Jet Lag – How To Reduce The Effect On Holiday Flights
October 29th, 2009 by Dorothy Yamich, under Vacations. No Comments
Numerous medical experts have found that passengers on commercial flights usually experience a worse bout of jet lag when flying to their holiday destinations from east to west. Usually, the more time zones their air flights cross when they travel from east to west, the more severe the symptoms of jet lag will be. But, airline passengers will only experience a milder bout of jet lag when their air flight is going from west to east.
Commercial airline passengers can fly north and south, or south to north, for thousands and thousands of miles without experiencing any jet lag. However, as soon as the pilot of the airplane starts flying in an east to west direction and crosses more than one time zone, they can experience jet lag.
Airline passengers will not usually experience the symptoms of jet lag until they exit the plane at their vacation destination. That is the time when the passengers’ biological clocks will start to make internal adjustments inside their bodies to coincide more closely with the local time at their destination. If they travel across one, or even two time zones, their bodies can usually adjust very quickly. However, if an airline passenger is in poor health or not feeling well before the flight, jet lag can compound the problem. In general, you should allow one day to recover for every time zone your air flight crosses.
The following information may lessen the effects of jet lag when you fly.
If you can, try to catch a flight that arrives at your vacation destination in daylight hours. When you land, immediately fit in with the new time zone and do not go to bed. If you’re feeling tired and want to take a little snooze, do it in a well lighted place.
In the evening, sleep in a darkened room as the darkness will help prepare your brain for sleep.
If you can, avoid looking at television or computer screens as they are bright and have high frequencies that can easily over-stimulate your brain.
Until your jet lag symptoms subside, do not consume alcohol or any drinks such as coffee and soda that contain caffeine, as it can disrupt your sleep.
It maybe helpful to take a melatonin tablet or capsule (as many air travelers do) in the early evening (your time) to help you adjust to the time zone at your destination. You still may have to take a melatonin pill for the next three or four evenings in a row before going to bed in this new location to help you readjust your biological clock. If you have never taken melatonin before, you should consult with your doctor or local pharmacist for more information in regards to the suggested dosage.
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