Short Wave Don't Let Jet Lag Ruin Your Holiday Plans
Nov 18, 2024
Jade Wu, a behavioral sleep medicine psychologist and author of Hello Sleep, shares her expertise on combating jet lag. She explains how circadian rhythms impact our sleep and overall health, especially during holiday travel. Listeners learn about the role of melatonin, debunking common myths, and discover practical tips to ease transitions across time zones. From the importance of natural light to strategic napping, Wu offers advice that can make holiday trips more enjoyable with better sleep health.
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Circadian Rhythm Mismatch
- Our bodies have billions of clocks in our cells, organs, and brains, composing our circadian rhythm.
- Jet lag occurs when these internal clocks become misaligned with the external environment due to rapid time zone changes.
Jet Lag Effects
- Jet lag disrupts basic bodily functions, causing fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems.
- It can worsen existing medical conditions like chronic pain, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Natural Circadian Rhythm
- Most humans have a natural circadian rhythm of 24.1 to 24.3 hours, slightly longer than a day.
- Those with significantly different rhythms struggle to adapt to the 24-hour world.
