Why Do I Feel Dizzy After Kayaking?

Why Do I Feel Dizzy After Kayaking?

It’s a question that many paddlers ask themselves after doing the sport for the first time. The sensation of dizziness can be caused by many things, including dehydration or low blood sugar due to fatigue. But if you feel dizzy after only a few minutes in the water, it may be due to sensory overload called “seeing stars.”

It can happen if you’re a beginner and your mind is not prepared for what your eyes see. This kind of dizziness is more common in people who go kayaking for the first time and even experienced whitewater kayakers who have never tried sea kayaking before.

But don’t worry! Sea kayaking is a great sport that will allow you to explore the beautiful coasts of your country or any other around the world. The sensation of “seeing stars” may only last for a few minutes, and then it will disappear so you can enjoy your trip.

And the next time you go kayaking, you will be ready for this kind of dizziness to happen. You need to take the first steps of a sea kayak and use adaptive paddling techniques as you get more comfortable with the sport.

What Are The Main Causes of Dizziness In Connection To Kayaking?

The following are some causes of dizziness while kayaking:

Sensory overload

The first time a person enters the water, his eyes take a different perspective on the world. His mind may not be ready for such an experience. If you have never been sea kayaking before, you may have this kind of dizziness as you attempt to adjust to the change in perspective and speed that comes with sea kayaking.

Not enough experience

To use kayaking safely, you need to build up your experience in the sport. The sea and whitewater can make you feel dizzy if you are more experienced and have a more prepared mind, body, and nervous system than a beginner.

Heavy gear or equipment

Kayakers who carry heavy gear may need to take more breaks from kayaking than the inexperienced kayakers who only wear a life vest with their paddles. It is also necessary to make sure you know how to use your equipment before you go kayaking.

Body position

A body position that is not ideal for the recommended sea kayak can cause dizziness. Many kayakers suffer from this kind of dizziness in connection to sea kayaking as they try to get comfortable with their new bodies in the water and adjust their bodies’ positioning according to the demands of sea kayaking.

Low blood sugar

A lack of food and water or fatigue can cause low blood sugar, leading to dizziness. That is one of the main reasons why many kayakers experience dizziness connected to sea kayaking. It is necessary to pay attention to your body’s needs and make sure you have eaten enough food and gotten enough water before kayaking.

Visual and auditory centres

The brain is also responsible for dizziness through the eyes and ears. When you are in sea kayaking, staring at the water can make you feel dizzy. But it is also possible that you might agree with other people and believe that sea kayaks are more like a roller coaster than a boat.

Prolonged exposure

Prolonged exposure to the sea or whitewater kayaking can also make you feel dizzy. If you have been kayaking for a long time and have stayed in the water too long, you may experience this dizziness.

Alcohol or drugs before kayaking

Falling into the water can cause dizziness, so it is necessary to avoid alcohol or drugs before kayaking. The effects of alcohol and drugs will make you feel dizzy when you enter the water. It can cause a lack of coordination and decrease your ability to react quickly to changing environments, making it more difficult for you to handle stress in the water.

Swimming in the water

If you are not used to swimming, then going kayaking in the water may make you feel dizzy. It can also be uncomfortable for those who have difficulty breathing if the paddler cannot find a way to stay above the water. But this doesn’t mean that it is impossible to swim when kayaking, so it is necessary to train and know how to swim when sea kayaking.

Severe weather

Severe weather can make you feel dizzy, especially if you have never experienced such conditions before. It can also be dangerous in other ways if you cannot handle the wind or waves and are not used to sea kayaking while the weather is so bad.

Motion sickness

It can happen if you have never been sea kayaking before. Motion sickness is a common problem that affects many people who enter the water as they try to stay above it. Also, motion sickness can affect all people even when they are sea kayaking.

Seasick

Seasickness can also cause dizziness, especially if you are not used to sea kayaking. It can make you feel dizzy if you enter the water and the sea condition is not appropriate for kayaking. Of course, it is necessary to be aware of your health before sea kayaking and do all you can to take care of your health even when you are on vacation.

These are the leading causes of dizziness connected to sea kayaking, but it is essentialto understand that not everything on this list will cause you to feel dizzy when you go kayaking.

Vertigo

Vertigo is another cause of dizziness in sea kayaking. It is a disorder that affects the inner ear and causes the brain to believe that you are rotating even though you remain stationary.

Is It Possible To Get Dizzy When Kayaking in the Lake?

Yes, it is possible to get dizzy during kayaking in the lake. It is still challenging to do it in the water since waves could cause you to feel dizzy. If you are not familiar with kayaking on lakes, you can take some time to get used to sea kayaking. If you have been experiencing dizziness when using a boat or canoe, there is a higher chance that your body will feel dizzy while kayaking in the lake with similar conditions as being in a boat or canoe.

What Are the Symptoms Of Dizziness?

Dizziness is a common problem that can occur when someone has been in a boat or the water for a long time. The symptoms of dizziness during kayaking include headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Not only do you feel dizzy, but you also feel uncomfortable when your body feels weak and unstable on your boat. You will also have difficulty controlling your limbs and body movements when you get dizzy.

The symptoms of dizziness can develop from many causes. When you go out on a sea kayak trip and have an obstruction in your ear canal, it could cause you to experience dizziness. When this happens, you should stop paddling and put some oil in the ear. The symptoms of dizziness are challenging to get rid of immediately because they could get worse when the wind gets stronger.

What To Do When Seasickness Is Caused By Getting Water In Your Ear?

If your ear is full of water and you are unable to rid of it, the following are things you can do to remove the water:

1. Use an ear syringe to suck out out the water.

2. Put an eyedropper or a small dropper with medicine in it under your ear.

3. Use boiling hot water or vinegar.

4. Place a cotton ball under your ear.

5. Apply pressure to your ear.

Once you have done this, you need to continue kayaking until the water is out of your ear because dizziness and seasickness can return if the water remains inside your body when you add more water. It would be best to remove the water fast by using any of the methods above before it reaches your brain.

Is It Possible To Get Dizzy When Kayaking in the Lake?

Yes, it is possible to get dizzy during kayaking in the lake. It is still difficult to do it in the water since waves could cause you to feel dizzy. If you are not familiar with kayaking on lakes, you can take some time to get used to sea kayaking. If you have been experiencing dizziness when using a boat or canoe, there is a higher chance that your body will feel dizzy while kayaking in the lake with similar conditions as being in a boat or canoe.

What Can I Do If I Feel Dizzy After Kayaking?

If you don’t feel well after kayaking, what should you do? Here are some things that can solve this problem:

Adjust your body

When you are kayaking, what you need to do first is to adjust your body to the new environment. Even if you have taken sea kayaking before, your body will still feel uncomfortable after a long time in the water. It’s best to take a break and try again later.

Eat and drink something.

If you don’t eat or drink anything while kayaking, it can cause dizziness. It would be best if you also tried to eat some snacks. Drinking a lot of water can help as well.

Take a break from kayaking.

If you feel dizzy after kayaking, it is best to take a small break from sea kayaking for a few hours before returning to kayaking. That can help you feel better and ease your symptoms of dizziness in the water, helping you get rid of the dizziness when you return to sea kayaking.

Try with another kayak.

If you are not used to sea kayaking, it is best to try a different boat to eliminate the problem. Compared with other sea kayaks, sea kayaks have a unique design and more stabilizing body than inflatable boats. The structure of sea kayaking can make you feel comfortable and stabilizing, and it does not matter what kind of boat you are using. If you want to try another boat, at least give your preferences for the type of boat before purchasing one.

Find a coach

If you are not used to kayaking and sea kayaking, it is best to find a coach or guide. Coaches know sea kayaking. They can help you get the most out of your sea kayaking experience and make you feel more comfortable in the water with their skills and experience.

Sea kayaking is a common way of enjoying watersports. For people who love the ocean, sea kayaking looks like a great way to experience it. However, its beauty and simplicity can make you feel dizzy if you aren’t used to it before you start. If that happens, there are many ways to overcome this problem. It would help if you were patient, try new things, and find a coach or guide. 

What To Do When Seasickness Occurs During Kayaking?

The following are things you can do to try getting rid of seasickness.

Use a personal flotation device.

Using a personal flotation device is one of the first things you should try. It can help prevent seasickness from occurring. A flotation device will keep your head and torso above the waterline, which reduces the effects of seasickness while you kayak in the sea.

Take a break from kayaking in a calm area.

Seasickness is caused by a combination of the boat’s motion and the waves. When you get seasick, it’s best to take a break, especially if you are still prone to seasickness. Doing this will help prevent you from getting seasick and re-establish your balance and coordination.

Water containers. 

There are various ways to take water onboard a ship. If you will bring bottled water, it is essential to have them in insulated containers that won’t break if you dropped them overboard. These bottles can be virtually any shape, typically with flip-top caps. You can also purchase stainless steel or plastic bottles that fit most bottle holders, but some of these may be hard to find in the region you wish to visit, and there is invariably a greater risk of breakage when moving between countries and ports. If they’re sealed and stored well, plastic water bottles can also make excellent flotation devices to use when you feel unwell.

Waterproof bag

If you are feeling seasick and want to avoid being sick in the water, it is essential to put your head, arms, or legs into a waterproof bag or a waterproof sack and keep them in there for a while to avoid being unwell or vomiting in the water.

Extra padding

Adding extra padding to the seat and footrests will help you rest easier, especially if your sea kayak is not as comfortable as it should be. Adding additional padding is an excellent idea if you are having back or leg pain.

How Can I Prevent Dizziness When Sea Kayaking?

If you want to prevent dizziness when sea kayaking, the following tips can help you:

Get a good physical condition before kayaking in the sea.

When you are in good physical condition, it can help relieve dizziness during sea kayaking, especially if you are not used to such activity. When you have a bad physical condition, even if you have trained before getting into the water for kayaking, dizziness can still occur.

Find a way to build your experience.

“Experience is the best teacher” is never more accurate than in the case of sea kayaking. It can be difficult to learn how to sea kayak without any experience, but it may take some time for you to get rid of dizziness during kayaking. The more you practice, the more control you will have over yourself. It helps you gain experience and helps your body adjust to the water’s changes in speed and pressure.

Learn how to handle your sea kayak

It would be best to learn how to handle your sea kayak before going out. It is important for you to learn the basic techniques, especially if you are new to sea kayaking. Learning the techniques will help you avoid being dizzy during sea kayaking and give you good control over yourself in the water. If your boat has pedals or footpegs, use them when your sea kayak is on soft land or gravel, making you feel uncomfortable and more likely to get dizzy.

Consider the design of your sea kayak.

It is important to consider the design of your sea kayak before buying one. The design should be good for its purpose and suitable for you to not give you any problem in using it. Considering the features of a sea kayak will help you decide which kind to purchase before going out to buy one.

Buy the right shoes

It would be best to buy shoes or boots made specifically for kayaking. Such footwear will not only give you better control and security in kayaking, but it will also help prevent injuries in your legs and feet. If you wear regular sneakers for sea kayaking, it could cause pain and even get injured while sea kayaking. You should find a store that sells good shoes or boots for sailing so that you can make the right purchase before going for a sea kayak trip.

Watch the weather before going out.

Don’t go to sea kayaking if the weather is not appropriate for sea kayaking. It can cause you to be dizzy when you are in the water. Rain, rough winds, and strong waves are examples of meteorological conditions that are more likely to cause seasickness in a sea kayak. It would help if you didn’t wait for such conditions before going out. You should rather check the current weather before going out and take precautions against it on the day of your trip.

Be aware of your surroundings.

It is also important to be aware of your surroundings. Look at the sea condition before kayaking. If the current in the sea is fast, it will be more difficult for you to paddle and get dizzy. Ensure you are comfortable with such conditions before going out on a sea kayak trip. If you are not used to seawater, you should ensure that the water doesn’t cause any problems for your body during sea kayaking.

Eat and drink something before going out.

It is also important to eat or drink something before getting into the sea. After you have eaten, you are less likely to get dizzy when kayaking. Water is important for your body, and you shouldn’t kayak without any water on board. It will help if you bring some water bottles with you to assist in preventing dizziness in the water.

Try an activity before going out.

It is also important to try a few activities before kayaking in the sea. It can help you to get used to the feeling of being onboard a sea kayak and have good coordination with your boat. That can help you avoid dizziness when kayaking. Kayaking is not only about controlling yourself, but it should make you feel comfortable doing it as well.

Find the right sea kayak.

It is important to consider the features of a sea kayak before buying one. The right choice of sea kayaks should give you a comfortable feeling and good control and security in the water. When you have decided, you need to make sure that the sea kayak is suitable for your height, length, and weight to give you full control over yourself in the water. You should consider bulkhead placement and design, cockpit size, seats, and storage.

Conclusion

Many tips can help you avoid dizziness in the water when sea kayaking. It would be best if you also considered the environment in which you’ll be sea kayaking, take the best tide times for kayaking, and follow all safety instructions. ​