Have you ever read in a car? There are some books that are so interesting that we continue to read them in the car. The problem is, when reading in a car, your eyes send signals to your brain that you're not moving. This contradicts the signals sent by your inner ear, muscles, and joints, which sense the vibrations of the car. The result is a feeling of nausea and dizziness that is often experienced in cars, and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, excess saliva production, difficulty breathing, headache, and drowsiness. If you really want to read a book in the car, follow some of the techniques below to avoid feeling nauseous.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Various Techniques
Step 1. Take your eyes off the book every few seconds
Look to the horizon in front of you. Set your eyes on an immovable object on the horizon, and look out the window. This will make it easier for your body to relate visual cues to physical cues (car vibrations).
- Avoid focusing your eyes on the ground and grass that is right on the side of the road. You will be even more dizzy.
- For simplicity's sake, lift your book so it's right in front of your face, and not in your lap. That way, you only need to slightly move your eyes from the book to the horizon and vice versa.
- If you start to feel bad, you should look out the window for a few minutes before continuing to read.
Step 2. Reduce the physical sensation of moving while reading
This will reduce the discrepancy between visual cues and physical cues in your brain. You can do this by:
- Sit in a more stable part of the car. Usually the back seat will sway more violently than the front seat. So, you will be more comfortable in the front seat than in the back.
- Rest your head on a pillow or headrest. Avoid movement in the head area.
- Avoid reading when you've exited the freeway and started onto the more winding lanes. Your body gets stronger physical sensations when a car turns, and this will make your dizziness and nausea worse.
Step 3. Open the window
The fresh air blowing your face while you read will reduce nausea. You won't feel hot either. The fresh air can also refresh you again.
A fully open window will make it difficult for you to read, as the pages will often fly. But even the slightest open window can make a big difference
Step 4. Relax, don't worry if you start to feel nauseous
You will feel nauseous more easily when you are restless. Better, stop reading, and get some rest. Use relaxing techniques such as:
- Breathe deeply
- Meditation
- Tighten and relax all the muscles in your body slowly
- Imagining a calming scene
- Listening to music
- Close your eyes and take a nap
Step 5. Eat a little before and during the trip
While fast food full of fat is great to snack on while reading, you'll actually get nauseous and vomit more easily if you're too full. Avoid foods such as:
- Fatty food
- Spicy food
- Alcohol
Step 6. Calm your stomach while reading
These snacks are easy to digest and will reduce nausea:
- Dry crackers that will help absorb stomach acid
- Strong candy, like mint candy. However, suck on the candy, and don't bite it.
- Soft drink. Fizzy drinks will calm your stomach and supply electrolytes.
Step 7. Wear the acupressure bracelet while reading
This bracelet looks like an elastic cloth bracelet and is equipped with a knob. Place the bracelet on your wrist so that the knob presses against the inside of your wrist, between the two tendons at the base of your hand. These acupressure points, when pressed, will reduce nausea.
- Do not attach the bracelet so tightly that it hurts or cuts off blood circulation to the hand.
- The effectiveness of this bracelet has not been scientifically proven, but according to some people, this bracelet does help.
Step 8. Avoid smoking or riding in a car that smells like cigarettes
If you are nauseous, you will be more sensitive to irritating objects such as smoke. You will be more easily nauseous and vomiting if exposed to smoke.
Strong air fresheners can also have this effect
Method 2 of 2: Using Medicines Available at Home
Step 1. Try ginger
Scientists don't know for sure what content in ginger can relieve nausea, but it may be the oil and phenols it contains. Ginger has been used for centuries to calm the stomach and fight nausea, but its effectiveness against nausea in cars has not been scientifically proven. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medication, first ask your doctor about using ginger. If your doctor says you can, there are some ingredients you can use:
- A hot ginger drink. This wedang can be a fun book reading companion. Be careful, because the taste can be a little spicy. Add honey to make it sweet.
- Ginger soda. The soda will also help soothe your stomach.
- Gingerbread or cookies
- Ginger supplement
Step 2. Try over-the-counter antihistamines
Usually people use dimenhydrinate as well as meclizine. Before use, read the instructions for use and ask your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, or on medication.
- These medications will make you drowsy, so you may have trouble concentrating while reading.
- Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine.
- Drink it about half an hour to an hour before you get in the car.
Step 3. Ask your doctor for prescription medication if you are going to read on a long car trip
When discussing this with your doctor, tell your doctor that you are pregnant, nursing, or have any other health conditions such as asthma, glaucoma, urinary retention, epilepsy, heart, kidney, or liver problems. If your doctor thinks the medication he or she is taking will work for you, you may be given a prescription for scopolamine or a hyoscine patch.
- Place the patch behind your ear a few hours before getting in the car.
- The patch will protect you from nausea and dizziness for 3 days.
- This medicine will cause drowsiness, blurred vision, and dizziness. If the side effects are strong, they will still interfere with your ability to read. If you want to drive, do not take this medicine.
- In some countries, this drug is available without a prescription. However, do not use for children or the elderly before consulting a doctor.
