The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Too much travel across time zones may leave you tired and disoriented

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Too much travel across time zones may leave you tired and disoriented

Special Correspondent

It not only affects the quality of sleep, but also results in distraction

TRAVEL TIME: A file photo of people waiting for their flight at the Bangalore airport. Spending hours in an aircraft can result in more than the jet lag. — Photo: G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore: Many employees today travel overseas on work. For some it is almost every month or more often. Travel across time zones and spending hours together inside a pressurised aircraft can result in more than the well-known "jet lag."

"The more you travel across time zones, like say from India to Japan and back, the more your quality of sleep will be affected and the more tired and unfocused you feel. Just when your job needs all the concentration you can give it," says general physician P. Eshwar.

Several of his patients need to travel overseas on a regular basis.

The natural sleep-wake cycle of the body or its biorhythm is affected because your body still tells you it is time to be sleeping while it is the start of the working day in London, Paris or Tokyo where you actually are, he says.

Seasoned travellers have found many ways to get their body and brain adjusted to such "time travel" and these tips can help newcomers to the jet set.

Exposing your body to some hours of bright sunlight or any other bright light can help you adjust faster to a new time zone, some travellers have found. As soon as you are in the aircraft it may be a good idea to set your watch to the zone where you are heading, like GMT. Or Eastern Seaboard Time in the U.S. You can the eat your meals or rest according to that time; looking at your watch helps your mind get used to that idea that much faster.

You need be careful of what you eat while flying. Most airlines now offer choices of low-fat and low calorie meals and you can opt for them, however tempting the regular menu looks.

It is equally important not to drink too much alcohol or coffee; both affect the quality of sleep and you may be hung over or worse when you arrive at your destination.

"Air travel itself can be quite dehydrating and alcohol and coffee will make it worse. Ask for water or a juice every hour or so and you can stay well hydrated and energetic," says Dr. Eshwar. Sleep inducing medication is best avoided unless you are prescribed them on a regular basis for reasons not related to travel. If you are used to daily workouts, try to do it at the time you normally would even while staying in another country. Exercise can boost your energy and also help you sleep better. Even if you are six hours ahead of the time in your hometown.

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