Do you tend to feel sick after getting off an airplane? Do you struggle to adjust to the time zone of your new destination? If so, you might be prone to jet lag. You’re not alone — most people suffer jet lag after crossing time zones. The good news is you have a considerable amount of control over how much jet lag you endure.
- What Is Jet Lag?
- How to Recover From Jet Lag
- How to Beat Jet Lag With IV Therapy
- Recover From Jet Lag With Mobile IV Medics
You can minimize your jet lag symptoms by taking the proper steps both before and during your trip. Below, you’ll discover what jet lack means and how to get over jet lag on vacation. With these top tips, you’ll be able to maximize every single day of your trip.
What Is Jet Lag?
Jet lag is a temporary sleep problem that can occur whenever you quickly travel across multiple time zones. We get jet lag because our bodies have their own internal clocks, known as circadian rhythms, that tell our bodies when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to stay awake. Going to another time zone takes us out of the time zone our internal clock is synced to, causing us to feel more tired or awake at odd hours.
Specifically, common jet lag symptoms typically include one or more of the following:
- Unusual sleeping patterns, including insomnia
- Daytime fatigue
- Stomach troubles
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating like normal
- Mood swings
Jet lag symptoms can vary significantly in severity, depending on how many times zones you cross. In general, the more times zones you travel across, the higher your chances of experiencing jet lag. Although jet lag symptoms usually go away within a couple of days, they can linger if you crossed numerous time zones, especially in an easterly direction.
How to Recover From Jet Lag
When you only have a week to enjoy a vacation, you don’t want to spend half of those days battling jet lag. If you’re traveling for business, you’ll need to be alert and at the top of your game from the moment you step off the plane. Luckily, you can take specific steps to fend off jet lag and ensure you’re ready to enjoy your trip from start to finish.
If you have a trip coming up, check out these top seven tips for getting over jet lag.
1. Plan Your Sleeping Schedule
Try planning by choosing a flight that works well with your regular sleeping schedule. This way, it’ll be easier to adjust your sleep patterns to local time. You can also prepare for your trip ahead of time by gradually modifying your sleep schedule before you leave. For example, if you’re flying west, move your bedtime back by a few minutes each day and if you’re flying east, inch your bedtime up.
2. Forget Your Old Time Zone
Once you arrive, do your best to adapt to your new time zone as quickly as possible. Change any clocks or watches that didn’t automatically update so you don’t keep thinking of what time it’d be back home. Also, adjust your meal schedule and bedtime according to the time at your new destination.
Sometimes, you can set yourself up for success in your new time zone by sleeping on the plane there. If your flight is during your destination’s nighttime, try to get some sleep while airborne. Additionally, you should resist the urge to take a nap upon arrival if it’s daytime. Taking a nap during the day may make it more difficult to sleep at night.
3. Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water to stay adequately hydrated can help you manage jet lag symptoms and minimize travel fatigue. Although many people avoid drinking too much water before getting on a plane so they don’t have to use the bathroom, this travel strategy may leave you feeling worse later on.
Because long-distance travel can cause dehydration, you will want to bring an empty water bottle through airport security so you can fill it with water once you make it to your terminal. Keep sipping water throughout your flight and after you arrive to ensure you stay hydrated.
4. Soak Up the Sun
Part of the reason traveling interrupts your internal clock is that your exposure to natural light changes across time zones. Spending some time outside in the sunlight after you arrive can help wake up your body and reduce the release of melatonin hormones, which are what make you feel sleepy. On the other hand, staying indoors can worsen your jet lag, so do yourself a favor and get outdoors!
5. Get Comfortable
Keeping your sleeping space comfortable while traveling is key to facilitating proper sleep. If you struggle to fall asleep in new places, try these tips for enhancing your sleeping arrangements:
- Ensure your room’s thermostat is at a comfortable, cool temperature overnight.
- Make sure no phones or alarm clocks in your room will ring or beep during the night.
- Pack items from home to help you sleep soundly. For example, if you usually use a fan or white noise machine to fall asleep, try to bring a portable version with you on your trip.
- Bring any other soothing, lightweight object from home that might help you fall asleep, such as a soft throw blanket, a nicely scented lotion or a sentimental family photo.
6. Take Melatonin
The melatonin hormones your body naturally produces to trigger sleep are also available as a supplement. If you’re having sleep troubles due to jet lag, you may want to consider taking melatonin capsules to help induce drowsiness at the right time. Keep in mind that melatonin is a supplement, which means it isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so consult your doctor with any questions and use it with caution.
7. Use IV Therapy
If you want the ultimate trick for overcoming jet lag fast, you’ll could intravenous (IV) therapy. IV therapy helps you combat jet lag by giving your body plenty of fluids, essential nutrients and medicines directly into the bloodstream. Because IV therapy is so fast-acting, you’ll be able to adjust quickly to your new time zone and get on a normal sleeping schedule.
Along with helping you adapt to your destination’s time zone, IV therapy will help you manage any jet lag symptoms you may have. The vitamins in an IV package will strengthen your body’s response to jet lag, while the medicines will alleviate nausea, vomiting or headaches.
How to Beat Jet Lag With IV Therapy
While general IV therapy can offer a range of health benefits, getting over jet lag requires specific IV drip package ingredients. For the best results, your jet lag IV drip package should contain these key components:
- IV fluid: The low humidity inside a plane results in increased fluid loss from your body. The fluid loss from a long flight can lead to dehydration and a bad case of jet lag. IV therapy will give your body some much-needed fluids to help you stay healthy, hydrated and happy throughout your trip.
- Vitamin B complex: B vitamins are crucial for breaking down food and converting it to energy. Getting a boost of vitamin B complex will help you overcome typical jet lag symptoms, including fatigue, poor concentration and irritability.
- Vitamin B12: This B vitamin, in particular, is essential for producing energy and keeping your metabolism running. An extra dose of vitamin B12 may protect you from the fatigue, exhaustion and brain fog that often comes with jet lag.
- Anti-nausea and vomiting medicine: Those who suffer from motion sickness may get off the plane feeling nauseated, leading to digestive issues. This medicine effectively curbs nausea and vomiting so you can spend less time feeling queasy and more time enjoying your vacation.
- Anti-inflammatory, headache and pain medicine: Jet lag often includes a pounding headache. This medicine will cut down on any inflammation to relieve your headache quickly.
Recover From Jet Lag With Mobile IV Medics
Are you traveling across time zones and in need of jet lag relief fast? Receive a jet lag IV drip package from Mobile IV Medics. If you’re traveling to one of our service areas in Texas, Nevada, California, Georgia, Florida, Illinois or Hawaii, we’ll help you recover from jet lag fast by bringing IV therapy right to your door. Our registered nurses will meet you wherever you are so you don’t have to worry about navigating an unfamiliar city.
Book your appointment with Mobile IV Medics now, and we can be at your location within the hour.
