| The summer holiday season is with us again | | | | the difference will be noticeable and your |
| and many thousands of us will be jetting off | | | | body clock will take longer and longer to |
| to far flung corners of the globe to lie on a | | | | adjust as you cross more and more time zones. |
| tropical beach and soak up the sun, to trek | | | | |
| through some of world's most beautiful | | | | In our example of flying from Sydney to |
| wilderness countryside, to see some of the | | | | London your body clock will take several days |
| architectural wonders of the world or to | | | | to adjust itself fully and, in the meantime, |
| simply explore new countries and cultures. | | | | you are likely to find yourself suffering |
| And, unfortunately, many thousands of us will | | | | from insomnia, finding it difficult to get to |
| find the first few days of our vacation will | | | | sleep at night and to get up in the morning, |
| also see us trying to recover from the | | | | feeling tired during the day, possibly |
| effects of jet lag. | | | | experiencing difficulty in eating with |
| | | | nausea, stomach upset, a feeling of |
| But is jet lag an inevitable part of modern | | | | dehydration, a headache, and much more. |
| long-haul travel? | | | | |
| | | | So what can be done? |
| The answer to this question depends very much | | | | |
| on where you are flying to. If you start your | | | | There are a whole variety of 'traditional' |
| journey in Sydney, Australia and fly to | | | | remedies for jet lag including diets, |
| Tokyo, Japan then you will not experience any | | | | formulas, over-the-counter medication, |
| jet lag at all because, even though you are | | | | sleeping pills, melatonin and others and each |
| flying some 7,000 miles, your journey | | | | has its supporters and detractors, but are |
| essentially takes you due north so that your | | | | these 'traditional' remedies the answer? |
| starting point and destination lie in the | | | | |
| same time zone. However, if you fly from | | | | The simple answer to this question is no. |
| Sydney to London, England then you will fly | | | | These 'traditional' remedies do not work and, |
| east to west across ten standard time zones | | | | in some cases, will actually make your jet |
| and you will certainly experience jet lag. | | | | lag worse. |
| | | | |
| Jet lag is really nothing more than the | | | | Treating jet lag is not a matter of pills and |
| result of your own internal body clock being | | | | formulas, but requires you to devise a plan |
| out of synchronization with local time and, | | | | centered on your specific travel plans and |
| while your body clock can adjust itself to | | | | lifestyle which allows you to assist your |
| come into line with local time, adjusting | | | | body's natural process of adjusting its own |
| your body clock takes time. | | | | internal body clock. This means taking a |
| | | | series of steps in preparation for your |
| If you fly across just two or three time | | | | journey, as well as during your flight and at |
| zones then the time difference experienced is | | | | your destination. In some cases these will be |
| small enough that you probably will not | | | | enough to help you avoid jet lag altogether |
| really notice it greatly and your internal | | | | and, in others, they will certainly help to |
| clock will adjust quite quickly. However, if | | | | reduce the effects of jet lag considerably. |
| you fly across four or more time zones then | | | | |