The Lowdown on Jetlag
Added Friday, January 11th, 2008 at 9:47 am | View Comments
Here at bedstar we continue to bring you anything and everything you need to know relating to sleep. As well as bargain beds and advice on which bed is for you, we have tips on getting a good night’s sleep and explanations of common problems.
Jetlag is the sleep disorder caused by travelling through time zones. It is a temporary affliction which can last up to a few days depending on how many time zones you’ve gone through. Your circadian rhythm (commonly known as your body clock) regulates your sleepiness in a 24 hour period. It takes a little while to adjust to your destination’s time, how long depends hugely on personal susceptibility and age (people over 50 tend to get worse jetlag).
What might help?
There are some ways you can change your behaviour before and after travelling that can minimise the jetlag you experience. When you arrive try not to sleep until after 10pm local time, if you must nap make it less than 2 hours in the early afternoon. It may help to reset your watch to the destination time when you get on the plane, and of course you will sleep better at both ends if you are in a comfortable bed.
Travelling East (e.g. to Europe/Asia)
Jetlag typically lasts longer when you travel in this direction. But there are some things that you can do to help:
• Before you go - Go to bed and wake up an hour earlier each day, seek light in the mornings by going outside.
• When you arrive – Try to get lots of light in the evenings, sunlight is the most effective way to get yourself awake!
Travelling West (e.g. to the America’s)
• Before you go - Go to bed and wake up an hour later for a couple of days and seek evening light.
• When you arrive - Try to get light in the mornings and avoid it in the evening.
Medication – sleeping tablets, either prescription or over the counter can help with jet lag as a short term solution to help you adapt faster. The hints above can be just as effective however and make sure you consult you GP before taking any sleep medication.
As frustrating as jetlag is, it does pass. So if your sleep problems last more than a couple of days you may be suffering from another sleep disorder. You can rest assured that bedstar will bring you everything you need to know about the world of sleep, as well as the biggest selection of bargain beds online. Check out our massive catalogue here to see lots of great bed discounts.
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