Illness can quickly turn your travel dreams into a nightmare. Traveler's diarrhea, motion sickness and other maladies can afflict veteran road warriors and accidental tourists alike.

Don't let worries about illness keep you from pursuing your wanderlust. A few simple self-care measures can successfully banish most travel-related health problems. If such treatments fail to relieve symptoms, consult a doctor.

Motion sickness

Whether you travel by car, plane or boat, you are vulnerable to symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness and imbalance known as motion sickness. This occurs when your central nervous system receives conflicting information from your receptors, including your eyes and your inner ears.

One of the best ways to avoid motion sickness is to keep your eyes pointed in the same direction as you are traveling. This includes sitting in the front seat of a car and looking straight ahead, standing on deck of a ship and looking forward or looking out the window of an airplane.

Other tips for avoiding motion sickness while traveling include:

• Do not read
• Avoid strong odors
• Do not eat spicy or greasy foods prior to or during travel
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol or liquids that make you feel unusually full
• If possible, try opening a vent or other source of fresh air

Should you munch on soda crackers or drink a soda to settle your stomach? Possibly, but these popular remedies have not been scientifically tested.