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Jet Lag: Flying as an Extreme Sport?

by Sally McLaughlin

Crammed into a metal cylinder that is hurtling 500 mph, 35,000 feet above the earth is not exactly a natural environment for humans. So, it's not surprising that air travel causes jet lag for most people, especially on long flights. Common symptoms include fatigue, headache, dehydration, lethargy and insomnia.

Blame It on…

It doesn't take an expert to recognize the culprits here. The inevitable rushing, schlepping bags and waiting in lines are stressful enough to cause some symptoms. Add to that, prolonged exposure to high noise levels, changes in air pressure, terrible air quality, forced inactivity, and skipping through time zones, and you end up with jet lag.

Poor air quality alone is responsible for a lot of the negative effects of flying, both because cabin air is lower in oxygen than most of us are used to breathing and because it is so dry. The air pressure inside commercial jet cabins approximates that at an altitude of 8000 feet . So, cabin air is pretty thin, not to mention full of germ from being recycled.

And, commercial jet cabin humidity (10-14%) is similar to that in the desert of Death Valley. Since optimal humidity for us humans is about 50%, flying is bound to cause some serious dehydration. When you consider that you are traveling in conditions resembling a high-altitude desert, flying begins to seem like an extreme sport!

Prepare for the Challenge

Travelers can lessen the impact of jet lag by taking a few simple steps:

• Before boarding, grab some bottled water and fruit to consume in flight
• For better circulation in your feet, wear cotton socks instead of shoes during the flight
• Consider wearing earplugs and/or eyeshades, especially on longer flights
• Bring along a saline nasal spray to use before, during or after flying
• Use a neck rest or pillow to rest your head and neck
• Get up and move around during the flight, or at least stretch your feet and legs often
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as both increase dehydration
• Try not to eat airline food, as it is high in salt and fat, which can add to dehydration
• The pilot can improve the air supply, so ask for that if you are short of breath
• On arrival at your destination, take a bath or shower to breath some steam

Sally McLaughlin is an accredited T'ai Chi Chih teacher, and she has practiced yoga for more than 30 years. She has a long-standing commitment to fitness, sound nutrition and holistic health. Her spouse has been in Management Consulting for more than 18 years.