Coping with Jet Lag

Doctors still don't know what exactly causes jet lag, officially known as circadian dischronism. Whatever...we all know that traveling across time zones can play havoc with our bodies. Symptoms--besides nodding off at inappropriate times and laying sleepless in the middle of the night--may include nausea, aching joints, irritablilty, headaches, and fatigue. According to medical wisdom, travelling east is worse than going west, and it takes a day to recover for every time zone you cross.

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Though children can suffer from jet lag, they tend to recover faster than adults. It may be because they're not so set in their ways, allowing them to adjust more easily to new schedules. Here are some things you can do to help:

• Begin changing your schedule a few days before you leave. Alter meals and bedtimes, 20 minutes to a half hour each day, until you're in the new time zone.

• Get plenty of rest before your trip. Fatigue aggravates jet lag.

• Drink plenty of water. Experts recommend eight ounces for every hour on the plane. Also, while flying, get up and move when you can. Stretching and a bit of exercise helps circulation and diminishes the effects of jet lag.

• When you first arrive, take it easy; don't jump on the tour bus. Schedule downtime to relax.

• Get outdoors! Sunshine helps the body adjust its internal clock.

• Set your watches to the new time zone when you take off (or a few days before) and resist the temptation to adhere to the old time schedules (that means no sleeping in the middle of the day!).

• If possible, fly at night and arrive to your destination in the morning. This will get you outdoors right away. And, besides, you're a parent--you're used to short nights, right?