Better Sleep Better Health

Every year, especially during the summer months, millions of people take trips all across the globe. After meticulous planning , packing, and preparation they board planes towards their destinations, hoping for an enjoyable vacation away.But unfortunately, many of these travelers will experience something unexpected that can disrupt and even ruin their time off:  Jet Lag

Travelers experience “Jet Lag” because of a disruption of their Circadian Rhythm. The Circadian Rhythm is the 24 hour cycle that helps regulate the body’s sleep and wake times. This cycle uses light to essentially “set its clock”. As a person travels between time zones, their body has trouble adapting to the different environment. For example, if you are normally in the Pacific time zone and travel east to New York, your bedtime is now 3 hours ahead of when you would normally go to sleep. Conversely, if you travel west 3 hours, you may find it very hard to stay up since you are staying awake 3 hours past your bedtime.

Jet lag can make people tired and angry, sometimes ruining what is supposed to be a good vacation. Fortunately, there are some things one can do to combat the effects of Jet Lag. Here are some tips to help you deal with this problem:

• Select a flight that arrives in the early evening and go to bed at 10 PM local time.

• Anticipate the time change by getting up and going to bed at times closer to your destination’s  time zone for several days before your trip.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy exercise around bedtime.

• Bring earplugs and blindfolds to help dampen noise and light during sleep.

• Get outdoors and into the sunlight. Daylight will help regulate your biological clock.