Although traveling can be exciting and enjoyable, getting sick can easily ruin your flight experience and ultimately your vacation. Airsickness is a form of motion sickness that is very common. Air sickness occurs when the central nervous system receives conflicting messages from the body, upsetting balance and equilibrium. This disease affects travelers with symptoms such as nausea, sweating, vomiting, hot flashes and chills. However, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of illness on your flight.

The first thing you can do before leaving home is to make sure you are wearing the right clothing for flying. Any tight clothing around your neck or abdomen can contribute to nausea symptoms. Your clothing should be loose, comfortable, and thinly layered. Any cotton garment is ideal as it is breathable and comfortable.

You’ll also want to avoid eating a heavy meal before a flight if you’re prone to motion sickness. Heavy, greasy, and spicy foods can make nausea worse and cause indigestion. The best foods to eat before you fly are light, non-greasy and non-spicy. Instead of eating a full meal, try eating soups or salads; you can even eat a small cut of meat.

Another thing you can do is choose a seat with the smoothest ride, usually a seat near the wing. Seats in this area are less bumpy during flights than the rest of the plane. The wing area is ideal for those who are prone to motion sickness.

While sitting facing forward, focus on distant objects instead of trying to read or look at something else that is close to you.

In case you experience nausea during a flight, take along some crackers. You can also order hot tea, ginger ale, or any other light refreshment to help settle your stomach. Avoid chewing gum and candy with the exception of mints. Sucking on a lemon is also good for drying out your mouth and reducing nausea.

If you feel dizzy during takeoff or landing, lean back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Once you’re airborne, your body balance should return to normal.

If all else fails and you continually get sick during flights, you can request a prescription medication from your doctor. There are several medications that he may prescribe or recommend to relieve the symptoms of air sickness, including meclizine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, scopolamine, and ginger capsules.