Sometimes it is impossible to put a really good book down, even in the car. The problem is, when you read, your eyes tell your brain that you are still. This conflicts with your inner ear, muscles and joints feeling the vibrations of the car. All of this leads to motion sickness, which includes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, excessive salivation, difficult breathing, headaches, and drowsiness. If you really need to read this book, there are techniques out there to keep you from getting sick.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use personal care techniques
Step 1. Look up from your book regularly
When you stop looking at your book, look at the horizon. By fixing a stable point on the horizon and looking out the window, your body will be able to associate visual cues of movement with physical cues like vibrations.
- Do not try to focus on the vegetation passing by the side of the road. This will make you feel even more dizzy.
- By raising your book to eye level instead of resting it on your lap, it will be easier for you to shift your gaze from the horizon to your book and vice versa.
- If you start to feel nauseous, you may have to look out the window for a few minutes before you can return to your book.
- You can decrease the nausea a little by going up to a window and closing your eyes. This has 2 functions: your brain no longer has to manage 2 sources of information at the same time and no longer receives visual information from the movement of the vehicle. If you have difficulty keeping your eyes closed, cover them with your hands. By employing this technique, you may be able to read.
Step 2. Minimize the physical sensations of movement as you read
This will help you reduce confusion between what your body and your eyes are telling your brain. You have several techniques to perform this step.
- Sit in a stable part of the car. A person seated in the back will usually be tossed around more than a person seated in the front, so try to sit on the passenger side up front.
- Lean your head on a pillow or against the headrest to keep it as still as possible.
- Don't start reading when you exit the freeway and start traveling on small, winding country roads. Your body will receive stronger physical cues to move as the car takes all of these turns, and you are more likely to feel nauseous.
Step 3. Open a window
The cool air blowing on your face as you read will help fight nausea and keep you from getting too hot. The fresh air will wake you up.
If you open the window fully, the pages of your book will fly away, you will only need to open the window slightly for this to have any effect
Step 4. Relax and don't be afraid if you are feeling unwell
If you are afraid of being sick, you are even more likely to feel nauseous. Instead, stop reading and try to relax. Below are several relaxation techniques:
- breathe deeply,
- meditate,
- gradually contract and then relax each muscle group in your body,
- visualize a calm landscape,
- listen to music,
- close your eyes and take a nap.
Step 5. Eat a light meal before and during the trip
While it is always nice to snack on high fat foods with a good book, if you have a full stomach you are more likely to feel nauseous and vomit. Foods to avoid are:
- food rich in fat,
- spicy food,
- the alcohol.
Step 6. Calm your stomach as you read
These foods are light, easy to digest, and will help reduce the risk of nausea.
- Dry cookies will help you absorb acids from your stomach.
- Hard candy, especially mints. Be careful to suck them instead of chewing them.
- Fizzy drinks. They will help you quell your hunger and provide you with electrolytes.
Step 7. Wear an acupressure bracelet while you read
These are fabric bracelets that are stretchable and have a small button on them. Position it on your wrist to make sure that the button presses inside it, between the two tendons that run through your forearm. Stimulation of this acupressure point is said to prevent nausea.
- They shouldn't be too tight, otherwise they could hurt you or cut off the circulation in your hand.
- The effectiveness of these bracelets has not been scientifically proven, but some people say they work.
Step 8. Do not smoke or travel in a car that smells of cigarettes
If you start to get sick, you will be more sensitive to irritants like smoke. If you are exposed to smoke, you are more likely to vomit.
Strong deodorants will also have this effect
Method 2 of 2: Use natural remedies and medications
Step 1. Try ginger
Researchers are not yet sure whether they have discovered the element in ginger that relieves nausea, it may be the oils and phenol it contains. Ginger has been used for centuries to calm the stomach and combat nausea, although it has not been scientifically proven to be effective against motion sickness. Before using it, consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines that have contraindications. If your doctor gives you the green light, you can try taking it.
- Tea prepared with fresh ginger. A hot cup of tea is always welcome with a book. The tea can be quite spicy, be careful! You can add honey to sweeten it.
- A soft drink with ginger. The bubbles can help calm your stomach.
- Gingerbread cookies or bread.
- Food supplements with ginger.
Step 2. Try to take antihistamine medications that are available without a prescription
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is typically used, but meclizine (Antivert) is also available. Read the manufacturer's instructions and follow them. You can also consult your doctor before using them if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other medicines.
- These medicines make drowsiness and you may have difficulty staying awake while reading.
- Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine.
- Consume it half an hour or an hour before getting in the car.
Step 3. Ask your doctor to prescribe medicine for you if you are planning to take a long drive
When you ask your doctor for medication, tell him or her if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have other health problems such as asthma, glaucoma, urine retention, epilepsy, or heart, kidney or liver problems. If your doctor approves it, he or she may prescribe scopolamine or hyoscine adhesive patches (Transderm Scop).
- Place the patch behind your ear several hours before you get in the car.
- It should protect you from motion sickness for at least 3 days.
- This medicine may make you drowsy, blurred vision and dizziness. If the side effects are too strong, they could interfere with your desire to read. If you are going to drive on this trip, do not use this medicine.
- In some countries, this medicine is not available without a prescription. But do not use it on these children or the elderly without consulting a doctor first.