Sea Sickness

Learn more about Sea Sickness and other medical symptoms..

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Seasickness is a feeling of nausea and, in extreme cases, vertigo experienced after spending time on a craft on water. It is typically brought on by the rocking motion of the craft, but people who are particularly vulnerable to the condition can feel seasick simply by setting foot on a boat, even if the vessel is in dry dock.

Seasickness can be a debilitating condition and it is extremely dangerous if the sufferer has an important role to carry out, such as steering a yacht through stormy seas while avoiding rocks and other hazards. It is also particularly hazardous for scuba divers who, through dehydration following vomiting, are at increased risk of decompression illness.

Cause
Human beings instinctively seek to remain upright by keeping their centre of gravity over their feet. The most important way this is achieved is by visual reference to surrounding objects, such as the horizon. Seasickness often results from the visual confusion on a moving craft, when nearby objects move with the motion of the craft. Because the lines of the masts, windows, and furniture on a ship are constantly shifting with respect to fixed references, humans can suffer a number of afflictions, especially those unaccustomed to being at sea.

Sea-sickness has such a remarkable effect because both the sense of sight and touch are disturbed by the motion of a craft on water. The severity of seasickness is also influenced by the irregular pressure of the bowels against the diaphragm as they shift with the rising and falling of the ship.

Many experience similar effects while not at sea:

in railway carriages
on swings
while looking from a lofty precipice where known objects, being distant, are viewed under a new aspect and not so readily recognised
while walking on a wall or roof
while looking directly up to a roof
while observing the stars in the zenith
on walking into a round room, where there are no perpendicular lines of light and shade and the walls and roof are covered with an irregularly-spotted design
on twirling round, as in waltzing

Prevention and remedy
Over-the-counter and prescription medications are readily available. Some sufferers find that wearing special wristbands also helps stave off the condition.

Those suffering from seasickness who are unaccustomed to the motion of a ship often find relief by

keeping their eyes directed to the fixed shore or horizon, where possible
lying down on their backs and closing their eyes
drinking any substance that is likely to temporarily diminish their senses of sight and touch
move into a position where fresh air is blowing on their face
sucking on crystalised ginger or sipping ginger tea
keeping near the centre of the boat where any rocking motion is least pronounced
Unlike with a hangover, succumbing to nausea normally does not relieve the symptoms of seasickness, and, once started, is often difficult to stop.

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All information published on this web site is for information purposes only. The content of this web site should not be used for a conclusive diagnosis or for choosing a treatment. The content on this site has been provided as a guideline and general information it is not intended to replace professional medical care. In all serious cases it is advisable to recieve attention from a qualified medical practitioner.