One of the most recurring problems for frequent travelers is jet lag.
For this week's Traveler's Aid segment, I wanted to take a look at
the problem and some solutions.
Of course, most everyone knows the age old advice: once you have a
trip planned, start adjusting to your new time zone before you leave,
going to bed earlier or later. Drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol
and coffee while traveling. Some newer theories stress the importance
of sunlight. Staying out in the sun helps you adjust to your new time
zone naturally. And if you need to take a nap, keep it short. Under
an hour.
That's all good advice. All those things help. But is there anyway to
really beat jet lag? I want to know. So I turned to a man who travels
a lot. His name is Bob Einhorn, and he's the U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State for Non-Proliferation, which means he criss-crosses the
globe making sure the world's most dangerous weapons aren't getting
spread around. It's important for Bob to stay sharp. If anyone knows
how to vanquish jet lag, it's him. Well, the first things I wanted to
know about Bob, was where, exactly, his job takes him.
Wow, sounds like Bob could use some help. I wanted to get some sage
medical advice about some of the things he was talking about:
melatonin, sleeping pills. So I called Terri Rock. She's a travel
doctor in Santa Monica, California, and a frequent traveler herself.
The first thing I asked her about was melatonin. I mean, is it really
all it's cracked up to be?
{ Travelers' Aid Index }
