains.

Drink milk or apple juice instead of more acidic beverages such as orange juice and coffee. Drink plenty of water, as dehydration accelerates symptoms. Take a natural seasickness preventative, such as ginger, prior to sailing. Take 1 to 4 grams of powdered ginger per day up to 12 to 24 hours before your trip.

Ginger in pill form, fresh and pickled are all effective. Ginger ale, while believed to help nausea, does not contain natural ginger and is not as effective. Over-the-counter medications such as Less Drowsy Dramamine or Bonine up to two hours prior to sailing are also effective.

If you become seasick despite preventative measures, there are still several things you can do to reduce the severity of your symptoms. Take homeopathic or over-the-counter medications at the onset of symptoms, such as Quease Ease or ginger root, and move to the center of the ship, which is the calmest area, and avoid upper decks. Stand up and look at a fixed point on the horizon. Do not lie down, and standing is better than sitting. Eat salty snacks and make sure to drink enough water.