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Can you build a tolerance to sea sickness?

The good news is that 75% of people eventually get acclimated to the sea and are naturally cured of the affliction.



Yes, the vast majority of people can and do build a tolerance to sea sickness through a process known as habituation. This is colloquially referred to as "getting your sea legs." When you are exposed to the constant motion of a ship, your brain eventually learns to reconcile the conflicting signals it receives from your inner ear (which feels the motion) and your eyes (which may see a stable horizon or cabin). This adjustment typically takes between 24 and 48 hours of continuous exposure. Many professional sailors and cruise passengers find that they feel quite ill on the first day but are perfectly fine for the remainder of the journey. However, this tolerance is often specific to a particular type of motion; you might habituate to a large cruise ship but still feel sick on a small sailboat. Interestingly, the brain can also develop "mal de debarquement"—where you feel as if you are still rocking after you return to dry land. To build tolerance effectively, it is recommended to spend time on deck looking at the horizon, as this helps your visual and vestibular systems synchronize more quickly than if you were to stay in a windowless cabin.

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Medications or illness If you have sinus congestion or a sinus or ear infection or have recently had a concussion, you may be more prone to motion sickness. People who get migraines are also more likely to get motion sickness.

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Here are a few tips to help ease the symptoms of seasickness:
  1. Maintain your fluid intake. ...
  2. Keep moving. ...
  3. Stay on deck, even if it's raining, because the fresh air is often enough to speed recovery. ...
  4. Carry a plastic bag. ...
  5. Consider an over-the-counter medication to prevent or minimize motion sickness.


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Pressure or massage at the P6 acupressure point might help relieve motion sickness. The point is found three finger-widths away from the wrist, roughly in the middle of the forearm.

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Other ways to prevent seasickness are to: be sure to have a little food in your stomach at all times (it's actually worse to have an empty stomach) get fresh air frequently. take some Dramamine or Meclizine right away when the captain calls for some rough seas – don't wait until you begin to feel sick.

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To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

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