| If you dread the idea of air travel because of air | | | | sick. |
| sickness and/or jet lag, there are a few precautions | | | | Jet Lag |
| you can take to prevent both. | | | | Jet lag can be a curse for people who need to travel |
| Air Sickness | | | | extensively for their work because sleep patterns |
| Generally, air sickness is at its worst on take off and | | | | become disturbed and business meetings or training |
| landing. This is due to the steep attitude of the | | | | sessions become a real test of endurance. |
| aeroplane, the sudden increase or decrease in speed | | | | This really occurs when ones body clock is confused |
| and height and the fact that the ground is visible and | | | | and symptoms include sleeplessness, tiredness, lack |
| seems to be rushing past. The difference between | | | | of concentration, headaches and a general feeling of |
| what one sees and what the "balance" area of the | | | | disorientation. |
| ears is telling one causes the brain to become | | | | Jet lag is usually at its worst when crossing several |
| confused. The sickness can be a physical or | | | | time zones particularly in an easterly direction, for |
| psychological reaction to all of this, the latter being | | | | example from London to Los Angeles. In this |
| caused more by fear than by an actual physical | | | | instance, say departure from London is 11:00am and |
| reaction to the conflicting signals being received by | | | | the flight is eleven hours long, arrival in Los Angeles |
| the body. | | | | will be 2:00pm, whereas ones body clock will think it's |
| Normally airsickness manifests itself in a feeling of | | | | 10 o'clock at night and time for bed. |
| nausea, which may or may not result in actual | | | | Once again, jet lag can be somewhat psychological. If |
| sickness, as well as sweating, digestive disturbance | | | | one is determined to feel jet lagged, then one will! |
| and the need to swallow much more than normal. | | | | There are a few tricks which help to overcome this |
| Even pilots and other aircrew suffer from air | | | | problem. |
| sickness, which obviously can prevent them from | | | | When flying east, get as much sleep as possible. |
| doing their jobs effectively. As a result, studies were | | | | Have a couple of drinks, a meal and relax as if you |
| made into the problem and the following means of | | | | were having a siesta. Thus when you arrive, you will |
| avoiding air sickness were devised. | | | | feel refreshed and better able to last out until a |
| 1. Stress or fear can cause air sickness because an | | | | sensible bed time. |
| already emotionally disturbed brain has even more | | | | Change your watch to the time at your destination; |
| difficultly interpreting the conflicting signals from eyes | | | | this will help avoid disorientation. |
| and ears. So try to relax, don't get stressed and if | | | | On arrival, try to get some fresh air, have an evening |
| you already have a fear of flying, take a mild | | | | meal at the time you would normally have one (local |
| sedative an hour before take off is scheduled. | | | | time) and try not to go to bed before you normally |
| 2. A full stomach can contribute to air sickness, so | | | | would, say 10:00pm. |
| eat and drink sparingly before getting on the 'plane. | | | | Alternatively, if you have been unable to sleep on the |
| 3. Once on board, even when the seat belt signs | | | | 'plane, have a couple of hours sleep at your |
| have been turned off, remain in your seat if possible. | | | | destination but set an alarm clock so that you don't |
| If your balance is impaired, any sudden motion of the | | | | have too long, which will prevent you sleeping later. |
| aircraft is likely to cause sickness. | | | | Once again, dine and go to bed at your normal time. |
| 4. Take anti-air sickness tablets in accordance with | | | | If you're travelling for a particularly important event, |
| the instructions on the box or use the special | | | | then it may be best to arrive a couple of days early |
| wristbands on sale in many airport terminals, which | | | | in order to acclimatise. |
| are said to have a beneficial effect. | | | | Travelling west is much easier as the time at your |
| 5. Try not to think about air sickness because the | | | | destination will be ahead of where you started so |
| more you do, the more you are likely to feel sick. | | | | acclimatisation is not so hard and bed time will arrive |
| Concentrate on a book or film or get some sleep and | | | | that much sooner! |
| you'll soon find that you've forgotten about feeling | | | | |