Navigating the Road to Wellness: Avoiding Travel Sickness

Travelling should feel exciting, not exhausting. If motion makes you feel unwell, a few smart steps can help you stay comfortable and enjoy the journey.

What is travel sickness

Travel (motion) sickness happens when your inner ear senses movement that your eyes do not, or vice versa. That mismatch can lead to nausea, dizziness, sweating, and vomiting. It can occur in cars, buses, boats, planes, and even with virtual reality.

Prevention tips that work

Choose steadier seats: front passenger seat in a car, near the front on buses, over the wings on planes, and mid‑ship on lower decks for boats.
Look outside: focus on the horizon or a distant fixed point. Avoid reading or scrolling during bumpy parts of the trip.
Fresh air and ventilation: keep cool air flowing and avoid strong odours when possible.
Eat light and hydrate: choose small, bland snacks and sip water. Avoid very heavy, greasy, or spicy meals before and during travel.
Build in breaks: short stops, gentle stretches, and facing forward can settle your balance system.
Consider simple supports: some people find ginger products or acupressure wristbands helpful.

Questions about your plan or a child’s routine. Call Bureta Pharmacy Shop at 07 576 9600. We can tailor tips to your trip.

Treatment options

Over‑the‑counter choices: motion sickness tablets or chewables can be effective when taken 30 to 60 minutes before travel. Many can cause drowsiness. Do not combine with alcohol or other sedating products, and check age limits and dosing carefully.
Prescription options: for longer journeys or persistent symptoms, your prescriber may recommend a patch or other medicine. Suitability depends on your health, regular medicines, and itinerary.
Non‑medicine measures: cool air, closing your eyes to reduce sensory mismatch, resting your head against a headrest, and calm breathing can all help.

Not sure which option fits you. Bring your medication list to Bureta Pharmacy Shop or call 07 576 9600 for personalised guidance.

Special situations

Pregnancy, children, and older adults may need different approaches. Some medicines are not suitable with certain health conditions. Ask our pharmacist to help you choose safe options and plan timing for time‑zone changes.

When to seek medical advice

Vomiting that continues or signs of dehydration (very dark urine, dizziness, faintness)
Severe headache, chest pain, confusion, high fever, or neck stiffness
Motion sickness that disrupts travel despite preventive steps and correct dosing
You need a plan for a cruise, long‑haul flight, or frequent work travel

We can help you prepare a simple schedule and packing checklist. Call 07 576 9600 or visit us in store.

Contact Bureta Pharmacy Shop

We are here to help you travel well. Call us, visit in store, or message us for personalised advice.

Bureta Pharmacy Shop

78 Bureta Road
Otumoetai
Tauranga 3110
Bay of Plenty
New Zealand

Phone: 07 576 9600

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not intended as medical or health advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your individual medical needs.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

Bureta Pharmacy Shop

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