I’m a sleep expert – here is the best way to cure jet lag & why flying east is more tiring
A SLEEP expert has revealed the best way to cure jet lag and explained why flying east is more tiring than going west.
Professor Leon Lack from Australia’s Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health shared the tips in time for holiday season.
The sleep expert from Flinders University revealed that the ticket to a jet lag free flight is light therapy.
According to the professor, the “strongest tool” for readjusting your body clock is “bright light”.
And although this might sound like a headache waiting to happen, Leon told the Mail: “Jet lag can be overcome more quickly after westward flights by visual exposure to light (white or blue/green-biased light) in the late afternoon and evening.
“If the destination is experiencing sunny weather then outdoor light up until sundown is helpful”.
He then went on to explain that in the wintry and earlier sunset times of year, a bright blue or green light would be helpful for curing a nightmare jet lag.
Holidaymakers can access this bright coloured light through a device called Re-Timer, Leon explained, which is a pair of portable light therapy glasses.
As well as light therapy, the expert also recommended a low dose of melatonin as a handy cure for jet lag.
He suggested taking between 0.5mg to 1mg of melatonin when you’re heading to bed as it can act as a mild sedative without the nasty side effects.
The professor then warned of remedies to avoid as they could be more harmful than helpful to your bodyclock.
He urged flyers to not take midday naps after the flight as this could turn into a full eight-hour sleep during the day – which would then keep you up all night.
“Save your sleepiness for the destination nighttime,” he advised.
The sleep expert also revealed why flying east is more tiring than travelling west and it all boils down to the time differences.
When flying east you travel over many time zones which ultimately means you “lose” additional time.
He explained that when flying east, you’re basically travelling forwards in terms of hours and days, and once you arrive at your destination you’re ahead of yourself which requires your body to adjust.
But on flying west, Leon said: “Flying in a westward direction across time zones requires delaying the body clock in order to synchronise with the destination clock”.
This comes after another sleep expert revealed his fool proof tricks for getting the best kip on your flight.
One more exert explained how travellers can avoid becoming jetlagged on their next long haul flight.
And a flight attendant revealed five holy grail tips for avoiding jet lag on holiday.