 | ||
|
Homepage Preventing Flight Problems Prior to the Flight During the Flight Medical Problems Pregnancy Flying with Kids Deep Vein Thrombosis What is DVT? |
|
|
| ||
Preventing Jet lag
Jet lag is entirely dependent upon the number of time zones crossed, and not, as is often believed, the actual length of the flight. People tend to find that travelling east has the greatest effect upon the body.
Jet lag is unlike all other sleep disorders, in that it is not caused by abnormal sleep patterns such as insomnia. In fact, those who live quite a rigid lifestyle, tend to suffer worst, especially if you sleep and awake at roughly the same time every day and eat your main meals at approximately the same time.
Travellers with less of a daily routine are effected far less by jet lag. Babies, for example, tend not to suffer from jet lag.
Studies carried out by NASA show that for every time zone a traveller passes, one day is required to fully regain your natural rhythm and energy levels.
Any of the following can also contribute to jet lag:
Alcohol: The effect of alcohol on the body is multiplied at altitude, so drinking even relatively small amounts of alcohol can compound tiredness and intensify hangovers upon arrival.
Solution: Avoid drinking alcohol the night before flying. Above all do not drink at all during the day of flying or while flying.
Dehydration: Air cabins tend to rely on recycled air via air conditioning units. This inevitably dries both the skin and can lead to dry nasal and throat membranes.Solution: Drink plenty of water prior to flying and ensure that you carry a bottle of water with you the flight to regularly take small drinks from. An intensive moisturizer is also useful to prevent the skin from becoming too dehydrated and dry.
Headaches and a sore throat may become accentuated in such a dry atmosphere.Solution: Again, it is essential to drink plenty of water before and during the flight to combat such conditions.
Pre-flight condition: If you start your flight stressed and tired, then it is unlikely that you will emerge much fresher.Solution: A good night's sleep prior to flying and some light exercising (maybe a brisk walk in the morning) will put your body in a far better 'flight-condition', ready to face the potential effects of jet lag.
Immobility: Prolonged period of immobility will naturally tire the body and invoke lethargy.
Solution:
Keep moving, walk around the cabin at regular interval to keep the blood pumping around your body.
Using Time Zones to prevent Jet Lag
By understanding how time zones are split up around the world, it is possible to create a strategy to prevent jet lag. It is best to arrive in daylight hours, as sunlight naturally alerts the body, consequently there is a greater likelihood that you will readjust to local time faster, and not sleep through the day.
Thus if you leave London at midday and travel for six hours west towards New York, upon arrival the local time will be 13:00 hours, though your body will still be set on London time, which is actually 18:00 hours, thus your body will start to anticipate darkness, an evening meal and sleep.
To counter jetlag, you need to now try and stay awake until the early evening, when you can enjoy a good nights sleep. By planning to arrive during daylight hours, this should be easier, than arriving during darkness.
If you arrive during the night, you will need to try and get some immediate sleep to be ready to start the following day in line with local time. Naturally, this can be difficult if the time your body is still adjusted to is daylight hours as you will probably not feel tired until the following day at your destination, when really you should be staying active.
By planning ahead your flight departure and arrival times, so that you arrive at your destination during daylight hours, it can be possible to significantly curb jetlag.