Stop dizziness

Why dizziness occurs

The inner ear, sight and the musculoskeletal system are involved in balance. When there is no coordination between them, or the information that each part receives is contradictory, the signal that reaches the brain is confused and the unpleasant sensation of dizziness occurs. Dizziness is common during a boat trip since with movement the fluid in the inner ear moves, with our eyes we see the horizon move up and down but we are sitting still.

Symptoms

Kinetic dizziness is very rare in children under two years of age. After 12, the incidence of it also decreases.

The most frequent symptoms are:

• Feeling of instability
• Digestive disorders: nausea and / or vomiting.
• Cold sweat.
• Pallor.
• Yawning

The feeling of dizziness can persist even after the movement has finished, that is, at the end of the journey.

Can they be prevented?

The best way for children not to get dizzy during the trip is to prevent its appearance, since once dizziness is established it is difficult to stop.

A long-term recommendation or prevention is to perform vestibular exercises from the month of life to babies: rocking, rocking ... this can somehow "train" their balance system, making it mature and strengthen.

If our baby has not done vestibular exercises before the age of two, we can resort to other methods to prevent dizziness:

• Do not start the trip with a full stomach, and offer the child drinks or food in small quantities. Nor should you start the trip on an empty stomach, since hypoglycemia causes a feeling of dizziness very similar to the one we try to avoid.
• Ventilate the vehicle well and avoid very strong or unpleasant odors inside, as well as smoking.
• Avoid reading, playing video games or talking to the person next to you by turning your head.
• If the child is older, it can be suggested that he keep his head still and look at a fixed point and far outside the vehicle.
• When traveling by boat, go out on deck.
• If traveling by car, drive gently.
• Always choose the central part if you travel by plane, boat or train, since it is the one that moves the least.
• Travel facing the direction of travel.
• Give the child something sweet along the way and in small amounts, such as candy, lollipops or a cookie.
• Planning an entertaining trip can help: put on music that the child likes, encourage him to talk and sing.

Drugs that can help us

Children with very severe dizziness resistant to the above measures may benefit from antihistamine drugs specially designed to prevent kinetic dizziness. These drugs do not eliminate motion sickness, they are only preventive, so taking them must be done before traveling. Its action begins after 30 minutes and lasts between 3 and 6 hours. Its maximum action occurs two hours after taking. The most advisable thing is to take them together with some food, one hour before traveling. It is important to consult with the pediatrician about the dosage and type of drug that is most suitable for the child.

On the other hand, glucose solutions specifically prepared to prevent kinetic dizziness in children and nausea in pregnant women have recently been on sale in pharmacies. They can be taken before starting the trip and do not have the side effects of antihistamines. Its formulation replenishes glucose levels, normalizes gastric motility and prevents reflux to restore digestive well-being.

Digitopuncture to avoid dizziness

Acupuncture points have been shown to be effective in controlling nausea and vomiting. In the case of kinetic dizziness, the most appropriate thing would be to put a grain of rice with a little tape on the Master heart 6 point or Nei Guan of both forearms. The point is located on the inside of the forearm. It is located at a distance of 2 fingers wide (of the child) from the flexion line of the wrist, right in the middle of the two tendons.

Massage the point about ten minutes before starting the trip and massage at the beginning of it and then every 30 minutes. If the child has started to feel dizzy or vomit, its massage is also indicated.

Regarding this acupuncture point, anti-seasickness bracelets have been sold for some time with a magnet or protrusion whose function is to stimulate this area. The problem is that very few make good use of it, and put it in the wrong place.

If the child is older, it can be massaged with the fingers.

Homeopathy for motion sickness

With it they can also be prevented, taking the appropriate homeopathic remedy a few hours, and even a couple of days before starting it. It can also be effective in treating symptoms once they have appeared.

There are four or five different formulations depending on the symptoms of dizziness, so it is advisable to consult with your homeopath to prescribe the most appropriate one.

• Between the ages of two and 12, dizziness is more frequent. From this age, the incidence decreases.
• It is advisable not to start the trip with a full stomach, ventilate the vehicle well, avoid reading or playing video games, looking at a fixed point and avoiding turning your head.
• If these measures don't work, there are drugs that can help prevent dizziness if taken a little earlier. It is important to consult with the pediatrician in each case.

Pediatric Specialist