Sea-sickness
Encyclopedia
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness
characterized by 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. Some people are particularly vulnerable to the condition with minor stimulus, while others are relatively immune, or become immune through exposure. It is hazardous for scuba divers who, through dehydration
following vomiting
, are at increased risk of decompression illness
.
and prescription
medication
s such as dimenhydrinate
, scopolamine
and promethazine
(as transdermal patches and tablets) are readily available. As these medications often have side effects, anyone involved in high-risk activities while at sea (such as SCUBA divers) must evaluate the risks versus the benefits. Promethazine is especially known to cause drowsiness, which is often counteracted by ephedrine
in a combination known as "the Coast Guard cocktail."
Ginger
capsules are also considered effective in preventing motion sickness.
Those suffering from seasickness who are unaccustomed to the motion of a ship often find relief by:
Motion sickness
Motion sickness or kinetosis, also known as travel sickness, is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the vestibular system's sense of movement...
characterized by a feeling of nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
and, in extreme cases, vertigo
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
, experienced after spending time on a craft on water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. It is typically brought on by the rocking motion of the craft. Some people are particularly vulnerable to the condition with minor stimulus, while others are relatively immune, or become immune through exposure. It is hazardous for scuba divers who, through dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
following vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
, are at increased risk of decompression illness
Decompression illness
Decompression Illness describes a collection of symptoms arising from decompression of the body.DCI is caused by two different mechanisms, which result in overlapping sets of symptoms. The two mechanisms are:...
.
Prevention and remedy
Over-the-counter medications such as Cinnarizine/StugeronCinnarizine
Cinnarizine is an antihistamine which is mainly used for the control of nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness. Cinnarizine was first synthesized by Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1955...
and prescription
Prescription drug
A prescription medication is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription...
medication
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
s such as dimenhydrinate
Dimenhydrinate
Dimenhydrinate is an over-the-counter drug used to prevent nausea and motion sickness...
, scopolamine
Scopolamine
Scopolamine, also known as levo-duboisine, and hyoscine, is a tropane alkaloid drug with muscarinic antagonist effects. It is among the secondary metabolites of plants from Solanaceae family of plants, such as henbane, jimson weed and Angel's Trumpets , and corkwood...
and promethazine
Promethazine
Promethazine is a first-generation antihistamine of the phenothiazine family. The drug has anti-motion sickness, antiemetic, and anticholinergic effects, as well as a strong sedative effect and in some countries is prescribed for insomnia when benzodiazepines are contraindicated...
(as transdermal patches and tablets) are readily available. As these medications often have side effects, anyone involved in high-risk activities while at sea (such as SCUBA divers) must evaluate the risks versus the benefits. Promethazine is especially known to cause drowsiness, which is often counteracted by ephedrine
Ephedrine
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....
in a combination known as "the Coast Guard cocktail."
Ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
capsules are also considered effective in preventing motion sickness.
Those suffering from seasickness who are unaccustomed to the motion of a ship often find relief by:
- keeping their mind occupied, for example taking the helm of a yacht can reduce sickness as the sufferer has something to concentrate on, and can also anticipate the movement of the vessel
- taking anti-seasickness/nausea medication
- keeping their eyes directed to the fixed shore or horizon, where possible
- lying down on their backs and closing their eyes
- using THCTHCTHC commonly refers to tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active chemical compound in Cannabis.THC may also refer to:* Tan Holdings Corporation...
(see Medical cannabisMedical cannabisMedical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
) or opiates, which act through neural suppression, thus diminishing all of the senses, and directly reducing the feeling of nausea (unfortunately, judgment may also be influenced). - move into a position where fresh air is blowing on their face
- sucking on crystallized gingerGingerGinger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
, sipping ginger tea or taking a capsule of ginger - moving to the boat's center of gravityCenter of gravityIn physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
to eliminate motion due to translationTranslation (physics)In physics, translation is movement that changes the position of an object, as opposed to rotation. For example, according to Whittaker:...
(but not pitch, roll and yaw): see SS BessemerSS BessemerThe SS Bessemer was an experimental Victorian cross-Channel passenger paddle steamer with a swinging cabin, a concept devised by the engineer and inventor Sir Henry Bessemer, intended to combat seasickness.... - avoiding getting too cold or too hot.