How to Help Passengers with Motion Sickness Feel Better in Your Volvo

As the seasons change and more opportunities for driving around Burnaby and beyond arise, ensuring every journey in your Volvo is comfortable is a top priority. While Volvos are known for their smooth ride and ergonomic design, motion sickness can sometimes affect passengers, turning an enjoyable trip into a challenging one. Understanding why motion sickness occurs and knowing how to mitigate it can significantly improve the comfort for everyone in your vehicle.

Why Addressing Motion Sickness Matters

Motion sickness, or kinetosis, happens when the brain receives conflicting signals from the senses – what your eyes see doesn't match what your inner ear, muscles, and joints feel about motion. This can lead to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and vomiting. For drivers and passengers alike, these symptoms detract from the driving experience and can make long trips unbearable. Finding effective solutions ensures that all occupants can fully appreciate the comfort and safety of your Volvo.

Understanding Motion Sickness & Finding Solutions

While individual susceptibility varies, certain conditions and actions can trigger or worsen motion sickness. Conversely, several strategies can help prevent or alleviate symptoms:

• Focus on the Horizon: Encourage passengers prone to motion sickness to look out the front window at a fixed point on the horizon. This helps align visual input with the sense of motion.

• Fresh Air: Ensure good ventilation in the cabin. Using your Volvo's climate control system to bring in fresh air or slightly opening a window can help. Stale or warm air can exacerbate symptoms.

• Avoid Reading or Screens: Looking down at books, phones, or tablets can worsen the sensory conflict. Encourage passengers to listen to music or audiobooks instead.

• Limit Strong Odors: Perfumes, air fresheners, or food smells can sometimes trigger nausea. Keep the cabin air clean and neutral.

• Ginger: Ginger is a natural remedy known to help calm the stomach. Ginger candies, ginger ale, or ginger supplements can be effective.

• Acupressure: Acupressure wristbands, which apply pressure to a point on the inner wrist, are a drug-free option that many find helpful.

• Over-the-Counter Remedies: Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Gravol) or meclizine (Antivert) can prevent motion sickness, though they may cause drowsiness. Consult a pharmacist or doctor before use.

• Drive Smoothly: As the driver, avoid sudden acceleration, braking, or sharp turns. Volvo's smooth handling characteristics naturally contribute to a more stable ride, which can help.

Enhancing Comfort in Your Volvo

Volvos are designed with passenger comfort in mind, featuring advanced suspension systems and quiet cabins that contribute to a smoother ride, inherently reducing factors that can contribute to motion sickness. Ensuring your Volvo's cabin air filter is clean also helps maintain fresh, odour-free air circulation.

Prepare for a Comfortable Journey!

Don't let the potential for motion sickness limit your travel plans. By understanding the causes and implementing these simple solutions, you can help ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable ride for everyone in your Volvo, whether you're driving across Burnaby or embarking on a longer adventure.

Ensure your Volvo is in top condition for comfortable travel. Schedule a service appointment at Morrey Volvo of Burnaby to have your cabin air filter checked or replaced, and speak with our team about genuine Volvo accessories that can enhance passenger comfort on long drives.

Contact Morrey Volvo of Burnaby to schedule your service appointment and prepare your Volvo for comfortable journeys.