Surviving Jet Lag

Traveling to exotic places overseas can be fun and exciting, but one of the problems we all face is jet lag. In this special Jet Lag article, I’m going to give you as much information on the subject as I can, in hope that you’ll benefit from this research next time you travel overseas.  It all boils down to our body’s biological clocks, or clocks AKA circadian cycle is based on a roughly 24-hour cycle. Our internal clock governs such functions as sleeping, waking, rest, activity, fluid balance within our bodies and other vital functions. We are creatures of Habit. If you live on the East Coast, and you fly west to California it’s going to take 5 hours flying time minimum to get to California. Your flight lives at noon Eastern Daylight time.

It’s 9AM and you’re in Los Angeles. You arrive In L.A. at 2PM. After you have deplaned picked up your luggage, and gotten to your destination you can easily add another two hours. Its now 4 PM LA time, your watch says 7 PM, but your body says, “I’m tired and I want to rest”. You have what’s called JET LAG. Jet lag is caused by disturbances in your natural sleeping patterns and eating patterns. It’s more frequent in traveling East to West rather than vice versa.

WHO GETS JET LAG?

Almost everyone on a long flight gets jet lag to some degree. In fact a major U.S. showed 94 percent Of long haul travelers experience it. A survey dating back to 1994 reported that 96 percent of the flight Attendants said they suffered from Jet Lag too, despite being accustomed to long international trips. 90 percent said they suffered from tiredness on arrival, 94 percent said they experienced a basic lack Of energy and motivation, and 93 percent said they could not sleep or only cat napped after arriving.

PASSENGERS:

Does flying affect  passengers such as you and me, more than it affects the flight professionals? Well maybe, maybe not.  We’re buckled down in our seats; the stewardess or flight steward is usually up moving around helping or attending to the needs of the passengers. They are getting exercise by walking Up and down the aisles of the plane, moving around. The point is that they’re at work at 50,000 FT., Being mobile and being able to stretch and move about is important, but it’s not the key. The true governing factor is the number of time zones you cross, regardless of who you are. The above statistics prove my point. Its 94 percent tourist vs. 96 percent flight attendant and it’s something that you just simply don’t get acclaimed too. Fatigue is a common problem for travelers, and the sooner you can recover from jet lag the better.

Who is affected most? Young children actually seem immune, and perhaps this is because they’re often asleep on long flights. I’m jealous; wish I were able to get in some zzzz’s like they do. People who are less flexible and tend to stick to a rigid daily routine are often affected to a higher degree by jet lag. People able to cope, and Feel less bothered by chances can adjust better. They seem to be able to adjust their inner clock better, people who can manage to sleep on these flights do cope better so, yes getting some good sleep on the plane does help.

Multiple time zones and you:

The actual length of the flight you are taking is not important, the single most important factor is how many time zones you cross going east or West. Flying North or South is much easier, since you are not drastically changing the time zones. The number of intermediate stops is also a factor, as you land and go through changes in the cabin pressure.

WHAT CAUSES JET LAG?

Your pre-flight condition: If you’re excited, stressed out, anxious, nervous, over-tired then you’re the perfect candidate for having a good case of “ JETLAGITIS”. The best medicine is still a good nights sleep prior to Your departure: The earlier in the day you’re able to board the flight the better. A 10AM flight beats a 10 PM Departure. Flying refreshed is the key.

ON THE PLANE:

The air aboard the Jet you are taking is dry. For people who normally live in a more humid climate, the change can be more pronounced. The dry air can cause headaches, dry skin, plus dry nasal and Throat. Drinking plenty of water is the best solution, and we mean water, having Coffee, tea or other fruit juices are not recommended. Your body needs to replenish the water you’re sweating. The coffee is a diuretic, which means your going to have to drink a lot of water to make up for that cup of Coffee you have on the plane. Our recommendation is that you try to limit the coffee you drink on your trip.

Cabin Pressure:

At a cruising altitude of 30,000’, the inside cabin pressure of aircraft you’re flying in is pressurized to about  8000 Ft., and your ears are popping because of the cabin pressure your experiencing inside is being slowly reduced to get you ready to normal ground conditions. Unless you live at these higher elevations, and you are acclimated to living at these higher elevations, the added pressure can cause your body to swell, a general tiredness, and just plain old lethargy.

Stale Air:
Providing a constant supply of fresh air in the cabin costs the airline money, and some airlines are more willing to oblige, than others. The air supply in business and first class is often better than in the economy Class. A lack of good air makes you tired, and can cause headaches. Sometimes if you ask the flight Attendants to turn up the fresh air, they will do so.

Drinking Alcohol:

The impact of alcohol on your body is 2-3 times more potent when you’re flying. One glass of wine In flight has the effect of 2-3 glasses on the ground. Adding this to the other problems we have just discussed, you can potentially get off the plane with a horrible hangover that simply compounds the jet lag.

Food and Drink:

We wouldn’t call it gourmet coffee; airline coffee and tea tend too less palatable, they have a higher than normal amount of caffeine content, and are abrasive on the stomach. Orange juice can also be abrasive if your not used to it. You should go easy too on the in-flight meals being served. Cut down on caffeine before, and on  your trip. Drink plenty of water on the flight, dehydration is a common side affect of air travel and you can do yourself a great favor by drinking just water. Be aware that you are more susceptible to any colds, coughs and sore throats by being confined in an airliner.

Fatigue:

Being worn out and tired after arriving is common, it’s generally accompanied by a lack of concentration and motivation, especially for activities that  require too much effort. Take it easy and try to get as much sun as possible. Don’t push yourself. The sun helps re-set your clocks to local time.

On Arrival:

Once you arrive at your destination, try to spend as much time outdoors in daylight as you can. The purpose of this is to re-set your biological clock to the local time. Try to aim for a minimum of one hour for each time zone that you have crossed. Get your circadian inner clock re-adjusted to the new time. Stay awake during the day, and try to avoid naps-no matter how appealing. 

One last thing, enjoy yourself, and send us a postcard. We’ll post your postcard from abroad on our web site, so you can share your trip with your friends and relatives. We love to hear from you, so give us some feedback on how you handled your case of JET LAG. Don’t forget these same tips apply once you get back home!!!!! Enjoy your trip.

Best Regards…...Steve/Dolly

P.S.  -Before you go read this:

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