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Jet lag can make you weary when you want to feel good--try warding it off with water Date published: 7/2/2006
OOKED FLIGHT TO EXOTIC LOCALE? Check. Packed passport, visas and more things than you really need? Check. Got a plan to battle jet lag? Many travelers deal well with the massive to-do lists that come with getting ready to jet off to foreign countries. But they aren't adequately prepared for the result of crossing time zones, which can seriously impact their travels and well-being. Jet lag was first recorded in 1931, when U.S. pilot Wiley Post went around the world in eight days, according to the nonprofit organization Aviation Health. Crossing time zones and traveling thousands of miles by air often leaves a person's body struggling to catch up. Until the body's internal clock gets in sync with local time, a traveler is likely to get a taste of any number of jet lag's common symptoms--daytime sleepiness, insomnia, loss of appetite, lack of concentration and mood swings. Jet lag also can cause upset stomach, irritability, reduced physical and mental performance and an increased dependency on caffeine. For people traveling abroad, it's a good idea to factor in some jet lag recovery time before launching into sightseeing plans. When you cross several time zones, a general rule of thumb is that for every hour of time change, it will take your body a day to readjust. If your trip is only two to three days, and you've traveled a great distance, there may not be much you can do to fully adjust. But fear not: There are plenty of tips for coping with even the worst jet lag situations. Natural fixesMike Fay, a combat artist with the Marine Corps who lives in Fredericksburg, has traveled to the Middle East four times in the last five years. He made the journeys on windowless aircraft and found that each time, it was easier going over than coming back. Jet lag symptoms tend to be worse after eastward flights, according to the National Sleep Foundation. "You just feel wide awake and then all of a sudden your body goes: 'Wait! It's like 3 in the morning,'" Fay said. Fay tries to sleep as much as possible on his flights. He said that when the jet lag really kicks in and he goes into a "stun-bunny stage," he doesn't try to fight it. Instead, he sleeps when he feels tired.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 7/2/2006
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