European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 13, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                How to avoid motion sickness by Randolph e. Schmid associated pressm Illions of americans Are familiar with the symptoms ranging from dizziness to nausea of that spectre of the vacation season motion sickness. Virtually anyone can succumb to car air or seasickness says the Federal food and drug administration although the malady seems most common Between the Ages of 2 and 12. Infants rarely suffer from the illness and susceptibility declines with age becoming rare Over 50. But anyone with a Normal sense of balance even animals can suffer. Even codfish placed in a tank on the deck of a ship in rough water became ill. In the Ocean of course codfish would simply dive into Calmer water. That s an option not available to youngsters bouncing in the Back seat or folks leaning Over the rail of a ship or strapped into an airline seat. While doctors say they do not completely understand All the interactions involved in motion sickness it appears to originate with the inner ear where liquid filled tubes help the body maintain balance. When movement registered in these tubes conflicts with the signals received by the eyes illness seems to follow. For example in one of the most common situations someone is Reading in a car. The ear registers motion but the Eye is fixed on a Page. The signals received by the brain disagree Bingo car sickness. Generally the Fra reports the first symptoms include paleness of the skin followed by yawning restlessness and a cold sweat. Drowsiness or sluggishness May follow. This is the Point when the victim usually begins to realize that something is awry and what is Likely to follow excessive salivation nausea and vomiting. Symptoms Progress rapidly in some people As Many parents know while for others the development is slower. Though very unpleasant motion sickness rarely causes severe complications although it can Lead to bad headaches exhaustion dehydration and a Mineral imbalance in the body. Travellers can take some precautions to avoid this illness Fra says try to place yourself where there is the least motion. In a car sit in the front seat looking straight ahead. In an air plane choose a seat Over the Wing. On a boat stay in the Middle on deck rather than below. If possible lie in a Semi reclined position and keep your head As still As possible. Look ahead at the horizon or close the eyes rather than looking at passing scenery or at Waves. Placing children in an elevated seat in the front helps them by allowing them to look out through the Windshield instead of the Side windows. Focus attention on something other than motion. Although Reading is not recommended occupying children with toys or colouring for example May be better than having them stare out through the Side windows. In addition there Are some drugs approved for use to prevent motion sickness but they must be taken a half hour or so before travelling. Among those on Sale Are Cyc Lamine hydrochloride Marezine Mec Lizine hydrochloride Bonine and dimenhydrinate dramamine. These drugs can cause drowsiness and should not be used by people who will be driving or operating machinery. Also they should not be used by people suffering from asthma glaucoma or prostate disease unless recommended by a doctor. Prescription drugs to prevent vomiting Are also available. Not by Lynne Mcclintock Wilmington . Morning Start Hiccup excuse me please. It happens to everyone at some time or another. An attack of the hiccups sneaks up at the most Inopportune moments during Job interviews first dates whenever a Good impression is the goal. It s embarrassing says or. Brian Kornblatt of Cape fear memorial Hospital in Wilmington . Darret Ezzell of Wilmington agrees. He remembers a first Date when he got the hiccups As he was walking the girl to the front door. It ruined a first kiss she told me to put a bag Over my  so much for Romance and the hiccups. The hiccups interfered with More than a Good night kiss for former Baltimore orioles baseball player Dave Mcnally. I had them for maybe three weeks or a month says Mcnally who now lives in Billings Mont. He was hospitalized shortly after retiring from baseball because the hiccups were tearing the lining of his oesophagus and pulling his stomach Muscles. During his hospitalization doctors tried everything from medication to deadening the nerves in his Chest to get rid of the  of the cures he s not sure which one finally worked. When you have the hiccups neighbors friends and relatives will suggest a slew of remedies. Each one they will say is absolutely guaranteed to work. Just what is a Hiccup a Hiccup is a spasm of the diaphragm Kornblatt explains. The diaphragm a divider muscle that separates the Chest cavity and the abdominal cavity is partially controlled by the phrenic nerve. A Hiccup occurs when the phrenic nerve becomes irritated for unknown reasons Kornblatt says. The nerve causes the diaphragm to contract which causes a sudden closure of the Glottis. This closure makes the Hiccup Ping noise. Hiccups occur several times a minute or two to three times a second. And they can go on and on. Charles Osborne of Anthon Iowa had the hiccups for 65 years according to the 1988 edition of the guinness Book of world records. Osborne contracted them in 1922 when he was slaughtering a hog. He hic cupped about 430 million saturday August 13, 1988 times guinness estimates. Although Osborne never found a cure he led a reasonably Normal life. He had two wives and fathered eight children. But he admits that he could not keep his false Teeth in place. While few people suffer continuously like Osborne some have such severe cases of the hiccups that it continues even in their sleep. Other cases like Mcnally a have required  in the Hospital a Hiccup Ping person May be sedated to break the Cycle. Some Are Given a medication that stops the hiccups by sedating the brain which stops the phrenic nerve transmission. Thus the diaphragm does not contract. Extreme cases May involve surgery and severing the phrenic nerve Kornblatt says but such instances Are rare. For everyday hiccups which Are irritating but not life threatening Many remedies Are available. Kornblatt has a magic cure " drink a Glass of water while a Friend massages your temples. Kornblatt who heard this remedy four years ago in Chicago says i be done this now on 20 to 30 people and it always  relaxation May be the key  usually attack when a person is nervous laughing or consumed with thoughts. Clearing the mind is another sure fire remedy. Just stare at an object thinking and concentrating on it and nothing  hiccups should disappear. Other cures Are More tried and True. A Good scare Many people believe jolts the hiccups away. For the person with a Sweet tooth and the hiccups eating a packet of sugar is an unbeatable remedy.  holding sugar under the Tongue until it dissolves also chases the hiccups away. Water drinking cures Are Many and varied. Bend at the Waist and while upside Down drink a Glass of water. Or fill a Glass with water and place a beverage spoon in it. Drink the water while the handle of the spoon rests on your forehead. For the less innovative less daring person or for the person who does not have Access to a spoon water sugar or a Friend when the hiccups take control simply hold your breath and count of 20. For Many that s a sure cure. Hiccup the stars and stripes Page 17