| To truly understand jetlag and how to avoid jetlag, | | | | from traveling just one or two. Some of the |
| you need to understand what is does to your body. | | | | common symptoms of jet lag include but are not |
| Let's start with an in depth understanding of how | | | | limited to: As mentioned previously, one of the |
| your body functions on a day to day basis. You body | | | | common affect of high altitude sickness is sleep |
| currently operates on what is called a "circadian | | | | disturbance. |
| rhythm," which is more commonly known as your | | | | Pair this with the increased potential for illness from |
| "biological clock." These rhythms are developed | | | | the reduced cleaning and you have a statistically |
| overtime as your body become accustomed to a | | | | increased your potential to arriving at your destination |
| regular pattern of wake and sleep cycles. | | | | jet lagged. So now that you know what causes the |
| These rhythms are normally synched with your local | | | | symptoms of jet lag in your body, let's discuss how |
| time zone so that you feel hungry in the mornings | | | | you can hedge against it. To begin you should know |
| and sleepy in the evenings. In addition to controlling | | | | that as a general rule of thumb your body will take |
| when you sleep and wake, these rhythms also affect | | | | about a day to adjust for every time zone crossed |
| your hunger, digestion, bowl habits, urine production, | | | | in travel. With this in mind, prior to any long distance |
| temperature and blood pressure. As you can see, | | | | traveling, you should maintain a healthy diet, get |
| these rhythms are essential in maintaining optimal | | | | plenty of rest and exercise as frequently as possible. |
| health. Now, let's take it a step further and discuss | | | | This will enable your body to cope better after you |
| what air travel can do to these natural rhythms. As | | | | arrive at your destination. |
| you know, the world is divided into 24 time zones, 1 | | | | Another option for travelers is to begin to regulate |
| hour for every 15 degrees traveled in either direction | | | | your sleep cycles to the time table of your |
| from the prime meridian. | | | | destination so your body begins the adjustment |
| So, the more you travel in either direction from your | | | | sooner rather than later. Setting the alarm a little |
| local time zone, the more your rhythms will be out | | | | earlier each morning can be combined with the use of |
| sync. The body's circadian rhythm actually operates | | | | over-the-counter supplements to induce and relax the |
| on a 25 hour cycle, which is why it is easy to stay up | | | | body to fall asleep earlier. It is also recommend that |
| an hour late, but harder to go to bed an hour earlier. | | | | you avoid alcohol and caffeine before and during |
| This results in a more severe Jet Lag effect when | | | | travel and the first initial day in your destination |
| traveling west to east. Therefore your body's | | | | location to reduce the amount of time your body |
| timekeeping center, the hypothalamus, will trigger | | | | takes to acclimate. Proper hydration will also reduce |
| activities that the rest of your body is not ready for | | | | the possibility of experiencing symptoms. In addition |
| in your current time zone; aka jet lag. For the most | | | | to the precautions listed above a dietary supplement |
| part, the affects of jet lag are most noticeable when | | | | that includes melatonin can aid in your adjustment |
| traveling across 3 or more time zones; however | | | | and enjoyment while traveling. |
| some travelers may experience the same symptoms | | | | |