How can you prevent motion sickness in a car?

Motion sickness occurs when signals from your eyes and the balance organs in your inner ear do not match. Curving roads, reading and looking down at a screen can intensify that mismatch. Early symptoms may include nausea, sweating, dizziness, yawning and a feeling of warmth; vomiting can follow if the journey continues.

Sit where you can see the road ahead, keep your head still against the headrest and focus on a distant, stable point. Open a window or use cool air, and take breaks to walk briefly when safe. Avoid reading, gaming and prolonged screen use. Eat a light meal before travel, sip water and avoid heavy, greasy foods or alcohol. If symptoms are frequent, ask a pharmacist or clinician about travel-sickness medicine before the trip.

Seek medical advice if nausea or vomiting occurs when you are not travelling, continues after the journey, causes signs of dehydration or prevents you keeping fluids down. Get urgent help for severe headache, chest pain, fainting, confusion, blood in vomit or severe abdominal pain. A Travel Health Consultation can help if journeys are frequent or medication choices are unclear.

Ask which medicine is suitable for your age and health, when to take it, whether it causes drowsiness, and what to do if vomiting continues.