Aviation Information

Overcoming Jet Lag


Jet lag can be one of the worst, and certainly one of the most frustrating, aspects of long distance travel. Also called desynchronosis (meaning "out of time"), jet lag occurs when travellers pass through multiple time zones, arriving several hours ahead or behind their "home" time.

Travelling across several time zones upsets your body's internal clock, which relies on a variety of environmental cues such as daylight and temperature. The degree of jet lag suffered can be measured in terms of the time change you undergo - the greater the difference in time between your home and your new location, the more disoriented your body clock becomes and the more jet lag you are likely to experience.

One major feature of jet lag is seen in your body's struggle between emotional energy and physical lethargy. While your mind is able to process the change in time and location relatively quickly and can rationally appreciate environmental cues such as daylight (or the lack of it) and time of day, your body will be much slower to respond. Although the time to recover will vary from person to person, most people agree that overcoming jet lag, adjusting to a new time zone and resuming a regular sleep cycle can take two or three days or, in severe cases, an entire a week.

Although not necessarily serious, insomnia caused by jet lag can interfere with mental clarity and efficiency and may have some bearing on your emotional state. Jet lag can also make it difficult for business travellers and tourists alike to maximize the opportunities afforded by their stay. What's more, if insomnia caused by jet lag does not pass, or recurs frequently for more than a couple of weeks, it could be indicative of a more persistent sleep problem.

Natural sleep remedies and approaches can be used to effectively manage jet lag and, by taking a proactive approach, you can significantly decrease or limit the severity and number of symptoms - not to mention shortening the duration of your jet lag.

Establishing a regular and consistent sleep schedule before you even start to make travel plans is one important step towards limiting the effects of jet lag. Simple dietary changes like the reduction or elimination of caffeine and alcohol have also proven effective, and travellers who are accustomed to coping with jet lag often bring along natural sleep remedies like herbal teas and infusions to help induce the body's natural sleep cycles upon arrival at their destination.

You may have heard that sleeping pills and other sleep aids are also effective tools for managing jet lag.

Because sleeping pills suppress the body's immune system in order to generate artificial sleep, as opposed to naturally induced restorative sleep, sleeping pills are not always an effective remedy for jet lag. In fact, sleeping pills can potentially exacerbate the symptoms by delaying the adjustment of your internal body clock.

Copyright © 2005 Donald Saunders

Attention Ezine Editors / Website Owners

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website so long as you leave all links intact, do not modify the content and include the resource box shown below. You may of course insert your own affiliate link in the resource box if you wish. Details of our affiliate programme can be found on our website.

If you do use the material please send us a note so we can take a look. Thanks.

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: "Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies", "Jet Lag - An Alternative Approach", "Shift Work Insomnia" and "The Art of Meditation - A Guide To Meditation, Breathing and Relaxation Techniques"
For further details please visit http://help-me-to-sleep.com


MORE RESOURCES:

US Army Aviation Selects GE for Integrated Corrosion Monitoring ...
MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GE Aviation was selected by the US Army to partner with Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) ...


The Age

Chinese Aviation Industry Airborne with GE-Powered ARJ21 Regional Jet
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
GE Aviation provides the complete propulsion system for the ARJ21, including two fuselage-mounted CF34-10A engines. COMAC plans to perform a second ...
Here’s one bright spot in the unfriendly skies of the travel industry Money and Markets
China's first homegrown airliner makes maiden flight The Age
Chinese plane makes maiden flight Aviation Record
Gadling - AsiaOne
all 20 news articles


The Southern Ledger

Winter weather slows travel in Midwest, Northeast
The Associated Press - Nov 30, 2008
Low visibility also caused delays of up to 90 minutes for flights, aviation officials said. National Weather Service officials said the storm could dump up ...
Flight Delays, Traffic Accidents from Season's First Snow Fall WREX-TV
Winter storm is blamed for dozens of crashes St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Around the nation Arizona Daily Star
Chicago Daily Herald - WBBM780
all 534 news articles


China Southern Builds First Olympic Flight Attendants Etiquette ...
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
... The People's Republic of China is pleased to announce the set up the First Olympic Flight Attendant Etiquette Mission in the Chinese aviation industry. ...


MEDIA ADVISORY: Van Nuys Airport's 80th Anniversary Celebration ...
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
The dinner event will pay special tribute to Helinet Aviation for donating a $1.7 million helicopter, six pilots on 24-hour standby, insurance and fuel to ...


New ERP System for Aviation Maintenance Goes Live at Japan Airlines
MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
Also equipped with 19 standard SAP modules to serve approximately 6000 users including aircraft mechanics, the system is the largest ERP system for aviation ...
New ERP System for Aviation Maintenance Goes Live at Japan Airlines International Business Times
Japan Airlines Set to Start Maintenance System, Nikkei Reports Bloomberg
IBM collaborates on new ERP System active with Japan Airlines Trading Markets (press release)
all 18 news articles


Constant Aviation Hosts Birmingham Event to View Nextant Aerospace ...
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
The upgrade is warranted for 24 months and is maintained by Constant Aviation Service Centers with locations at BHM and Cleveland Hopkins International ...


Woman dies after small plane crash near Coalinga
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 12 hours ago
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration says the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was flying from Long Beach to the Harris Ranch along ...
Woman who died after plane crash is identified Fresno Bee
One Lost In Central California Bonanza Accident Aero-News Network
Fog Hampers Rescue of Coalinga Plane Crash CBS 47
KMPH Fox 26 - Fresno Bee
all 22 news articles


Global Commercial Aviation Industry Looks to MEA in Quest for ...
MarketWatch - Dec 1, 2008
Global Commercial Aviation Electrical Power Systems and Infrastructure Market Assessment is part of the Aerospace Growth Partnership Services programme, ...


Maktoob

Qantas Statement on Aviation Green Paper
Newswire Today (press release), UK - 3 hours ago
NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Sydney, Australia, 12/02/2008 - Qantas today welcomed the release of the Federal Government's draft National Aviation Policy ...
Qantas ownership changes imminent - Aviation Green Paper extracts Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (subscription)
Australia says Qantas to stay 51 percent locally owned Reuters
Australia plans larger foreign stake in Qantas The Associated Press
The Australian - Cargonews Asia
all 152 news articles

Aviation - Google News

home | site map
© 2006