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Motion Sickness – Be Prepared!

When you hear the words “motion sickness,” what scenario comes to mind? Maybe for you, it’s riding in the backseat of a car and getting that nauseous feeling. Oh, and don’t forget the cold sweat blooming all over. Or it’s sitting in a boat at anchor, the constant waves making it roll back and forth. The dizziness and nausea send you running for the head. Leaning over the rails might be easier, although you’ve got to watch out for that constant boat motion, as you can wind up in the water if you happen to lean at the wrong time. For some people, it’s trains. If you’ve ridden on a train, you know they can move around almost as much as a boat. They sway, and jiggle, and rock side to side. It’s the swaying and rocking that invite nausea. As with any motion sickness, once the nausea starts, vomiting is always a possibility. There are barf bags on passenger jets for a reason. They’re for the unfortunate fliers who don’t even need turbulence to feel nauseated once wheels are up. When weather conditions are just right and visibility is limited, downhill skiers also can experience dizziness, nausea, and even vomiting. Hopefully, if you do suffer from motion sickness, then you only do so in one of the above-mentioned scenarios. However, if you’re like many who suffer with motion sickness, then you’ve never met a form of transportation (even skis) that does not invite nausea. But take heart, it’s not hopeless! You know your triggers, and you can be prepared. Slip on a Reliefband—go live your life.

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Autumn Baby Shower!

It’s autumn, and you’re in charge of a baby shower! Warm cider, pumpkin everything, deep vibrant fall colors — it’s going to be beautiful. Pinterest is blowing up with thousands of cute ideas. We really love the tiny pumpkin pie-shaped cheesecakes. Catch My Party has an exquisite antique baby shower concept that captures glints of autumn in its color palette. Punchbowl has adorable ideas for fall-related games, including guests bringing baby pictures of themselves dressed up in costume. Everyone guesses who’s who. Brit + Co has so many cute notions going on, it’s hard to choose between them, but we loved the petite apples scooped out to hold cider and a wee cinnamon stick. Popsugar has 60+ charming baby shower ideas, some of which are fall-themed, and some of which can be adapted for fall. Whatever you choose to do, mom-to-be will love it. Don’t forget the glowing, tired star of the party. Set a little gift aside for her and she will love your thoughtfulness. Pregnancy brings changes, and challenges, and joy. And, morning sickness. A Reliefband goes a long way toward combating the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. It does so without drugs, and without delay! Well, you have a big job ahead of you. Share pictures of the decorations! We all love new ideas:)

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Surviving Your Family Road Trip

Family road trips. Ah, yes. Three little words that elicit both nostalgia and . . . a sense of doom. Remember the kids singing and giggling during the day, and then later, the quiet murmurings of the adults in the front seat as wee ones drifted to sleep in the back? Precious days. Oh, and do you remember this? “Dad, I don’t feel so good,” followed by the sound of a wee one barfing all over the backseat and probably the back of a sibling. Doom need not be your traveling companion during family road trips. Whether you’re headed out on a meandering vacation, or going to grandma’s for the holidays, we have some tips on how to keep the nostalgia and ditch the doom. Fill a pack or a sack for each child with age-appropriate activities, stuffed critters, and snacks. It is theirs to carry and keep close. Place a small cooler on the floor behind the front seats and fill it with drinks. Tuck packages of wet wipes and paper towels around the vehicle’s interior. Encourage games that require kids to look out the windows. Reading or watching a screen may create a circumstance where the child’s inner ear feels the car’s motion, but his eyes do not see the motion, and that sets up a potential for carsickness. Direct cool air to flow toward the kids, either from open windows, or the vehicle’s ventilation system. This helps tamp down feelings of nausea. Wearing a Reliefband will help ward off symptoms of carsickness, once your child is old enough to know how to control a Reliefband, and his wrists are big enough to wear it. Your child’s pediatrician will be able to help you make that determination. Food eaten during the trip should be of a healthy variety, and not too spicy or greasy. And finally, naps are encouraged. Have fun! In the end, you’ll be glad you went.

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Why VR Gaming Makes Us Sick

Virtual reality sounds like a fantastic idea, doesn’t it? We can climb pyramids, battle orcs, and have a duel in space — all in an afternoon. But for many of us, the most telling reality is the nausea we feel shortly after we engage in virtual reality. This nausea, and the vomiting that sometimes follows, are caused by the same circumstances that cause motion sickness: the difference in what we see and what we feel. That conflict creates the nausea and vomiting. With motion sickness, three things are out of sync — our eyes tell us we’re not moving (flying in a plane, riding in the back seat of a car while reading a book), but our body (muscles and joints) and our inner ear tell us that we are moving. With virtual reality, our eyes tell us we’re moving, but our body tells us we’re not moving, at least, not moving exactly as we seem to be doing in the world of virtual reality. The inner ear is the third partner in virtual reality sickness. In there is the vestibular apparatus, which provides sensory information to the brain about “motion, equilibrium, and spatial orientation.” Put these three things together — what our eyes see, what our body feels, and what our inner ear detects — and if they’re all working as they should, we can do loop-de-loops ‘til the cows come home and not get sick. It’s when they get confusing information that things go awry. Developers are working on potential solutions to the problem. Until that anticipated day, we need to prevent virtual reality sickness. The best way we know to do that is to follow the science and wear a Reliefband. Happy gaming!

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Pre-Motion Motion Sickness. Whaaat?

Do you feel nauseous just thinking about riding in the backseat of the car? What about when you picture yourself standing on the deck of a boat on a rolling sea? Don’t worry, that feeling is not uncommon! If you have experienced motion sickness as a passenger in a car, or when you’ve been out on a boat, then you almost certainly have a memory of it. It’s the memory of the motion sickness that causes what’s called “anticipatory nausea and vomiting.” All before you even get into a car or step onto a boat. In other words, you get motion sickness before there’s any motion. You can prevent this anticipatory nausea and vomiting in the same way that you do motion sickness: Keep your eyes on the horizon Allow fresh, cool air to gently blow in your face Don’t read or watch a screen Eat small, frequent meals, but nothing greasy Stay hydrated Wear a Reliefband to stop symptoms before they start

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How To Control Vertigo-Induced Nausea

Vertigo is when we feel like we’re spinning, or maybe it seems like we’re holding still but the environment around us is spinning. We become dizzy and nauseous, and usually break out in a cold, clammy sweat. There are many triggers to vertigo. If you experience it, you should mention it to your healthcare provider. There may be a medical reason for it and, possibly, a treatment. If the cause of your vertigo is not treatable, then it usually comes down to managing symptoms of nausea and vomiting. That’s where we come in. What you feel when you experience vertigo is a form of motion sickness, and Reliefband helps to stop motion-related nausea and vomiting, including that associated with vertigo.

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Flying Is Fun!

Your friends are going to the Bahamas for a long weekend and you want to go, too. But, there’s a teeny problem. You get airsick as soon as a plane starts to move! There are steps you can take to calm your nausea, and with any luck at all, avoid the barf bag. Don’t drink alcohol the day before or during your flight. Do drink lots of water—staying hydrated is important. Eat small, light meals throughout the day. Nothing greasy or spicy, and no big meals. It helps to sit in a window seat and keep your gaze on the horizon. When you do that, then what your body feels and what you’re seeing are in sync. It’s when they don’t match up that nausea comes calling. Many people claim the seats over the wings are the least bouncy. If you can choose your seat, try the window seat over a wing. Finally, Reliefband is made to stop the nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. And bonus, no drugs! Just slip it on your wrist about 20 minutes before boarding, and keep it on. If you follow these steps, you should arrive happy and feeling great. Now, go have fun!

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Dr. Brian Levine Says Yes To Reliefband

Fertility specialist and OB/GYN Dr. Brian Levine loves to arm moms-to-be with Reliefband as a way to prevent nausea and vomiting. He tells us why in this short video:

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